PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vidar Engberg (ranked 3326 p4p, 24970 weight class) and Bayden Wood (ranked 356 p4p, 502 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Engberg
vs
Wood

186 cm
18
187
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
186
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vidar Engberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bayden Wood!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Engberg has closed the distance and engaged Wood in a clinch.
Engberg effectively controlling the action here.
Engberg stalling.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Engberg for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Engberg pushes Wood back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Wood manages to break the clinch.
Engberg throws a big shot that misses.
Wood is looking for the big counter here.
Wood missing with a left hand there. Engberg was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Engberg looks to throw the jab but Wood is out of range.
Wood has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Wood there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wood looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Engberg lands with a shot to the body.
Wood throws a nice looking combination but Engberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wood fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wood tries to clinch but Engberg moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Engberg.
Wood avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Engberg uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wood.
Engberg looks to score with a jab to the body but Wood is just out of range.
Engberg looks to score with a jab to the body but Wood is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood slips under a jab.
Engberg with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Wood to score with a decent uppercut.
Engberg lands a jab to the head.
Wood lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Engberg at a distance.
Wood looks to land a left hand but Engberg moved out of range nicely.
Wood is looking to clinch but Engberg is avoiding it.
Engberg checks a low kick from Wood.
Wood takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Engberg. Wood does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wood will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wood keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Engberg ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wood moves away.
Engberg looks to throw the jab but Wood is out of range.
Engberg throws a hook to the side of Wood's head but Wood sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Engberg is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
A swing and a miss from Engberg.
Wood slips a jab from Engberg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood thuds his right hand into Engberg's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wood misses with a double jab.
Engberg connects with a looping right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Wood. Those never looked like landing.
Engberg moves out of range as Wood strikes.
Wood tries to clinch up but Engberg circles away and keeps his distance.
A little feinted left hand from Engberg on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wood takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Engberg swats away the attempt to clinch by Wood.
Engberg dodges the punch combination from Wood.
Engberg looks to score with a jab to the body but Wood is just out of range.
Engberg looks to score with a jab to the body but Wood is just out of range.
Engberg takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The fighters circling - Wood throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Engberg swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A punch combination from Engberg misses.
Wood is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Wood misses the target.
A jab from Engberg does it's job there.
Engberg moves away from the strike by Wood.
Engberg looks to throw the jab but Wood is out of range.
Engberg throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Wood moves into the clinch.
Wood wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wood working hard to break the clinch.
Engberg is trying to break the clinch but Wood has him pressed against the cage.
Wood fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wood tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wood working hard to break the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Engberg.
Engberg just leaning against Wood, taking a breather.
Wood lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Wood.
Engberg blocks an uppercut.
Wood working hard to break the clinch.
Wood tries for a takedown but Engberg manages to get underhooks.

Wood breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wood throws out a loose jab but Engberg uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wood slips under a jab.
Engberg connects with a single shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wood tries a head kick but it misses.
Engberg with a jab.
Engberg lands an overhand right.

