PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anfernee Jeremiah Booker (ranked 2861 p4p, 292 weight class) and Bayden Wood (ranked 4737 p4p, 466 weight class). Bayden Wood has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Jeremiah Booker
vs
Wood

198 cm
21
248 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
28
244 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Anfernee Jeremiah Booker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bayden Wood!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Booker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wood.
Wood misses with a head kick.
Wood loads up on a big right hand but Booker slips the punch.
Booker feinted with a counter takedown.
A swing and a miss from Wood.
Booker attempts a counter takedown but Wood avoids it well and moves away.
Wood scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Booker doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood lands a jab to Booker's midsection.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Wood has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Wood tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Booker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Booker tries to counter with a takedown but Wood is quick to defend against it.
A lazy body kick from Wood

and Booker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wood won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood tries to bench press Booker off him but Booker keeps the position.
Wood wants to control but Booker postures up.
Wood is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Booker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wood's head.
Booker is thwarting Wood's attempts to control the position.
Booker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Booker throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Wood to regain full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Booker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Booker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Booker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wood works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wood preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Booker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Booker throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker is looking to work some ground and pound but Wood has wrist control.
Booker tries to free his leg and advance position but Wood is retaining full guard.
Booker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Booker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Booker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Booker throws a strike but Wood rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Wood pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Booker is keeping the position for now.
Booker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Wood slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Booker.
Wood trying to pass the guard but Booker defending well.
Booker tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Booker missing with punches from the bottom.
Booker tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Booker missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood wants to pass the guard but Booker is defending well.
Wood blocks the strikes from Booker.
Wood blocks the strikes from Booker.
Booker missing with punches from the bottom.
Booker throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Wood blocks the strikes from Booker.
Wood trying to control the action but Booker is working from the bottom.
Booker striking from half guard on the bottom.
Wood wants to control but Booker is keeping him busy.

Wood is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Booker has managed to free his arm - good work.
Booker throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Booker throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A low kick from Wood misses

and Booker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wood's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Booker throws a big elbow that misses.
Booker throws a big right hand that misses.

Wood looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Booker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Wood has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Booker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wood looks winded!
Booker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wood preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Booker prevents Wood from getting back to his feet.

Wood 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.

A close round but Bayden Wood will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Wood tries to score with a low kick but Booker moves his leg out of the way.
Booker drops down looking for a counter takedown but Wood sprawls and moves away.
Wood fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wood throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wood misses with a two punch combination.
Booker attempts a counter takedown but Wood avoids it well and moves away.
Booker moves out of range as Wood strikes.
Booker feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood is looking to clinch.
Wood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood misses with a double jab.
Booker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Wood lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Booker circles away quickly and effectively.
Wood throws a body punch but Booker moves out of range.
Booker attempts a counter takedown but Wood avoids it well and moves away.
Wood swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Booker appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Wood swings for the body but Booker moves out of range.
Wood fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Booker feinted with a counter takedown.
Wood is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Booker attempts a counter takedown but Wood avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood misses with a leg kick

and Booker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Booker throws a big elbow that misses.
Booker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wood is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Booker is controlling him.
Wood avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Booker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wood works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wood is trying to keep Booker in close.
Booker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Booker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Booker postures up in Wood's guard and throws a big left but Wood blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker throwing strikes but missing.
Booker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wood works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Booker throws a strike but Wood rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Booker throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Booker throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Booker thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Booker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Booker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Booker thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Booker throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Booker trying to strike off his back.
Wood wants to get up but he can't break Booker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Booker has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Wood has passed into side control.
Wood takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Booker to pass into mount.
Booker flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wood trying to control but Booker is having none of it.
Booker flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Anfernee Jeremiah Booker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Booker throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Booker regains half guard.
Booker flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Booker misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Booker missing with punches from the bottom.
Booker misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Booker punching from the bottom.
Booker punching from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Booker missing with punches from the bottom.
Wood thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Booker's head.
Wood blocks the strikes from Booker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bayden Wood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Booker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Wood thows a left - swing and a miss!
Booker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wood throws out the jab.
Wood tries to close the distance and clinch but Booker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Booker attempts a counter takedown but Wood avoids it well and moves away.
Wood throws an off balance right hand

and Booker counters with a shoot takedown. Wood fights it but they end up in guard.
Booker is in close to Wood's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Booker throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Booker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Booker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Booker throws an elbow that misses. Wood uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Booker's guard. Nice move by Wood!

Booker trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Wood looking to pass the guard.
Booker tries to strike from the bottom.
Booker throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Booker looking for a sweep. Not yet Booker, not yet.
Booker throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Booker utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wood tries to free his leg and advance position but Booker is retaining full guard.
Booker throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Booker throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Booker striking off his back but it's not causing Wood any problems.
Booker trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Wood stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Booker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wood takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Wood drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wood jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Booker will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wood missing with a left hand there. Booker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Booker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wood.
Bayden Wood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circling - Wood throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wood throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wood throws an off balance right hand

and Booker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wood wants to sweep but no luck.
Booker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Booker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Booker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Booker throws a big elbow that misses.
Wood preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Booker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wood utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Booker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wood works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Booker postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wood preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wood utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Booker postures up in Wood's guard and throws a big left but Wood blocks it.
Booker throwing strikes but missing.
Wood is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Booker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wood working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Booker.
Booker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wood works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wood preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Booker throws a big elbow that misses.
Booker throwing strikes but missing.
Booker throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Booker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wood working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Booker.
Booker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Booker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Booker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Wood is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Booker is aware though and is defending well.
Wood utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anfernee Jeremiah Booker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wood has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Anfernee Jeremiah Booker!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Bayden Wood!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Anfernee Jeremiah Booker!

Anfernee Jeremiah Booker wins by split decision!
After the fight, Anfernee Jeremiah Booker was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.