PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Carson Wood (ranked 4566 p4p, 439 weight class) and Henry Armstrong (ranked 4522 p4p, 436 weight class). Henry Armstrong will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Wood
vs
Armstrong

175 cm
22
158 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

165 cm
26
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carson Wood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Henry Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wood looks to land a left hand but Armstrong moved out of range nicely.
Wood displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Armstrong throws out the jab.
Wood misses the jab.
Armstrong let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Armstrong connects with a body shot that sends Wood's belly button to the back.
Wood slips under a jab from Armstrong.
Wood throws a hook but Armstrong blocks it.
Armstrong looks to clinch

and Wood counters with a takedown into side control.

Wood is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Armstrong has escaped the position, nice work there.
Armstrong is pushing Wood's head away, looking to escape. Wood manages to hold on to the position though.
Wood passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Armstrong!

Armstrong defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Wood.
Wood misses with a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
You get the feeling that Armstrong really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wood looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Armstrong trying desperately to get to his feet.
Wood scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Armstrong is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Wood landing shots from mount.
Wood throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Armstrong is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Armstrong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wood. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wood raining down shots from the mount!
Armstrong is trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wood punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wood working Armstrong over with strikes here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wood won't let Armstrong get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Wood in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Armstrong is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Wood looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armstrong tries to buck Wood off but he can't manage it.

Armstrong bucks Wood off and manages to get back to his feet!
The fighters circling - Wood throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Armstrong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Armstrong throws a leg kick but Wood sees it coming and moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Wood on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Armstrong lands a jab to the head.
The fighters circling - Wood throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Armstrong, as that shot connected.
Armstrong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wood manages to avoid it.

Armstrong lands a left and a right that send Wood crashing to the mat, dazed. Armstrong thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Wood is rocked!

It looks like Carson Wood has been cut.
Armstrong tries to clinch but Wood is having none of it.
Oh Wood is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Armstrong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wood seems to have got his legs back now.
Armstrong throws a leg kick but Wood sees it coming and moves out of range.
Armstrong ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Armstrong throws a poor cross that misses

and Wood counters with a nice double leg into side control. Armstrong won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Armstrong is pushing Wood's head away, looking to escape. Wood manages to hold on to the position though.
Armstrong taking a bit of punishment here - Wood scoring with strikes.
Armstrong wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Wood's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Armstrong is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Armstrong explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Henry Armstrong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wood throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Armstrong lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Armstrong doesn't manage to clinch there - Wood circles away.
Armstrong throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Armstrong slaps away a takedown attempt from Wood, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Armstrong is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Armstrong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wood tries to bum rush Armstrong with a series of wild strikes but Armstrong uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Armstrong throws a counter combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wood lands a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Carson Wood will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Carson Wood's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Armstrong throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Wood counters with a shoot takedown. Armstrong fights it but they end up in guard.
Wood throws a big right hand that misses.
Wood loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wood prevents Armstrong from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Armstrong moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Carson Wood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Armstrong misses with a body kick.
Armstrong throws a shot from downtown. Wood moves away and avoids it.

Armstrong moves into range and clinches up with Wood.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Armstrong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wood swats away the attempt to clinch by Armstrong.
Armstrong misses with a body kick.
Armstrong moves away from the strike by Wood.

Armstrong gets caught flat footed, as Wood shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Armstrong is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Wood presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Armstrong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wood misses with a straight left.
Henry Armstrong seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wood displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Armstrong throws out the jab.
Sloppy strikes from Wood. Those never looked like landing.
Armstrong scores with a hook to the body. Wood takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Armstrong staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong tries to clinch but Wood is having none of it.

Armstrong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Armstrong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henry Armstrong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wood avoids a punch combination nicely.
Armstrong lands a nice shot that snaps Wood's head back.
Wood swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Armstrong scores with a hook.
Wood misses with an uppercut. Armstrong saw that one coming.
A punch combination from Armstrong misses.

Armstrong takes the fight into the clinch.

Armstrong breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong gets caught flat footed, as Wood shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wood with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Armstrong wants to stand up but Wood is controlling him.
Wood pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Armstrong is keeping the position for now.
Wood working some strikes from top position.
Armstrong wants to stand but Wood is controlling the position.
Carson Wood overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wood's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wood tries to free his leg and advance position but Armstrong is retaining full guard.
Armstrong is looking to stand up but Wood isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Wood wants to pass the guard but Armstrong is keeping the position.

Wood drops back looking for a leg! Armstrong is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Armstrong manages to kick Wood off! Wood jumps back into Armstrong's guard.
Wood tries to free his leg and advance position but Armstrong is retaining full guard.

Armstrong pushes Wood off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wood is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Wood avoids the body shot from Armstrong.
Wood fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Armstrong is looking to clinch.
Wood throws a right hand that misses
and Wood takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wood looks to throw the jab but Armstrong is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Armstrong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Carson Wood's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Armstrong tried to score with a low kick but Wood checks it.
Armstrong misses with a lunging right hand

and Wood counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Armstrong is trying to stand up here but Wood is controlling him well.
We've been hearing good reports from Wood's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Wood looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Armstrong is trying to stand up here but Wood is controlling him well.
Wood not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Wood is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Armstrong sees it coming and defends easily.
Wood lands strikes from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet.
Wood working Armstrong over with strikes.
Armstrong pushes Wood off looking to stand but Wood dives back in and keeps control.

Wood is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wood not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Armstrong makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Armstrong looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Wood dives in and scores a takedown into Armstrong's guard.

Armstrong is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Wood presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Armstrong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Armstrong moves away from the strike by Wood.
Armstrong moves out of range of the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to the body from Wood misses
and Wood takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Armstrong moves out of range as Wood strikes.
Wood staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong misses with an attempted mid kick.
Armstrong lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Wood ducks under a wild hook from Armstrong.

Armstrong fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wood, pushing him back against the cage.

Armstrong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wood fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Armstrong manages to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Wood throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Armstrong wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A jab from Wood misses.
Wood thows a left - swing and a miss!
Armstrong lands with an overhand left.
Armstrong catches Wood with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Armstrong appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Armstrong misses with a kick to the body.
A lazy body kick from Armstrong

and Wood counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Armstrong pushes Wood off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Armstrong cracks Wood with a good jab.
Armstrong waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wood.
No luck for Wood with that takedown attempt.
Wood misses with a straight right.
Armstrong throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
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!
Armstrong is looking to clinch but Wood is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wood fails with the takedown.
Wood takes a swing at Armstrong's ribcage but misses.
Armstrong tries to clinch but Wood moves out of range.
Armstrong is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Armstrong looks to land a right hand but Wood moved out of range.
Wood takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wood throws a shot from downtown. Armstrong moves away and avoids it.
It seemed like Armstrong was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The fighters circling - Wood throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Armstrong misses with a body kick.
Armstrong dodges the punch combination from Wood.
Armstrong throws a counter combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Armstrong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Armstrong 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Armstrong!