PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roger Woodard (ranked 7537 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raghave Upadhyaya (ranked 8312 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Upadhyaya's choice of entrance music: Start of something new. Raghave Upadhyaya will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Woodard
vs
Upadhyaya

165 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
20
204 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roger Woodard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raghave Upadhyaya!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Francis DeMontford and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Upadhyaya scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Woodard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Upadhyaya looks to land a combination but Woodard avoids it well.

Woodard pushes Upadhyaya up against the cage in a clinch.
Woodard tries to pull guard but Upadhyaya holds him up against the cage and eventually Woodard drops back down to his feet.
Woodard tries to pull guard but Upadhyaya won't allow it.
Upadhyaya is trying to break the clinch but Woodard has him pressed against the cage.
Woodard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Upadhyaya just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Woodard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Woodard gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Woodard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Woodard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Upadhyaya's head.
Woodard thows a huge punch but Upadhyaya dodges it nicely.
Ground and pound from Woodard.
Upadhyaya is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Woodard scores with a couple of nice shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Upadhyaya desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Woodard stops Upadhyaya from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Upadhyaya is trying to stand.
Upadhyaya punching from the bottom.
Upadhyaya is trying to stand up here but Woodard is controlling him well.
Woodard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Upadhyaya is trying to control but can't.
Upadhyaya really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Woodard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Upadhyaya tries to kick Woodard off but Woodard keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Woodard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Upadhyaya with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Upadhyaya is trying to control but Woodard passes into side control!
Upadhyaya is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Woodard asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woodard lands an elbow.
Woodard working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Upadhyaya can't do much from the bottom here.
Upadhyaya managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Woodard.
Upadhyaya is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Woodard has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Upadhyaya is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Woodard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Woodard scoring with punches from side control.
Woodard throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Upadhyaya is looking to get back to his feet here but Woodard is keeping cool and he's managed to take Upadhyaya's back.

Woodard looking for the choke but no joy.

Upadhyaya manages to escape to his feet.
Woodard is looking to clinch.
Upadhyaya misses with the combination.
Upadhyaya defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Woodard.
Raghave Upadhyaya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Upadhyaya darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

It looks like Roger Woodard has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodard fails with a takedown attempt.

Woodard moves into the clinch.

Woodard manages to pull guard.
Woodard trying to keep a closed guard but Upadhyaya is proving a slippery customer.
Woodard is breathing heavily.
Upadhyaya missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Upadhyaya looking to pass the guard.
Upadhyaya trying to control but Woodard is working from the bottom.
Upadhyaya postures up and lands a big shot to Woodard's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Woodard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roger Woodard's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Upadhyaya looks for the body kick but Woodard saw that one coming.

Woodard moves into the clinch.

Woodard pulls guard successfully.
Woodard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Upadhyaya can do to turn this around?
Upadhyaya with a flurry of punches that miss.
Upadhyaya is looking to work some ground and pound but Woodard has wrist control.
Upadhyaya tries to stand but Woodard is controlling from the bottom.
Upadhyaya content to stall in guard here.

Upadhyaya stands up and waves to Woodard to follow him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woodard wants to clinch up but Upadhyaya keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Upadhyaya shoots in for a takedown but Woodard shows good takedown defense.
Woodard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Upadhyaya has a takedown stuffed.
Woodard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roger Woodard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raghave Upadhyaya.

Woodard looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Woodard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Woodard throws an elbow that misses. Upadhyaya uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Woodard's guard. Nice move by Upadhyaya!

Upadhyaya prevents Woodard from getting back to his feet.
Upadhyaya looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Upadhyaya throws an elbow that misses. Woodard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Upadhyaya's guard. Nice move by Woodard!

Woodard landing with the ground and pound.

Upadhyaya looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Woodard passes into half guard.
Nice strikes from Woodard there.
Woodard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Upadhyaya keeping hold of Woodard's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Woodard connects with a nice short shot to Upadhyaya's temple.
Woodard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Upadhyaya's head.

Woodard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Upadhyaya defends it well.
Woodard working over Upadhyaya with some ground and pound. Upadhyaya looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Woodard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Upadhyaya doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Woodard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Woodard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Upadhyaya has one foot on Woodard's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A punch lands to the side of Woodard 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Woodard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Upadhyaya is trying hard to land a takedown here. Woodard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Woodard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No joy there for Upadhyaya, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Upadhyaya throws a one two combo.
Roger Woodard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Woodard tries to keep at a distance but Upadhyaya has taken the fight into the clinch.
Woodard tries to pull guard but Upadhyaya forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Upadhyaya manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raghave Upadhyaya will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Roger Woodard's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Woodard moves to clinch but Upadhyaya breaks away
and Upadhyaya cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Woodard is rocked!
Woodard tries to clinch but Upadhyaya moves away
and Upadhyaya counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Oh Woodard is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Upadhyaya goes for a small jab and connects. Now Upadhyaya goes in closer pressing the issue. Left hook, right straight! Woodard stumbles back but Upadhyaya runs in with a huge uppercut knocking Woodard to the ground! What a finish! You have to wonder if Woodard will ever be the same after a knockout like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Raghave Upadhyaya!
Raghave Upadhyaya looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Grind Never Stops'.