PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rhys Woods (ranked 5117 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Francois Demonceaux (ranked 7362 p4p, 0 weight class). Jean Francois Demonceaux told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Woods
vs
Francois Demonceaux

180 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rhys Woods!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jean Francois Demonceaux!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woods misses with a takedown
and Demonceaux counters with a one-two to the body.
Woods shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Demonceaux but Demonceaux pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Woods misses with a combination

and Demonceaux counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Demonceaux.
Demonceaux is working for takedown but Woods is calmly controlling the position for now.
Demonceaux blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Demonceaux controlling the action here for a moment.
Demonceaux softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woods looking to stall.
Woods is trying to drag Demonceaux to the mat but Demonceaux just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhys Woods. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods managing to block the knees to the body from Demonceaux.

Demonceaux breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Demonceaux fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Demonceaux tries a head kick but it misses.
Woods tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Demonceaux manages to circle out of the way.
Woods throws a lazy head kick

and Demonceaux holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Demonceaux pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Woods throws a body punch but Demonceaux moves out of range.
Woods cracks Demonceaux with a right hand to the side of the head.
Demonceaux stuffs the takedown attempt from Woods. Woods gets slowly back to his feet.
Demonceaux tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Demonceaux fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demonceaux fails with the takedown.
Woods looks for a takedown but Demonceaux sprawls well.

Demonceaux drives through and clinches with Woods against the cage.
Demonceaux goes for a takedown attempt but Woods pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Demonceaux pushes Woods up against the cage in a clinch.

Demonceaux manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Demonceaux counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Demonceaux.
Woods avoiding damage as Demonceaux throws knees to the body.
Demonceaux jumps guard but Woods turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Woods avoids the elbow strike from Demonceaux, against the cage.
Demonceaux keeps control of Woods as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Demonceaux keeps control of Woods as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Woods gets control of Demonceaux's arms and successfully pulls guard. Woods will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Demonceaux is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Demonceaux must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Woods working a defensive guard here.
Woods lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demonceaux is adopting a defensive guard.
Woods passes Demonceaux's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Demonceaux really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Woods. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Demonceaux is refusing to be controlled, as Woods sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Francois Demonceaux dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Woods looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Woods wants to clinch up but Demonceaux keeps it at a distance.
Demonceaux looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Woods tries to clinch but Demonceaux moves out of range.

Demonceaux moves into the clinch.
Woods has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Demonceaux avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Demonceaux changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Woods fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Demonceaux keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Woods tries to close the distance and clinch but Demonceaux swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woods misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhys Woods. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Woods tries to clinch up.
Woods lands with a hook. Demonceaux tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demonceaux throws a leg kick which misses Woods's front leg but catches the back leg as Woods tries to avoid it.
Woods fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Woods doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Demonceaux counters by moving into the clinch.

Demonceaux manages to break the clinch.
Demonceaux shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Woods as he avoids it easily.

Demonceaux fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Woods, pushing him back against the cage.
Demonceaux has Woods pressed against the cage, preventing Woods from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Demonceaux has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Woods has a couple of punches blocked by Demonceaux.

Demonceaux pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Woods shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Demonceaux but Demonceaux pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demonceaux misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Woods avoids the head kick by Demonceaux.
Woods tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Demonceaux swivels and escapes.

Demonceaux closes the distance and clinches.

Woods gets control of Demonceaux's arms and successfully pulls guard. Woods will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Woods is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Woods wants to stand up but Demonceaux has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Woods is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Demonceaux defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demonceaux wants to improve his position but Woods is controlling well.
Woods is trying to control. Demonceaux wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Demonceaux can do anything to dispel that myth.
Demonceaux trying to hold on to Woods's head to control him but Woods postures up.
Woods is trying to control. Demonceaux wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Woods scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Woods wants to take a breather but Demonceaux is having none of it.
Woods tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Demonceaux.
Demonceaux is trying to maintain the position but Woods is very close to passing his half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Woods is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Demonceaux keeps control of the position for the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jean Francois Demonceaux will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Woods attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Woods shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Demonceaux sprawls well. Demonceaux wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Woods gets slowly back to his feet.
Demonceaux throws a nice head kick!

Demonceaux forces Woods back against the cage and clinches.
Woods wants a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Demonceaux tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Woods tries to break the clinch but Demonceaux is controlling the position.
Demonceaux scores with a shot to the side of Woods's head.
Woods wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhys Woods. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Woods tries to break free but Demonceaux pushes him back against the cage.

Demonceaux ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Demonceaux no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Demonceaux tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Woods stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Demonceaux swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Demonceaux seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Demonceaux wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Woods with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Woods trying to control the position from guard on top but Demonceaux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Woods shoots in but no luck this time.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Woods lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Demonceaux has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Demonceaux and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Demonceaux lands with a kick to the temple. Woods shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Woods gets a clinch.

Demonceaux drags the fight down to the ground.
Demonceaux takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Woods prevents Demonceaux from escaping the position.
Woods wants to lay and pray for a moment but Demonceaux keeps working.

Woods is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Demonceaux is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Woods working the ground and pound but Demonceaux is defending the strikes.
Woods wants to stand but Demonceaux has his arm trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demonceaux managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Woods.
Woods trying to control the action but Demonceaux is working from the bottom.
Demonceaux parries the strikes from Woods easily there. Woods is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Demonceaux to escape.
Woods wants to stand but Demonceaux is controlling his arm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Demonceaux tries to escape but Woods is in control.
Rhys Woods has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jean Francois Demonceaux is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Woods tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Francois Demonceaux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Demonceaux winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Francois Demonceaux!