PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Oda Musashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Woolard (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.

Musashi
vs
Woolard

170 cm
27
160 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

175 cm
26
163 lbs
5 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oda Musashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyson Woolard!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Musashi.
Woolard tries to clinch there but Musashi circles away.

Woolard shoots in and bounces Musashi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Musashi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Woolard defends it easily.

Musashi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Woolard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Musashi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Woolard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Woolard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woolard trying to control the position from guard on top but Musashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woolard won't allow Musashi to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Woolard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Musashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Woolard manages to get himself to full guard.
Musashi advances to half guard.
Woolard looks like he's trying to stand up.

Musashi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Woolard actively working from the bottom here.
Woolard is trying to stand back up but Musashi is controlling him

Woolard manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Musashi avoids a kick to the body.
Musashi has his takedown stuffed
and Woolard counters with a nice uppercut.
Musashi is breathing heavily.
Woolard throws a right and a left that Musashi avoids nicely.
Woolard tries a head kick but it misses.
Musashi shoots and misses

and Woolard counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oda Musashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Musashi is not content to let Woolard control the position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Woolard is trying to get an arm triangle but Musashi is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Musashi regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Musashi is looking for a sweep. Woolard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Musashi trying to control from the bottom.
Musashi wants to get back to full guard.
Musashi is refusing to be controlled, as Woolard sits in half guard.
Woolard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Musashi's head.
Woolard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Musashi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Musashi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Musashi is trying to control but can't.

Woolard escapes and gets back to his feet.
Woolard scores with a one two! Musashi had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Woolard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Musashi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Woolard counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Woolard clinches up with Musashi and pushes him back against the cage.
Musashi tries to pull guard but Woolard holds him up against the cage and eventually Musashi drops back down to his feet.
Woolard tries for a takedown but Musashi manages to get underhooks.

Woolard gets control of Musashi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Woolard will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Musashi trying to control the position from guard on top but Woolard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Woolard trying to keep a closed guard but Musashi is proving a slippery customer.
Woolard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Musashi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Musashi wants to pass the guard but Woolard is keeping the position.
Woolard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Musashi dodges the punch combination from Woolard.
Musashi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Musashi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Musashi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Woolard has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Musashi off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Musashi misses with a takedown attempt

and Woolard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Woolard.
Woolard throws a head punch that misses.
Musashi prevents the takedown attempt.
Woolard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Woolard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Woolard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Oda Musashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Woolard.

Musashi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Musashi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woolard tries to free his leg and advance position but Musashi is retaining full guard.

Musashi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Woolard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Woolard trying to control but Musashi is working from the bottom.
Musashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Woolard manages to get himself to full guard.
Woolard keeping full guard, as Musashi tries to pass.
Musashi is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Musashi has gone for a leg lock! Woolard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Musashi's guard.
Musashi working a defensive guard but Woolard passes into half guard.
Musashi wants to control but Woolard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Woolard prevents Musashi from improving his position.

Musashi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Musashi is not content to let Woolard control the position.

Musashi is defending against the submission attempts here by Woolard.

Musashi looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woolard is keen to just control but Musashi is a slippery customer.

Musashi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Woolard seems to be working for a kimura but Musashi defends the submission attempt.
Musashi wants to control but Woolard is keeping busy.
Musashi wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Musashi actively working from the bottom here.
Musashi is looking to improve his position.
Musashi is trying to control but can't.
Woolard content to control rather than advance.
Musashi is not content to let Woolard control the position.
Musashi is looking for a sweep. Woolard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Musashi is refusing to be controlled, as Woolard sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Oda Musashi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Woolard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Woolard moves into range and clinches up with Musashi.
Musashi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Woolard fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Musashi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Woolard!
Woolard can't escape the position.

Musashi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Woolard has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Musashi looking to control but Woolard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woolard wants to control but Musashi is having none of it.
Woolard is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Musashi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Woolard is looking to escape.
Musashi with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Woolard regains half guard.
Musashi prevents Woolard from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Woolard is staying active underneath Musashi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Musashi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Woolard has one foot on Musashi's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Woolard lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Musashi fails with the takedown
and Woolard counters with a head kick. That will keep Musashi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Musashi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Woolard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oda Musashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Woolard tries for a takedown but Musashi manages to get underhooks.
Musashi tries for a takedown but Woolard manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woolard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Musashi prevents it.
Musashi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Woolard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Woolard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Woolard pulls guard successfully.
Musashi passes into half guard.
Woolard tries to roll over but Musashi keeps him under control.

Musashi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tyson Woolard has got the better of the ground game so far.

Woolard makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Musashi fails with the takedown
and Woolard finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Woolard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Oda Musashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Musashi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Woolard quickly recovers to half guard.

Musashi is trying to work for a kimura but Woolard is defending well.

Musashi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Woolard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Musashi.
Woolard wants to get back to his feet.

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 Oda Musashi.
I think Musashi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dennis scores the fight for Tyson Woolard!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Tyson Woolard!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Tyson Woolard!

Tyson Woolard wins by unanimous decision!