PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Woodard (ranked 8195 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Reefer (ranked 7301 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Reefer acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Woodard
vs
Reefer

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nick Woodard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Reefer!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reefer shoots in looking for a takedown but Woodard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Reefer's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Woodard tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Reefer manages to circle out of the way.

Reefer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Woodard pulls guard successfully.
Woodard is trying to control the position but Reefer postures up.
Reefer wants to control from the top but Woodard keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woodard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Woodard trying to keep a closed guard but Reefer is proving a slippery customer.

Woodard has his feet on Reefer's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Reefer shoots in and drives through. Woodard sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reefer throws a head kick that misses.

Reefer has Woodard up against the cage in a clinch.

Woodard has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Reefer uses from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodard has control of Reefer's left arm, preventing Reefer from doing any damage.
Reefer controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Woodard has control of Reefer's left arm, preventing Reefer from doing any damage.
Woodard trying to control the position.
Woodard pulls Reefer in to control the position.
Reefer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Woodard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Woodard looking for a sweep. Not yet Woodard, not yet.

That's two 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.
Woodard is trying to keep Reefer in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Reefer has managed to clinch.
Woodard dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Woodard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Reefer darts in and clinches Woodard up against the cage.
Woodard is looking to take this one to the mat.
Woodard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Reefer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Reefer throws an elbow that misses.
Reefer taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Woodard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Reefer throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Reefer clinches up with Woodard and pushes him back against the cage.
Woodard is trying to force a seperation but Reefer has the dominant position.
Reefer managing to block the knees to the body from Woodard.
Reefer is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Woodard is defending well.
Nick Woodard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Reefer.
Reefer wants to stall.
Woodard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Reefer gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Woodard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reefer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Woodard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Reefer.
Reefer looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reefer slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Reefer fails with the takedown.
Reefer throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reefer fails with a takedown attempt.
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 Nick Woodard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Reefer shoots for a takedown but Woodard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Woodard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Reefer avoids the head kick by Woodard.
Woodard shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Reefer clinches up against the cage.

Woodard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reefer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reefer shoots and misses

and Woodard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nick Woodard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Reefer.
Reefer is breathing heavily.

Woodard pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodard trying to keep a closed guard but Reefer is proving a slippery customer.

Woodard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Woodard pulls Reefer in close to prevent any damage.
Woodard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Woodard stands and steps away. Reefer gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A combination from Reefer does no damage.

Reefer gets a clinch.
Reefer prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reefer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Woodard just stands there and leans against the cage.

Woodard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No joy there for Woodard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Reefer shoots in and drives through. Woodard sprawls well.
Woodard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Woodard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reefer is fending him off so far but Woodard persists. Nope, Reefer circles away and we're back to standing.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Woodard 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 Reefer has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Reefer and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Woodard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Woodard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Reefer feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodard throws a hook to the side of Reefer's head but Reefer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No luck for Reefer with that takedown attempt.

Reefer moves into the clinch.
Reefer jumps guard but Woodard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Woodard is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Reefer can't fight it off and eventually Woodard manages to take the fight to the floor. Reefer looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Reefer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Woodard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Woodard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Woodard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Woodard is in close to Reefer's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Woodard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Reefer can do to turn this around?
Woodard lands a couple of digs.
Reefer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Woodard.
Woodard throws a big elbow that misses.

Reefer 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 throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Reefer isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Woodard stacks Reefer on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Woodard!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Woodard dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Reefer clinches.
Woodard misses with an elbow over the top.
Reefer is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Woodard is defending well.
Woodard managing to block the knees to the body from Reefer.
Woodard tries to break the clinch but Reefer is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reefer tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Woodard smiles and moves away.

Reefer gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woodard jumps guard and drags Reefer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Woodard 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.

Woodard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Woodard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Woodard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Woodard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Reefer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Woodard throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Woodard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Woodard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Woodard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reefer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Woodard has managed to get both his arms back between Reefer's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woodard is working Reefer over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Reefer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Woodard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Woodard throws a big elbow that misses.
Reefer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Reefer 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 throws a big right hand that misses.
Woodard is working Reefer over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Woodard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodard throws a big elbow that misses.
Woodard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Reefer has momentary wrist control but Woodard slips an elbow through the middle.
Woodard with a nice head shot there.
Woodard connects with a couple of short punches.
Woodard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Reefer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Reefer has his foot on Woodard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Woodard works his way back into a safe position though.
Woodard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Reefer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Reefer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Woodard throwing strikes but missing.
Reefer has control of Woodard's left arm, preventing Woodard from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Woodard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nick Woodard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Woodard lands a couple of digs.
Reefer throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Reefer 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.

Reefer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Woodard lands a couple of elbows.
Reefer trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reefer is looking to stand back up but Woodard counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Reefer.
Ryan Reefer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nick Woodard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Woodard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Woodard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Woodard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Woodard!