PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafe Barrientos (ranked 2597 p4p, 277 weight class) and Woody Wood (ranked 22097 p4p, 573 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barrientos
vs
Wood

180 cm
28
178 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Organic Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafe Barrientos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Woody Wood!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Wood.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Wood moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Wood displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barrientos.
Barrientos moves out of range of the leg kick from Wood.
Barrientos blocks the body kick.
Barrientos misses with a straight right.
Wood avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barrientos misses with a hook.
Wood appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Barrientos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wood defends well and Barrientos ends up having to push Wood into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've been told by Barrientos's head coaches at DRAGON MMA - 13 Elite & 2 Double Elite Coaches that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Barrientos fails with a takedown attempt.
Wood looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafe Barrientos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wood pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Barrientos connects with a leg kick. Wood looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrientos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wood paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A solid body kick from Wood.
Wood lands a leg kick that knocks Barrientos off balance momentarily.
Wood throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barrientos on the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Barrientos. Wood does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wood bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barrientos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barrientos rushes Wood and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wood tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Wood lands a body punch in the clinch.
Barrientos lands an elbow inside that Wood shrugs off.
Barrientos misses with the head strike.
Barrientos stalling the fight.
Barrientos is trying to break free.
Wood lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Wood lands with a light punch inside.
Barrientos is trying to break the clinch but Wood has him pressed against the cage.
Barrientos looking to stall.
Wood lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Wood throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barrientoss head.

Wood breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Wood tenderised Barrientos's leg. Barrientos is trying to keep his angry face on.
A slapping body kick lands there for Wood.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barrientos takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wood motions for Barrientos to come forward. Wood throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Wood with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wood misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wood takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Barrientos forces Wood back against the cage and clinches.
Barrientos leaning against his opponent.
Barrientos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barrientos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wood.
Barrientos swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wood blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Barrientos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wood avoids it.
Barrientos misses with the head strike.
Barrientos wants to get back to striking at distance but Wood won't allow it.

Wood breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood tries a head kick but it misses.
Wood throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Wood lands a leg kick that knocks Barrientos off balance momentarily.
Rafe Barrientos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Barrientos moves into range and clinches up with Wood.
Wood blocks a body shot from Barrientos.
A left hand lands to the body for Wood.
Barrientos is trying to break the clinch but Wood has him pressed against the cage.
Wood working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wood is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Barrientos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice shot lands for Barrientos.
Barrientos missing with a left hand there. Wood was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wood ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barrientos moves away.
Barrientos half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Barrientos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wood's waist but Wood gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barrientos off to one side.
Barrientos backing away here, and Wood unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Wood connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Barrientos.

Barrientos shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barrientos trying to control the position from guard on top but Wood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barrientos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barrientos stops Wood from standing up.
Barrientos stopping the sweep attempt from Wood.
Barrientos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wood wants to get back to his feet but Barrientos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Barrientos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barrientos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Wood keeping moving, preventing Barrientos from controlling successfully.
Barrientos landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Woody Wood will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wood finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Wood throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wood avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wood lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Barrientos tries for a takedown but Wood sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barrientos uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Wood has time to react.
Wood connects with an inside leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Barrientos.
Wood throws a head kick that misses.
Barrientos looks to land a left hand but Wood moved out of range nicely.
Barrientos blocks the body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Wood. Barrientos shrugs it off though.

Barrientos closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Wood manages to escape and get back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wood looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Barrientos drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Barrientos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wood is adopting a defensive guard.
Wood wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafe Barrientos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barrientos is looking to work some ground and pound but Wood has wrist control.
Wood is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Barrientos working some strikes from top position.
Wood working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barrientos.
Wood is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barrientos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barrientos trying to control the position from guard on top but Wood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Wood wants to sweep but no luck.
Barrientos throwing strikes from guard but Wood blocks nicely.
Barrientos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barrientos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barrientos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barrientos is working Wood over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Barrientos scoring with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barrientos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wood is trying to keep Barrientos in close.
Barrientos preventing the sweep.
Barrientos is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrientos is pushing down on Wood's leg trying to pass to half guard. Wood is fighting to maintain full guard but Barrientos has managed to sneak the leg through.
Barrientos throwing shots but Wood is blocking nicely.
Wood is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Barrientos scores with a couple of nice shots.
Barrientos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Barrientos is looking for a kimura but Wood is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Barrientos to get the leverage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Barrientos lands a nice short elbow.

Barrientos is working for a kimura but Wood is defending it quite comfortably.
Wood is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barrientos's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barrientos's back!
Barrientos rolls, trying to escape but Wood keeps control of the position.
Barrientos 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 controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wood is continuing to stall.
I really don't envy Barrientos right now.
Wood is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Woody Wood will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Barrientos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wood swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barrientos is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Wood moves out of range of the strikes.
Barrientos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wood.
Barrientos is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Barrientos explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Barrientos throws a nice inside leg kick.
Wood walks into a jab.
Good leg kick by Wood there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Barrientos misses with a hook. Wood ducked under it nicely.
Wood raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barrientos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barrientos moves out of range as Wood throws a body kick.
Wood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barrientos lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Barrientos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wood looks to score with a jab to the body but Barrientos is just out of range.
Wood throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barrientos.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barrientos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Woody Wood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Wood, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wood thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barrientos checks a leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Wood as Barrientos shoots in.
Barrientos moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Barrientos throws a leg kick but Wood sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barrientos backing away here, and Wood unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Barrientos is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Barrientos blocks a head kick by Wood.
Wood fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Barrientos checks a leg kick.
Barrientos fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafe Barrientos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wood dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barrientos. That did some damage!
Wood leaves Barrientos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barrientos waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wood.
Wood throws a low kick but it's checked well by Barrientos.
Woody Wood seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wood is looking to score with low kicks.
Barrientos tries to clinch up.
Barrientos connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Barrientos checks the leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Wood gets caught flat footed, as Barrientos shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Barrientos throwing strikes from guard but Wood blocks nicely.
Barrientos stopping the sweep attempt from Wood.
Wood is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barrientos throws a strike but Wood rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Barrientos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wood can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Woody Wood is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barrientos has his feet on Wood's thighs here. He's pushed Wood off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Wood screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rafe Barrientos!
Rafe Barrientos very nearly forgot to thank Organic Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.