PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Woodard (ranked 25090 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giorgi Zoev (ranked 5419 p4p, 0 weight class). Giorgi Zoev acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Woodard
vs
Zoev

180 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 2 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Giorgi Zoev!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zoev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Woodard pinned against the cage. Woodard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Giorgi Zoev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Woodard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Woodard wants it to stay on the feet.
Woodard misses with a head kick.
Zoev misses with a low kick.
Woodard throws a quick counter head kick but Zoev was just out of range.
Zoev fails with a takedown attempt.
Nick Woodard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giorgi Zoev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Woodard tries to counter by clinching up but Zoev breaks away and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Woodard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zoev.
Woodard tries to counter by clinching up but Zoev breaks away and moves out of range.
Zoev misses with a series of wild punches.
Woodard stuffs the takedown.
Woodard is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Zoev.
Zoev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Woodard moves away.
Zoev swings away with a body shot that misses

and Woodard counters by moving into the clinch.

Woodard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoev's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Zoev duly obliges.
Woodard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Woodard is looking to score with low kicks.
Woodard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zoev thinks about the counter body kick.
Woodard slaps away a takedown attempt from Zoev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Woodard is looking to counter the offense by Zoev and move into the clinch.

Woodard tries to keep at a distance but Zoev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Woodard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zoev's efforts to push away.
Woodard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoev is trying to pull guard but Woodard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Woodard fails to pull guard.
Zoev working hard to break the clinch.

Woodard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Woodard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zoev.
Woodard leaves Zoev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Woodard tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Zoev manages to circle out of the way.
Zoev looks winded!

Zoev closes the distance and pushes Woodard back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoev tries to score a body lock takedown but Woodard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Woodard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Zoev with that takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Woodard.
Zoev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Woodard counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nice sprawl there from Woodard as Zoev shoots in.
Woodard tries to counter by clinching up but Zoev breaks away and moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Woodard moves into the clinch successfully.

Woodard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Woodard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Woodard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zoev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Woodard tries to avoid it but Zoev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Woodard to the ground. Woodard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zoev looks for a takedown but Woodard sprawls well.
Woodard tries to counter with a takedown but Zoev is quick to defend against it.
Woodard lands a leg kick that knocks Zoev off balance momentarily.
Zoev shoots in for a takedown but Woodard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nick Woodard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giorgi Zoev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Zoev as he checks the leg kick.
Zoev flicks out a counter leg kick but Woodard steps away.

Woodard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zoev to the mat! Zoev manages to get full guard.

Zoev manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woodard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nick Woodard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Woodard throws a lazy right hand but Zoev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zoev shoots in for a takedown but Woodard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Woodard half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Zoev is breathing heavily.
Woodard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Woodard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Woodard wants it to stay on the feet.
Zoev shoots in for a takedown but Woodard shows good takedown defense.
Woodard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zoev can do to turn this around?
Horrible takedown attempt by Zoev or perhaps it was just good defense by Woodard, which made it look bad.

Woodard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Zoev!

Zoev sneaks out the side door and pushes Woodard away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Woodard swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zoev drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Woodard defends it well.
Nick Woodard is winning the standup battle so far.
A leg kick checked by Zoev.
Zoev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Woodard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Woodard throws a low kick but Zoev avoids it.

Woodard looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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 Zoev's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodard wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Woodard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Woodard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nice strikes from Woodard there.
Giorgi Zoev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Woodard working over Zoev with some ground and pound. Zoev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zoev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Woodard thows a huge punch but Zoev dodges it nicely.

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

Woodard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zoev has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoev wants to improve his position but Woodard is controlling well.
Zoev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Woodard.
Zoev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Woodard.
Woodard working over Zoev with some ground and pound. Zoev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
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 fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woodard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Woodard thows a huge punch but Zoev dodges it nicely.
Woodard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zoev defending well though.
Zoev has hold of Woodard's hands but Woodard slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Woodard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Woodard dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zoev punishes Woodard's body with a nice straight punch.
Woodard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Zoev has managed to clinch.
Zoev tries to pull guard but Woodard holds him up against the cage and eventually Zoev drops back down to his feet.
Woodard misses with a knee strike.
Zoev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Woodard walks away with a smile on his face. Zoev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zoev fails with a takedown attempt.
Nick Woodard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giorgi Zoev.
Zoev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Woodard as he avoids it easily.
Zoev takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodard checks a leg kick.

Woodard gets the takedown into side control.
Woodard scoring with punches and elbows.
Zoev dodges the ground and pound from Woodard.
Woodard working the ground and pound from side control.
Zoev wants to control but Woodard postures up.
Woodard lands some shots froms side control.
Woodard in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zoev dodges the ground and pound from Woodard.
Woodard cracks Zoev with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Woodard is trying to get an arm triangle but Zoev is defending well.
Zoev is trying to control Woodard's posture but Woodard avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoev defending against the ground and pound.
Zoev wants to control but Woodard postures up.

Woodard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zoev has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zoev dodges the ground and pound from Woodard.
Zoev 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.
Zoev wants to control but Woodard postures up.
Woodard working the body and head with strikes.
Zoev parries the strikes from Woodard easily there. Woodard is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Zoev to escape.
Woodard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodard lands an elbow.
Sloppy strikes there by Woodard.
Woodard throws an elbow but Zoev slips to the side and avoids it well.
Zoev regains half guard.
Woodard winds up and cracks Zoev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Woodard there.

Woodard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zoev has managed to free his arm - good work.
Zoev is trying to get back to full guard.
Woodard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodard working Zoev over with strikes.
Zoev has his hands clasped together around Woodard's back. He's all about the action.
Zoev is looking to control Woodard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zoev avoid being mounted?

Woodard escapes and gets back to his feet.

Woodard darts in and clinches Zoev up against the cage.
Woodard looking to throw knees to the head but Zoev is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zoev pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Come on Woodard - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Giorgi Zoev 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 breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Woodard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Woodard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

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