PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Woodcock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikey Capone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Woodcock
vs
Capone

179 cm
24
185 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

185 cm
27
201 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Woodcock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikey Capone!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Woodcock shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Capone manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Woodcock trying to control but Capone is working from the bottom.
Woodcock tries to free his leg and advance position but Capone is retaining full guard.
Woodcock preventing the sweep.
Woodcock trying to control but Capone is working from the bottom.
Woodcock pushes down on Capone's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Woodcock prevents Capone from improving his position.
Woodcock working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Capone trying to hold on to Woodcock's head to control him but Woodcock postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Woodcock tries to pass the half guard into mount. Capone knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Woodcock connects with a nice short shot to Capone's temple.
Capone is staying active underneath Woodcock, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Capone regains full guard. Nicely done.

Woodcock drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Capone manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Woodcock has Capone in his guard.
Woodcock trying to control the position here.
Woodcock wants to sweep here but Capone controlling him for the moment.
Capone working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two 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.
Capone throwing strikes from guard but Woodcock blocks nicely.
Woodcock keeping moving, preventing Capone from controlling successfully.
Capone must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Capone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Woodcock is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Capone uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Woodcock.
Woodcock throws a lazy right hand but Capone sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Woodcock misses with a takedown attempt - Capone sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Woodcock throws a body punch but Capone moves out of range.
James Woodcock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodcock shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Capone but Capone pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Capone avoids the body shot from Woodcock.

Woodcock shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Woodcock won't allow Capone to get back to his feet.
Woodcock passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Capone on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Capone is looking for a sweep.
Capone is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Woodcock has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Woodcock working away.
Capone on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Capone is working to avoid the ground and pound but Woodcock connects with a decent elbow.
Capone is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Capone is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Woodcock has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Capone is looking for a sweep.
Capone looks gassed!
Capone parries the strikes from Woodcock easily there. Woodcock is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Capone to escape.
Capone is not content to let Woodcock control the position.
Woodcock works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Woodcock tries for a kimura but Capone is defending well.
Woodcock trying to control the action but Capone is working from the bottom.
Capone looking for a sweep but Woodcock has passed into full mount! Oh no!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Woodcock dominated that round.
That's time! Woodcock's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Woodcock shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Capone as he avoids it easily.
Woodcock checks the leg kick nicely there.
Woodcock lands a right hook to the body.
Woodcock throws a jab when Capone was well out of range.
Mikey Capone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Woodcock tries for a takedown but Capone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Woodcock with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Woodcock slips a jab from Capone.
Capone throws a head kick but Woodcock moves out of range.
Capone misses with a hook. Woodcock ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woodcock throws a lazy right hand but Capone sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Woodcock avoids the body shot from Capone.

Woodcock closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Woodcock lands in his opponent's guard.

Woodcock is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capone wants to stand but Woodcock is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Capone keeping full guard, as Woodcock tries to pass.
Woodcock postures up.
Woodcock in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Capone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Capone trying to control the position.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Woodcock shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Woodcock cracks Capone with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
A nice elbow there by Woodcock.
Capone tries to hold on but Woodcock pushes him away.
Woodcock looking to finish Capone with some ground and pound. This is bad for Capone!
Woodcock can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Capone is looking to escape.
Woodcock scoring with strikes but Capone is staying in there.

Woodcock is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Capone is surviving well by controlling Woodcock's body position as best he can.
Capone wants to try and get back to his feet.
Capone is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodcock looking to control but Capone is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Woodcock cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Capone is squirming around, avoiding Woodcock's attempts to control the action.
Woodcock controlling from mount.
Woodcock trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Capone is trying to escape the mount.
Woodcock fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Woodcock goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Capone turns into him and now he's in Woodcock's guard.
Woodcock looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Capone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Woodcock is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
James Woodcock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Capone is staying active underneath Woodcock, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Capone is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Woodcock looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Woodcock dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Capone doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Capone fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Woodcock manages to avoid it.
Woodcock throws an overhand right that lands on Capone's shoulder, as Capone tries to avoid the shot.
Woodcock throws out a loose jab but Capone uses good head movement to avoid it.
Capone misses with a hook.
Woodcock takes a swing at Capone's ribcage but misses.
Woodcock misses with an uppercut. Capone saw that one coming.
A shot to the liver by Woodcock. Beautiful body shot.
Capone with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Woodcock to score with a decent uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woodcock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Woodcock waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Capone.

Woodcock is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Capone's half guard.
Woodcock takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capone is looking for a sweep. Woodcock is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Woodcock is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Woodcock is trying to control the action in half guard but Capone is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Woodcock throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Woodcock is looking to take a break and control but Capone is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Woodcock's corner calls for a 1-2. Woodcock obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Woodcock cracks Capone with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Woodcock shoots in and bounces Capone off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Capone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Woodcock manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capone working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Capone stopping the sweep attempt from Woodcock.

Woodcock escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Capone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Woodcock has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Woodcock trying to keep a closed guard but Capone is proving a slippery customer.
Woodcock pulls Capone in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodcock looking for a sweep. Not yet Woodcock, not yet.
Woodcock is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Capone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Woodcock's sensitive parts.
Mikey Capone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Capone bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Woodcock stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Capone.
Capone moves out of range of the strikes.
Woodcock looks to throw the jab but Capone is out of range.
Capone lands a nice looking body shot.
Woodcock changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Capone tries to avoid it but Woodcock manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Capone to the ground. Capone escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Capone uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Woodcock has time to react.
Capone throws a jab but it's blocked by Woodcock.
Capone lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Capone tried to score with a low kick but Woodcock checks it.
Capone throws a one two combo.
Woodcock is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Capone.
Woodcock connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Woodcock misses with an uppercut. Capone saw that one coming.
Woodcock lands an overhand right.
Capone throws a right hand that Woodcock ducks under and follows up with a left that Woodcock also avoids with ease.
Capone slips under a jab from Woodcock.
Woodcock fails with a takedown attempt.
Woodcock throws a big shot that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Woodcock.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Woodcock, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Woodcock!