PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mateo Soldic (ranked 6216 p4p, 6420 weight class) and Vernon Woodard (ranked 646 p4p, 661 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Woodard's choice of entrance music: Last Stylebender. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Soldic
vs
Woodard

181 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
180
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mateo Soldic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vernon Woodard!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Woodard has Soldic up against the cage in a clinch.
Woodard crunches a lovely knee into Soldic's ribcage.

Woodard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soldic lands a two punch combo.
Soldic is looking to clinch.
Woodard goes for a double leg but Soldic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Soldic continues to drive forward.
Soldic is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Soldic instigates a clinch.
Woodard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Woodard tries to land knees in the clinch but Soldic avoids the damage to the body.
Woodard tries to score a body lock takedown but Soldic shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Woodard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Soldic darts in and clinches Woodard up against the cage.
Soldic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Soldic is pushing Woodard up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Woodard has Soldic pushed against the cage.
Soldic wants to get back to striking at distance but Woodard won't allow it.

Woodard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Woodard or perhaps it was just good defense by Soldic, which made it look bad.
Mateo Soldic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vernon Woodard.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Woodard is defended easily by Soldic.
Woodard shoots and misses
letting Soldic counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldic tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Woodard counters with a single leg into guard. Soldic didn't expect that.

Soldic has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Woodard off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Soldic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soldic lands with a cross.

Soldic clinches with his opponent.
Woodard jumps guard but Soldic turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Soldic is leaning against Woodard and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Soldic is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Woodard looks winded!
Woodard looking to stall.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Soldic takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Soldic lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soldic has Woodard pushed against the cage.
Soldic dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Soldic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Soldic's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Soldic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Soldic gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Soldic breaks the clinch.
Woodard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice uppercut there from Soldic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodard swats away the attempt to clinch by Soldic.

Soldic moves into range and clinches up with Woodard.

Woodard decides to pull guard.

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

Soldic clinches with his opponent.
Soldic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Woodard's elbow.
Soldic is trying to break the clinch but Woodard has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Soldic.
Woodard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Soldic slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soldic lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateo Soldic dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Woodard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Soldic, pushing him back against the cage.
Soldic is trying to force a seperation but Woodard has the dominant position.
Woodard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Soldic smiles and moves away.
Woodard fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Soldic has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Soldic tries a head kick but it misses.

Soldic darts in and clinches Woodard up against the cage.

Soldic manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Soldic pushes Woodard up against the cage in a clinch.

Soldic manages to break the clinch.

Soldic clinches up against the cage.
Soldic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mateo Soldic has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A shot in the inside from Woodard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Soldic scores with a nice short uppercut.
Woodard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Soldic lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Woodard.

Woodard breaks from the clinch.
Soldic smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Soldic clinches up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Woodard just misses with a elbow thrown towards Soldic's brow.
The referee calls for Soldic to work.
Woodard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Soldic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Soldic is trying to break free.
Soldic digs a right hand into Woodard's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Woodard's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woodard wants to take the fight to the mat but Soldic manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mateo Soldic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vernon Woodard.
Woodard has Soldic pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Soldic manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Woodard is breathing heavily.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Soldic.
Soldic stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Woodard jumps guard but Soldic stands there with Woodard around his waist. Woodard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Woodard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soldic tries to land knees in the clinch but Woodard avoids the damage to the body.

Soldic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Soldic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Woodard can do to turn this around?
Woodard has a takedown stuffed.
Soldic wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Woodard is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Soldic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Soldic.

Soldic pushes Woodard up against the cage in a clinch.

Soldic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Woodard avoids the head kick by Soldic.
Woodard replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Soldic blocks it well.
Soldic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Soldic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Woodard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soldic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Soldic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Woodard swats away the attempt to clinch by Soldic.

Woodard gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodard is looking for a takedown.
Woodard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Soldic walks away with a smile on his face. Woodard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Soldic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soldic sets himself, and Woodard steps forward looking for the clinch! Soldic avoids it this time.
Soldic closes the distance and clinches up with Woodard, looking for a takedown. Soldic pushes Woodard against the cage but Woodard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Soldic rushes Woodard and presses him up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Soldic.

Woodard has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Soldic uses from the top position.

Soldic stands and steps away. Woodard gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Soldic stalks Woodard and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Woodard's face. Woodard staggers backwards, shaken.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Soldic doesn't manage to clinch there - Woodard circles away.
Soldic tries to clinch there but Woodard circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateo Soldic dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Soldic clinches.
Woodard keeps control of Soldic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Soldic works on Woodard's body with a couple of short punches.
Woodard has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Soldic after a bit of a struggle.
Woodard working hard to break the clinch.
Soldic prevents a takedown attempt there.

Woodard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Woodard takes one on the button.
Soldic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woodard with a poor takedown

and Soldic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mateo Soldic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vernon Woodard.
Woodard goes for a takedown attempt but Soldic pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Woodard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Woodard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mateo Soldic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Soldic shoots in and bounces Woodard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soldic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Woodard avoids a kick to the body.

Soldic gets the takedown into side control.
Woodard is looking to get back to his feet here but Soldic is keeping cool and he's managed to take Woodard's back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soldic is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldic has the hooks in. Woodard is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soldic keeps control of the position easily here as Woodard tries to buck him off.
Soldic avoiding Woodard 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Woodard is trying to roll into a better position but Soldic has get a rear naked choke and Woodard is forced to tap out! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mateo Soldic!