PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Blaine Woodard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Devan Hennings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Woodard
vs
Hennings

183 cm
20
177 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
21
178 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple 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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Blaine Woodard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Devan Hennings!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woodard misses with a takedown attempt

and Hennings counters with a takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hennings connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Woodard some visible discomfort.
Hennings wants to stand but Woodard has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Woodard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hennings trying to control but Woodard is working from the bottom.
Woodard wants to sweep here but Hennings controlling him for the moment.
Hennings wants to pass the guard but Woodard is keeping the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hennings sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hennings postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Woodard is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hennings, into his guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Woodard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hennings keeping moving, preventing Woodard from controlling successfully.
Hennings tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hennings throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Woodard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hennings is proving hard to escape from.
Woodard wants to pass the guard but Hennings is keeping the position.

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

Woodard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Woodard slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Hennings.
Woodard is thwarting Hennings's attempts to control the position.
Hennings tries to get to full guard but Woodard has control of the leg.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hennings makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hennings.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hennings is proving hard to escape from.
Hennings trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hennings is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hennings thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hennings keeping moving, preventing Woodard from controlling successfully.
Woodard controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Blaine Woodard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Woodard shoots in but Hennings avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Woodard gets a takedown into half guard.
Hennings wants to get back to full guard.
Hennings is trying to stand up here but Woodard is controlling him well.
Hennings is looking for a sweep. Woodard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Woodard drops an elbow to the side of Hennings's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Woodard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hennings does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hennings works his way to full guard. Good work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Woodard sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hennings tries to clinch

and Woodard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Woodard is looking to take this one to the mat.
A head punch on the inside from Hennings fails to land.
Hennings tries to land a knee to the head but Woodard blocks with his arms.
Woodard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hennings to keep the fight standing.
Hennings wants to break the clinch but can't.

Hennings drags the fight down to the ground.
Woodard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Hennings escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Woodard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Woodard trying to control but Hennings is working from the bottom.
Woodard wants to pass the guard but Hennings is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hennings wants to stand and escape but Woodard is having none of it.
Woodard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hennings is striking from the bottom but Woodard uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Hennings trying to control from the bottom.
Hennings is trying is best to control the position here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Woodard in particular looking to stall.
Woodard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hennings is trying to stand.

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

Woodard has taken the fight to the clinch.

Woodard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Woodard dives in for a single leg takedown but Hennings sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blaine Woodard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hennings is pushing Woodard up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hennings tries for a takedown but Woodard manages to get underhooks.
Woodard is working for takedown but Hennings is calmly controlling the position for now.

Hennings pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hennings shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Woodard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hennings trying to control but Woodard is working from the bottom.
Hennings is breathing heavily.
Hennings preventing the sweep.

Woodard is looking for a triangle but Hennings pushes his legs off easily.
Hennings working some strikes from top position.
Hennings controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Woodard keeping moving, preventing Hennings from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodard working a defensive guard here.
Hennings seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Devan Hennings has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Devan Hennings wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hennings swats away the attempt to clinch by Woodard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hennings shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devan Hennings showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hennings closes the distance and clinches.

Hennings pulls guard.
Hennings preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hennings working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Woodard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Woodard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Woodard stops Hennings from standing up.
Woodard preventing the sweep.
Woodard working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hennings managing to control the position.
Hennings takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodard content to stall in guard here.
Woodard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hennings's guard.
Hennings avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hennings 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 referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hennings tries to close the distance and clinch but Woodard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Woodard checks a low kick from Hennings.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Woodard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hennings looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hennings pushes Woodard away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Woodard gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Woodard happy to just control the position for now.

Woodard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hennings has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hennings wants to control but Woodard postures up.
Woodard wants to control but Hennings is keeping him busy.
Woodard lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hennings is pushing Woodard's head away, looking to escape. Woodard manages to hold on to the position though.
Woodard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hennings keeps working.
Woodard cracks Hennings with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hennings wants to get back to his feet but Woodard is dominant here and he's now got Hennings's back!
Hennings tries to break free.
Hennings keeps trying to improve his position.
Woodard trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Hennings doesn't escape.
Woodard not allowing Hennings to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hennings tries to escape the position.

Woodard has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hennings has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Hennings rolls, trying to escape but Woodard keeps control of the position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Woodard punches the canvas rather than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hennings showing good submission defense here.
Hennings covering up well under a barage of strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blaine Woodard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hennings has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Devan Hennings!