PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Curt Goldberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnnie Lao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lao has chosen Drowning Pool - Let The Bodies Hit The Floor as his entrance music. Johnnie Lao will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Goldberg
vs
Lao

178 cm
22
213 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

195 cm
24
209 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Curt Goldberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnnie Lao!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lao looks for a takedown but Goldberg sprawls well.

Lao gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Goldberg to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Lao throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Goldberg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lao avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Goldberg missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Goldberg postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Goldberg avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Goldberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Lao is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldberg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Goldberg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lao is keeping the position for now.
Goldberg forces his way into half guard.
Goldberg looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lao avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Goldberg.

Lao looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lao blocking the ground and pound attempt from Goldberg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lao slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Goldberg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lao works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg lands a couple of digs.
Goldberg stands up over Lao, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Goldberg wants to pass the guard but Lao is keeping the position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lao throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lao looks gassed!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Goldberg's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Lao looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Lao is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Goldberg wants to control from the top but Lao keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg scoring with some ground and pound.
Goldberg keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lao's head.
Goldberg scoring with punches to the head and body.
Goldberg lands a couple of digs.
Goldberg is pushing down on Lao's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lao is fighting to maintain full guard but Goldberg has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lao has hold of Goldberg's hands but Goldberg slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Goldberg is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goldberg working Lao over with strikes.
Goldberg works his way into side control.
Goldberg working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Goldberg landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lao being controlled for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Goldberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lao keeps working.
Lao tries to buck Goldberg off but Goldberg is having none of it.
Goldberg scoring with punches and elbows.
Lao is working to avoid the ground and pound but Goldberg connects with a decent elbow.
Goldberg working the ground and pound.
Lao is looking to reverse the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Goldberg works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Lao takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Goldberg scores with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curt Goldberg dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Goldberg darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Goldberg is nestled in close to Lao, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Goldberg with the ground and pound but Lao uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Goldberg landing some decent shots from guard.
Lao keeping moving, preventing Goldberg from controlling successfully.
Goldberg is looking to advance position but Lao has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Goldberg tries to improve his position but instead Lao has taken his back!
Curt Goldberg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldberg tries to escape but Lao has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Lao looking for the choke but no joy.
Lao is breathing heavily.
Goldberg tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Goldberg is working to get back to half guard.

Lao looking for a guillotine from mount but Goldberg is having none of it.
Goldberg tries to improve his position but instead Lao has taken his back!
Goldberg rolls, trying to escape but Lao keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Goldberg preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lao.

Lao is persistently looking for the submission but Goldberg is defending it well.

Lao tightening his grip on Goldberg, looking for the choke.
Lao controlling well, preventing Goldberg from escaping the position.
Well, with Lao on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Goldberg is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Lao tightening his grip on Goldberg, looking for the choke.
Goldberg can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goldberg preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lao.
Lao is trying to stick to Goldberg's back but Goldberg is turning into Lao. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Lao's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Goldberg.
Goldberg landing some decent shots from guard.
Goldberg working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lao's head.
Goldberg working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Goldberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Goldberg with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Goldberg looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Goldberg chips away with some ground and pound.

Lao has his foot on Goldberg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Goldberg works his way back into a safe position though.
Lao has momentary wrist control but Goldberg slips an elbow through the middle.
Goldberg slips nicely into half guard.
Goldberg is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Goldberg scoring with strikes but Lao is staying in there.
Goldberg is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Goldberg connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curt Goldberg dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lao with a lazy takedown attempt

and Goldberg counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Goldberg.
Goldberg lands a couple of digs.
Goldberg wants to control from the top but Lao keeps moving.
Goldberg has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Goldberg postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Goldberg content to stall in guard here.
Goldberg looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lao has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Goldberg can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Goldberg advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldberg landing strikes.
Goldberg cracks Lao with a big right hand but Lao just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Goldberg trying to control the action but Lao is working from the bottom.
Goldberg landing strikes.
Lao tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Goldberg wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Goldberg working the head with strikes.
Goldberg grinds an elbow into Lao's temple.
Lao takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lao is looking for a sweep.
Goldberg knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lao on the ground.
Goldberg lands an elbow.
Lao takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Goldberg in side control lands a decent elbow.
Goldberg wants to control but Lao is keeping him busy.
Goldberg is really struggling to control Lao but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Goldberg working the head with strikes.
Curt Goldberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Goldberg is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Goldberg trying to control the position but Lao is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao is working to avoid the ground and pound but Goldberg connects with a decent elbow.
Goldberg cracks Lao with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lao manages to work his way to half guard, despite Goldberg's best efforts.
Goldberg slips a nice elbow through Lao's hands, connecting with Lao's forehead.
Lao on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Goldberg performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Goldberg wants to free his trapped foot but Lao is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nice strikes from Goldberg there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lao looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Goldberg tries to pass to full mount but Lao defends it.
Goldberg is keen to just control but Lao is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lao shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Goldberg counters with a single leg into guard. Lao didn't expect that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Curt Goldberg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Goldberg has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Curt Goldberg!