PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ollie Woodard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Blum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Leo Blum was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Woodard
vs
Blum

184 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

187 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Ollie Woodard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leo Blum!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blum manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Woodard on his heels. He'll look to pass Woodard's guard now, I'm sure.
Woodard wants to sweep but no luck.
Woodard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blum showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Blum with a nice head shot there.
Woodard is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Woodard is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blum wants to stand up but Woodard is controlling him.
Blum looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blum has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Woodard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Woodard preventing the sweep.

Blum 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.
Blum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Blum is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Woodard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Blum is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blum will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Woodard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Blum wants to sweep here but Woodard controlling him for the moment.
Blum wants to get back to his feet but Woodard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Blum utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Blum has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blum works on Woodard's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right from Blum on the inside.

Blum escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blum pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Blum gets the takedown into side control.
Woodard is being controlled here.
Woodard gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Blum thows a huge punch but Woodard dodges it nicely.
Woodard gets back to full guard.
Blum sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blum gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Blum shoots in and bounces Woodard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blum wants to pass the guard but Woodard is keeping the position.
Blum in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blum stands and steps away. Woodard gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Blum bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Blum dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Blum shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Woodard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Woodard wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Blum manages to pass to side control.

Leo Blum has got the better of the ground game so far.
Woodard wants to improve his position but Blum is controlling well.

Blum decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blum scores with a takedown into Woodard's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blum accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blum trying to control but Woodard is working from the bottom.
Blum looking to sit in guard and control but Woodard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Woodard trying to control the position from guard on top but Blum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blum wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blum is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Blum pulls Woodard in close to his closed guard and prevents Woodard from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blum wants to sweep here but Woodard controlling him for the moment.
Blum looking to control.
Blum seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Blum wants to improve his position but instead Woodard has moved into half guard.
Blum is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blum wants to get back to full guard but Woodard has mounted him!
Blum has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blum tries to hold on but Woodard postures up.
Woodard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Blum bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Blum trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blum passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Blum.
Blum performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Woodard is looking to get back to is feet but Blum passes into side control.
Blum scores with a couple of short elbows.
Woodard can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blum is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Woodard has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Blum 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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Blum.

Blum swings around for an armbar but Woodard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Blum's guard.
Blum bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Woodard's guard.

Blum stands up and waves to Woodard to follow him.
Woodard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Woodard blocks a head kick by Blum.

Blum forces Woodard back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Blum.
Blum letting Woodard take a breather here.
Blum pushes Woodard back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Blum breaks from the clinch.
No luck for Woodard with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blum throws a shot to the body.

Blum darts in and clinches Woodard up against the cage.

Blum pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blum looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Blum is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Woodard won't allow Blum to sweep him here.
Blum trying to keep a closed guard but Woodard is proving a slippery customer.
Woodard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Woodard throws a strike but Blum rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Woodard is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Woodard keeping moving, preventing Blum from controlling successfully.
Woodard is controlling Blum's posture.
Woodard is trying to control the position but Blum postures up.
Blum passes Woodard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Woodard is looking to control Blum's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Woodard avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Woodard is refusing to be controlled, as Blum sits in half guard.
Well, if Blum is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Woodard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Blum sprawls well. Blum wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Woodard gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ollie Woodard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Blum throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Woodard was covering up waiting for the punch and Blum finishes the takedown easily into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Blum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blum 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Blum!