Engberg fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wood, pushing him back against the cage.
Wood blocks an uppercut.
Wood trying to control the position but instead, Engberg has worked for underhooks and has pushed Wood into the cage.
Wood swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vidar Engberg dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wood just misses with a punch to the body.
Wood is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Engberg looks to score with a jab to the body but Wood is just out of range.
Engberg throws a hook but Wood blocks it.
Wood misses with a double jab
and Engberg counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Engberg circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wood fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wood throws a series of punches but Engberg moves out of range.
Wood lands a jab to Engberg's midsection.
Engberg lands with a good body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good exchange - Engberg coming out on top.
Wood lands a nice shot to the body.
Wood thuds a left hand into Engberg's body.
Engberg connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Engberg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Engberg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Engberg bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wood's head backwards.
Engberg misses with a straight right.
Engberg throws a combination. Wood tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wood. Engberg does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vidar Engberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Engberg avoids a punch combination nicely.
Engberg is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wood can do to turn this around?
Engberg throws out a powerful jab.
Engberg tests Wood's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Wood.
Engberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wood throws a right hand that Engberg ducks under and follows up with a left that Engberg also avoids with ease.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Engberg lands with an overhand left.
Engberg displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Engberg.
It looked like Engberg was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Wood.
Some wild striking there from Engberg.
Wood misses with a right hand
and Engberg counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wood showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Engberg.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Wood! But no joy.
Wood throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wood tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Engberg counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Engberg wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wood keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Engberg.
Engberg thows a left - swing and a miss!
Engberg lands a jab-cross combination.
Nice shot lands for Engberg.
Wood lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood dodges the punch combination from Engberg.
Wood swings for the body but Engberg moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Wood misses the target.
Engberg throwing a counter right hand but Wood manages to avoid it.
Engberg loads up on a big right hand but Wood slips the punch.
Wood unleashes a big counter combination but Engberg bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Vidar Engberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Engberg paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
No joy there for Engberg, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wood jabs Engberg right on the nose. Engberg blinks but takes it well.
Wood has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Engberg finds it's way round the side to connect with Wood's head.
Engberg throws out a loose jab but Wood uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wood misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Wood does no damage.
Engberg fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wood takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wood has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Engberg.
Engberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wood closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wood ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wood slips under a jab.
Engberg takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Engberg lands with a right hand.
Engberg lands a jab.
Wood is looking to clinch.
Wood misses with a few strikes there.
A swing and a miss from Engberg.
Engberg looks to land a right hand but Wood moved out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Engberg lands with an uppercut that bounces Wood off the cage and back into range.
Wood uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Engberg.
Wood throws a right hand that misses
and Engberg counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vidar Engberg is winning the standup battle so far.
Wood doesn't manage to clinch there - Engberg circles away.
Engberg is looking to counter punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vidar Engberg 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!

Wood throws a body punch but Engberg moves out of range.
Engberg throwing a counter right hand but Wood manages to avoid it.
Wood throws a series of punches but Engberg avoids them all with ease.
Engberg ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wood moves away.
Wood uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Engberg.
Engberg works Wood's body with a nice hook.
Engberg keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wood.
Wood ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Engberg moves out of range of the body kick.
Wood just misses with a punch to the body.
Wood connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Engberg misses with a wild body shot.
A little jabbing left from Wood on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Engberg lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Wood backs up against the cage.

Engberg forces Wood back against the cage and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Wood escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Engberg connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Engberg does no damage.
Engberg jabs Wood to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Wood uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Wood looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Engberg takes a swing at Wood's ribcage but misses.
Wood throws a counter combo.
A left and a right from Engberg both land. Nice combination.
Wood throws a series of punches but Engberg avoids them all with ease.
Wood takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A left lands for Engberg.
Engberg misses with the combination.
Wood tries to clinch up.
Engberg takes a swing at Wood's ribcage but misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Engberg checks a leg kick.
Engberg dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Engberg lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Wood on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Engberg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Engberg throws a lazy right hand but Wood sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Engberg just misses with a punch to the body.
Despite the aggression on Wood's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Engberg swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wood defending well as Engberg loads up on a big left hand.
A big left from Wood misses.
Engberg digs a good body shot into Wood's ribs.
Engberg looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Engberg looks to land a combination. Wood sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wood throws a low kick but it's checked well by Engberg.
Wood takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Wood takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Engberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wood throws a sloppy body shot
and Engberg makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Engberg throws a looping overhand right but Wood ducks down to avoid it.
Wood misses with a low kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Engberg misses its target.
Engberg looks to land a right hand but Wood moved out of range.
Engberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Engberg moves out of range as Wood throws a body kick.
Wood misses with a straight left.
Engberg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Engberg throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wood dodges the punch combination from Engberg.
Engberg lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Engberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wood swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Wood on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Wood uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Engberg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wood tries to clinch but Engberg is having none of it.
Engberg takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wood takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Engberg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wood moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Engberg lands a lovely overhand right.
Wood fails with an attempt to clinch.
Engberg lands with an uppercut that bounces Wood off the cage and back into range.
Engberg lands with a nice combination. Wood backs away looking to recover.
Engberg cracks Wood with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Engberg just misses with a punch to the body.
Engberg misses with a looping left.
Engberg misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vidar Engberg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Engberg 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vidar Engberg!