PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Woodcock (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.

Hardy
vs
Woodcock

184 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

MMA's Best Nutrition

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gavin Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Woodcock!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy shoots in looking for a takedown. Woodcock tries to sprawl out of it but Hardy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Woodcock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James Woodcock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy moves out of range as Woodcock strikes.

Woodcock closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Woodcock lands a takedown into guard.
Woodcock trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Woodcock stands and throws Hardy's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Woodcock is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hardy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hardy tries to buck Woodcock off but Woodcock is having none of it.
Woodcock wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Hardy is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hardy is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy wants to get back to full guard but Woodcock has passed into side control.
Hardy looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
You can see the frustration on Hardy's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Hardy defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
You can see the frustration on Hardy's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Woodcock biding his time, looking for the opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy tries to escape the position.

Woodcock is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Hardy rolls, trying to escape but Woodcock keeps control of the position.

Woodcock working for a choke but Hardy is defending well.
Woodcock looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Woodcock looking to break Hardy's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Hardy remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Woodcock will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Hardy controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Woodcock avoiding Hardy 's attempts to control his hands.
Woodcock has good solid back control here.
Hardy tries to escape the position.
Hardy tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Woodcock trying to control but Hardy is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hardy gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is in trouble now - Woodcock has advanced to mount!
Hardy is wriggling around trying to escape.
Woodcock wants to control the action but instead Hardy gets a body lock and reverses into Woodcock's guard! Nice work!

Woodcock is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Woodcock is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardy is looking to stand up but Woodcock won't let him.
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.

Woodcock is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hardy tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Woodcock manages to move to mount!

Woodcock looking for a guillotine from mount but Hardy is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is in all sorts of trouble here.

Woodcock working for a guillotine from mount but Hardy is in no mood to give up.
Hardy regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hardy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Hardy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Woodcock can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hardy is on top in guard.

Hardy drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hardy jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hardy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Woodcock is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Woodcock dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hardy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hardy slips under a jab.
Hardy slips under a jab from Woodcock.

Woodcock darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Woodcock is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Woodcock is trying to work for a kimura but Hardy is defending well.

Hardy actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy wants to improve his position but Woodcock is controlling well.

Hardy actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodcock seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hardy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Woodcock is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hardy defends it well.
Woodcock trying to pass the guard but Hardy defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Woodcock fails in his attempt to clinch.

Woodcock shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Woodcock passes Hardy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Woodcock looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hardy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Woodcock is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hardy!
Woodcock wants to control the pace but Hardy is squirming around nicely.

Woodcock goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hardy turns into him and now he's in Woodcock's guard.
Woodcock lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hardy!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Woodcock wants to control the pace but Hardy is squirming around nicely.
Hardy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hardy really wants to buck Woodcock off and get back to his feet.
Hardy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Woodcock controlling the pace for now.
Hardy working to try and regain half guard.

Woodcock with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy has given up his back.
Hardy wants to escape the position.

Woodcock is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Hardy manages to reverse the position and now he's in Woodcock's guard. Nice work there by Hardy.
Woodcock is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Woodcock keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.

Hardy gets to his feet - Woodcock follows without any prompting.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Woodcock.
Hardy tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Woodcock crashes against the mat.
Hardy prevents Woodcock from moving into mount.
Woodcock misses with the ground and pound.

Woodcock is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hardy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Woodcock advances to mount.
Woodcock controlling from mount.
Hardy is controlling an arm, preventing Woodcock from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Hardy is trying to reverse the position but instead Woodcock has taken his back - oops!

Woodcock working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Hardy is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Woodcock showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hardy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Woodcock looks to land a left hand but Hardy moved out of range nicely.
Hardy tries to clinch up but Woodcock circles away and keeps his distance.
Hardy with a lazy takedown attempt

and Woodcock counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Woodcock avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hardy looking for a guillotine here but Woodcock defends easily.

Woodcock avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hardy is looking for a triangle but Woodcock pushes his legs off easily.
Woodcock passes Hardy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Woodcock trying to control from half guard but Hardy is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woodcock is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Woodcock prevents Hardy from improving his position.
James Woodcock has got the better of the ground game so far.
Woodcock not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Woodcock wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.
Hardy is pressing down on Woodcock's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Woodcock trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hardy with a poor takedown

and Woodcock counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Woodcock.

Hardy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Woodcock gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Woodcock trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woodcock postures up.

Woodcock drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Woodcock jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hardy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Hardy is working for a guillotine from mount but Woodcock frees his head quite easily.
Woodcock manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Hardy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Woodcock doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hardy.
Hardy has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodcock wants to control but Hardy is having none of it.
Woodcock can't escape the position.

Hardy goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Woodcock turns into him and now he's in Hardy's guard.
Woodcock passes Hardy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.
Hardy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hardy is looking to escape.

Woodcock is trying for a kimura here. Hardy looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Woodcock wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). James Woodcock!