PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ross Woods (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Woods
vs
Roberts

180 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 London, Ross Woods!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Oliver Roberts!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Woods closes the distance and clinches.
Roberts has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Woods is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Roberts wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Woods has him pressed against the cage.
Woods lands an elbow inside that Roberts shrugs off.

It looks like Oliver Roberts has been cut.
Woods landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Roberts takes an elbow to the forehead.
Roberts is trying to drag Woods to the mat but Woods just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Roberts takes a knee to the side of the body.
Roberts looks gassed!
Woods trying to land knees to the body.

Woods is fighting off a takedown attempt but Roberts is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Woods to the mat. Woods regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roberts trying to stand up but can't free himself from Woods's guard.
Woods is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Woods wants to get back to his feet but Roberts is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts trying to control but Woods is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woods pulls Roberts in close to prevent any damage.
Woods is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Roberts is controlling him.
Woods pulls Roberts in to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Woods dodges the punch combination from Roberts.
Roberts fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Roberts throws a push kick but Woods slaps the foot to one side.
Woods tries to clinch up
and Roberts counters with a left and a right that stings Woods.
Woods thuds his shin into the meat of Roberts's side.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Woods sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ross Woods has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oliver Roberts.
Woods wants to clinch.
Good exchange - Woods coming out on top.
Woods tries to clinch up.
Roberts misses with the combination.
Woods tries to close the distance and clinch up but Roberts swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Woods goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Woods tries to clinch but Roberts moves out of range.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt - Woods sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Woods throws a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods tries to close the distance and clinch up but Roberts swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Woods rushes Roberts and presses him up against the cage.
Woods connects with a nasty looking knee right to Roberts's face.
Woods landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Roberts takes an elbow to the temple.
Woods lands a nice knee to the body.
Woods unloads a knee to the mid-section. Roberts lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Woods creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Roberts's defenses.
Roberts takes a knee right on the jaw!
Roberts takes an elbow to the temple.
Woods putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Roberts in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Woods lands an elbow just above Roberts 's eye.

Roberts has clasped his hands together around Woods's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Roberts tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Roberts throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Roberts misses with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Woods is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Roberts's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Roberts is looking for a kimura here.
Woods is trying to stand up here but Roberts is controlling him well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roberts is nestled in close to Woods, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Woods dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oliver Roberts's cut.
That's time! Woods's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Woods tries to clinch but Roberts is having none of it.
Roberts throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Roberts scores with a one two! Woods had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Ross Woods has been cut.
Roberts throws a right hand that Woods ducks under and follows up with a left that Woods also avoids with ease.
Roberts falls off balance throwing a combination

and Woods holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Woods lands a knee to the head.
Roberts drops down looking for an ankle pick but Woods pulls his leg out and moves away.
Woods throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Woods lands with a kick to the temple. Roberts shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Woods tries to clinch but Roberts moves out of range.

Woods has taken the fight to the clinch.

Roberts breaks from the clinch.
Woods stuffs the takedown.
Woods connects with a high kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Woods is looking to clinch but Roberts is avoiding it.
Roberts throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods fails in his attempt to clinch.

Woods instigates a clinch.

Roberts manages to pull guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Roberts can do anything to dispel that myth.
Woods stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roberts swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Woods with a flurry of punches that miss.
Woods connects with a couple of short punches.
Roberts preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Roberts has a closed guard, preventing Woods from standing up.
Woods with a flurry of punches that miss.
Woods wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.
Woods wants to pass the guard but Roberts is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Roberts moves into the clinch.
Woods is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Roberts is defending well for now.
Woods is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Roberts is defending well for now.
Roberts tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Woods smiles and moves away.
Ross Woods has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oliver Roberts.

Roberts shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Woods's guard.
Roberts tries to stand but Woods is controlling from the bottom.
Roberts must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Roberts forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Roberts with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Woods is not content to let Roberts control the position.
Roberts thows a huge punch but Woods dodges it nicely.
Woods is looking to improve his position.

That's four 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.
Woods pushes Roberts off but Roberts dives into side control.
Roberts wants to control for a moment but Woods uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Roberts gets full guard.
Roberts manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Woods manages to get himself to full guard.
Roberts looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Roberts trying to control but Woods is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Roberts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Woods wants to clinch but Roberts slips to the side
and Roberts counters with a one-two to the body.
Woods blocks a low kick nicely.
Woods tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Woods tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Roberts throws a nice looking combination but Woods bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Woods moves into the clinch.
Woods lands a nice elbow.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike.
Roberts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Roberts fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Woods.
Woods lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Roberts is working for takedown but Woods is calmly controlling the position for now.
Roberts is working for takedown but Woods is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ross Woods has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oliver Roberts.
Roberts takes an elbow to the temple.
Knees in the clinch landing for Woods.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Woods creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Roberts's defenses.
Woods lands an elbow just above Roberts 's eye.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Woods.
Woods pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Roberts creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Woods throws a knee to the head but misses.
Roberts avoiding damage as Woods throws knees to the body.
Roberts blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Woods missing with knees to the body.
Roberts blocks the elbow strike.
Roberts lands a body shot.
Roberts fails to pull guard.
Woods throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roberts scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Roberts is trying hard to land a takedown here. Woods sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ross Woods is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberts scores with a decent looking hook.
Roberts misses with a hook to the body
enabling Woods to counter with a crisp jab.
Woods moves in looking to clinch but Roberts pushes him off.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Roberts's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Roberts duly obliges.
Woods takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Woods tries to close the distance and clinch up but Roberts swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Woods throws a nice looking combination but Roberts bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Roberts misses

and Woods counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Woods.
Woods throws a knee to the head but misses.
Roberts wants to break free but Woods has control.
Woods looking to throw knees to the head but Roberts is blocking nicely.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roberts fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Woods moves in looking to clinch but Roberts pushes him off.
Woods wants to clinch.
Roberts is looking to clinch.

Roberts closes the distance and pushes Woods back into the cage.
Roberts avoids a wild elbow strike from Woods.
Woods tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roberts avoids it.
Roberts has Woods pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Woods manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Woods misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roberts.
Woods scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Woods.
Woods looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Roberts lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Woods tries to clinch but Roberts moves out of range.
Woods closes the distance looking to clinch
and Roberts counters with a nice body shot.
Roberts misses with the combination.
Woods doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Woods is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Woods stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Woods wants it to stay on the feet.
Roberts fails with the takedown.
Woods is looking to clinch.
Roberts tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Woods is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Woods wants to clinch
and Roberts counters with a two punch combo.
Woods wants to clinch

and Roberts counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Roberts has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Woods is proving hard to escape from.
Roberts throws a strike but Woods rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Woods postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Woods wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.
Woods throws and elbow that misses. Roberts uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Woods's guard. Nice move by Roberts!

And that's the end of the fight!
Oliver Roberts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Roberts 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oliver Roberts!