PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jamal Woodley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maya Richer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richer has chosen the duck song 3 as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Maya Richer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Woodley
vs
Richer

180 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
150 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jamal Woodley!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maya Richer!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woodley swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Richer counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Richer has closed the distance and engaged Woodley in a clinch.
Woodley stalling in the clinch but Richer improves position.

Richer gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Woodley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Richer defends well.

Woodley working for a triangle but Richer defends it easily.

Woodley working for a triangle but Richer defends it easily.
Richer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Woodley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Woodley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woodley is looking for a triangle but Richer pushes his legs off easily.
Richer throwing strikes from guard but Woodley blocks nicely.
Richer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Woodley swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Woodley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Richer trying to control but Woodley is working from the bottom.

Woodley has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Richer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Richer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Woodley on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Woodley tries to get out of the position.
Richer trying to control but Woodley is working from the bottom.
Richer with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richer trying to control the position from guard on top but Woodley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Woodley throws his legs up looking for a submission but Richer uses it to pass to side control.
Richer tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Woodley is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Woodley is not content to let Richer control the position.
Richer creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Woodley sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Woodley dodges the ground and pound from Richer.
Woodley is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodley is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Richer off and has taken his back!
Richer holding both Woodley 's hands and preventing any damage.
Richer looks gassed!

Woodley has Richer's back but decides to stand back up... Obviously he fancies his chances in the standup department!
Woodley falls off balance throwing a combination
and Richer counters with a three punch combo that has Woodley backing up. Woodley nods at Richer to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richer moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Richer rushes Woodley and presses him up against the cage.

Richer gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Woodley regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Woodley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Woodley keeping moving, preventing Richer from controlling successfully.

Woodley has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Richer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Richer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Woodley throws a series of punches but Richer avoids them all with ease.

Richer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Richer landing strikes.
Woodley is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Richer's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Richer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Woodley defending well though.
Richer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Woodley's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodley wants to get back to full guard.
Woodley is working hard here to advance position.
Richer uses his free foot to push down on Woodley's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Woodley.
Woodley is trying to escape the mount.
Woodley manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Woodley is looking for a sweep. Richer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Richer moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Woodley.
Maya Richer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richer lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Woodley down.
Woodley regains half guard.
Woodley tries to roll over but Richer keeps him under control.
Woodley gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Woodley working for a triangle but Richer defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Richer works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Woodley gets back to full guard.
Richer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Richer trying to control the position from guard on top but Woodley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Woodley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Richer trying to control but Woodley is working from the bottom.

Woodley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Woodley is looking for a triangle but Richer pushes his legs off easily.
Richer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Woodley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Richer is looking to work some ground and pound but Woodley has wrist control.
Richer postures up in Woodley's guard and throws a big left but Woodley blocks it.

Woodley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Woodley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Richer defends it easily.
Woodley keeping moving, preventing Richer from controlling successfully.

Woodley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Richer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Richer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Woodley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Richer postures up in Woodley's guard and throws a big left but Woodley blocks it.
Richer working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Woodley's head.
Richer looking to pass the guard.

Woodley working for a triangle but Richer defends it easily.
Woodley keeping full guard, as Richer tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Woodley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maya Richer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Richer shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Woodley is trying to defend but Richer finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Woodley gets full guard.

Woodley working for a triangle but Richer defends it easily.

Woodley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Richer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Woodley keeping moving, preventing Richer from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Richer.

Woodley looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Richer passes into side control.
Woodley sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Woodley is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Richer jumps into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richer looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Woodley is avoiding damage well.
Richer working the body and head with strikes.
Woodley is trying to get back to half guard.
Woodley is not content to let Richer control the position.
Richer throws a strike aimed at the side of Woodley's head but Woodley avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richer wants to control but Woodley is keeping him busy.
Richer landing a few strikes.
Woodley is not content to let Richer control the position.
Woodley is trying to improve his position.
Richer is looking to take a break and control but Woodley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Woodley sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Woodley wants to get back to full guard.

Woodley looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Woodley's head.
Richer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Woodley tries to get to full guard but Richer has control of the leg.
Richer is trying to control the action in half guard but Woodley is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Woodley manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Woodley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Richer trying to control but Woodley is working from the bottom.

Woodley looking for a guillotine here but Richer defends easily.
Richer trying to control but Woodley is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Woodley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Richer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Richer postures up in Woodley's guard and throws a big left but Woodley blocks it.
Richer trying to control but Woodley is working from the bottom.

Woodley is looking for a triangle but Richer pushes his legs off easily.
Richer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Woodley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Richer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Richer trying to control the position from guard on top but Woodley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maya Richer really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Woodley throws a lazy head kick
and Richer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Woodley misses with a combination
and Richer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Some wild striking there from Woodley.

Richer closes the distance and pushes Woodley back into the cage.

Richer wants the takedown. Woodley is fighting it off but Richer persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Woodley's guard against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woodley working for a triangle but Richer defends it easily.

Woodley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Richer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Richer tries to free his leg and advance position but Woodley is retaining full guard.
Richer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Woodley working for a triangle but Richer defends it easily.
Richer trying to control the position from guard on top but Woodley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Woodley throws his legs up looking for a submission but Richer uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richer trying to control the position but Woodley is working away.
Woodley tries to improve position but can't.
Richer has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Woodley!
Richer sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Richer cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Richer raining down shots from the mount!
Woodley is looking to get to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richer putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Woodley is rocked!
Richer connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Oh Woodley is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Richer scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Richer postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Woodley in real trouble here! The ref calls for Woodley to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Maya Richer!
Maya Richer is the new featherweight champion!
An out of breath and clearly excited Maya Richer thanked Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).