PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sven Kristian Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Goodman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nielsen's entrance music is Wardruna - Fehu. A fine choice. John Goodman acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kristian Nielsen
vs
Goodman

191 cm
29
275 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

203 cm
33
274 lbs
14 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sven Kristian Nielsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Goodman!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nielsen tries to sprawl but Goodman drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nielsen wants to control but Goodman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nielsen is pressing down on Goodman's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Goodman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Goodman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nielsen is trying to control the position but Goodman postures up.
Goodman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nielsen being controlled here, momentarily.
Nielsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nielsen trying to keep a closed guard but Goodman is proving a slippery customer.
Nielsen has control of Goodman's left arm, preventing Goodman from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goodman won't allow Nielsen to sweep him here.
Goodman wants to pass the guard but Nielsen is keeping the position.
Nielsen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Goodman wants to control from the top but Nielsen keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Nielsen has his foot on Goodman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Goodman works his way back into a safe position though.
Goodman looking to pass the guard.
Nielsen seems keen to control Goodman's posture.
Goodman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Goodman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Goodman wants to control from the top but Nielsen keeps moving.
Nielsen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Nielsen controls Goodman momentarily but Goodman frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Nielsen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Nielsen working for a triangle but Goodman defends it easily.

Goodman stands and steps away. Nielsen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Goodman closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nielsen to the mat! Nielsen manages to get full guard.
Goodman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Goodman wants to control from the top but Nielsen keeps moving.
Goodman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nielsen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodman tries to free his leg and advance position but Nielsen is retaining full guard.
Goodman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Goodman throws a big elbow that misses.
Nielsen controls Goodman momentarily but Goodman frees himself.

Nielsen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Goodman would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nielsen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Goodman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nielsen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Goodman manages to get himself to full guard.

Nielsen trying to control but Goodman is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen connects with a couple of short punches.
Nielsen connects with a couple of short punches.
Nielsen stops Goodman from standing up.
Nielsen stopping the sweep attempt from Goodman.
Nielsen working some strikes from top position.
Goodman is looking to stand up but Nielsen isn't so interested in that idea.
Nielsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Goodman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goodman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nielsen's guard.

Goodman preventing the sweep.
Goodman trying to control but Nielsen is working from the bottom.

Nielsen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Goodman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Goodman wants to control from the top but Nielsen keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Goodman dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Goodman closes the distance and pushes Nielsen back into the cage.
Nielsen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Goodman wants to take the fight to the mat but Nielsen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Nielsen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Goodman.
Nielsen throws a punch but it's blocked by Goodman.
Nielsen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nielsen lands a shoulder strike.

Goodman lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Nielsen tries to get to full guard but Goodman has control of the leg.
Nielsen is working hard here to advance position.
Nielsen is not content to let Goodman control the position.
Goodman wants to pass the guard but Nielsen is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen tries to get to full guard but Goodman has control of the leg.
Goodman sitting and controlling from the half guard.
John Goodman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Goodman wants to take a breather but Nielsen is having none of it.
Nielsen tries to get to full guard but Goodman has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Goodman in particular looking to stall.
Goodman tries to pass to full mount but Nielsen defends it.

Goodman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nielsen is pressing down on Goodman's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nielsen keeping moving, preventing Goodman from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Goodman works over Nielsen with some ground and pound from guard.
Nielsen working a defensive guard here.
Nielsen pulls Goodman in close to his closed guard and prevents Goodman from doing any damage or advancing position.
Goodman wants to control from the top but Nielsen keeps moving.
Goodman looking to pass the guard.
Goodman preventing the sweep.
Goodman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nielsen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nielsen controlling the position.
Goodman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Goodman trying to control but Nielsen is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen misses with a series of wild punches.
Nielsen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Goodman.
Nielsen tries to clinch but Goodman moves out of range.
Goodman staying out of range there.
Goodman slips a jab from Nielsen.

Nielsen clinches with his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Nielsen fails to land.
Goodman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Goodman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nielsen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Goodman wants a takedown.
Sven Kristian Nielsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Goodman.
Nielsen tries to throw a body punch but Goodman avoids it by throwing Nielsen back against the cage.
Nielsen lands a hook that snaps the head of Goodman backwards.
Goodman has Nielsen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nielsen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Goodman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Sven Kristian Nielsen has been cut.
Nielsen stalling in the clinch but Goodman improves position.
Goodman goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nielsen prevents it.
Nielsen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Goodmans head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nielsen wants the takedown. Goodman is fighting it off but Nielsen persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Goodman's guard against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Goodman keeping moving, preventing Nielsen from controlling successfully.
Goodman seems keen to control Nielsen's posture.
Nielsen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Goodman is trying to keep Nielsen in close.
Goodman keeping moving, preventing Nielsen from controlling successfully.
Goodman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Kristian Nielsen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sven Kristian Nielsen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Goodman tries to clinch up.
Nielsen loads up on a big right hand but Goodman slips the punch.
Goodman closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Goodman gets the takedown into side control.
Nielsen tries to improve position but can't.
Goodman wants to control for a moment but Nielsen uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Goodman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Goodman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nielsen sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nielsen is trying to get back to full guard.
Goodman takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nielsen wants to control but Goodman is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen tries to get to full guard but Goodman has control of the leg.
Goodman wants to pass to mount but Nielsen is defending the position.

Goodman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nielsen has managed to free his arm - good work.

Goodman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nielsen sees it coming and defends easily.

Goodman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nielsen defends it well.
Nielsen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nielsen.
Nielsen looking for a sweep. Not yet Nielsen, not yet.
Nielsen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Nielsen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Goodman defends well.
Goodman trying to control but Nielsen is working from the bottom.
Nielsen trying to control the position.
Goodman looking to pass the guard.
Goodman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nielsen looking for a sweep. Not yet Nielsen, not yet.
Nielsen keeping moving, preventing Goodman from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Goodman fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nielsen sprawls well initially but Goodman persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nielsen.
Goodman is pushing down on Nielsen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nielsen is fighting to maintain full guard but Goodman has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nielsen trying to control here.
Nielsen tries to roll over but Goodman keeps him under control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nielsen is looking to control Goodman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nielsen avoid being mounted?
Nielsen tries to roll over but Goodman keeps him under control.
Goodman is trying to control the action in half guard but Nielsen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nielsen manages to get to full guard.

Nielsen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nielsen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Goodman looking to pass the guard.
Goodman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Goodman wants to control from the top but Nielsen keeps moving.
Goodman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nielsen keeping moving, preventing Goodman from controlling successfully.
Nielsen trying to keep a closed guard but Goodman is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nielsen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Goodman manages to get himself to full guard.

Nielsen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Goodman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Goodman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Goodman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Goodman!
Our winner, John Goodman, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.