PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gonzo Souza (ranked 4217 p4p, 4738 weight class) and Charlie Woods (ranked 336 p4p, 344 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Souza
vs
Woods

180 cm
26
155
5 - 4 - 0

175 cm
19
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Shadow Realm NYC

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gonzo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charlie Woods!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jorge Garcia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Woods clinches up against the ropes.

Woods ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Woods no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Woods is keeping the position for now.
Souza would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Woods controlling the position.
Woods looking to control.
Souza wants to pass the guard but Woods is keeping the position.
Woods is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woods throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Souza tries to stand but Woods is controlling from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Charlie Woods seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods wants to get back to his feet but Souza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Woods is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Woods keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Woods trying to keep a closed guard but Souza is proving a slippery customer.

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

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.
Souza wants to control from the top but Woods keeps moving.
Woods throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Souza trying to control but Woods is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Woods is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Souza dives into side control.
Souza wants to stand but Woods has his arm trapped.
Woods is trying to control Souza's posture but Souza avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods tries to bench press Souza off him but Souza keeps the position.
Woods can't do much from the bottom here.
Souza postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Souza is looking to take a break and control but Woods is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Woods is looking to reverse the position.
Woods is not content to let Souza control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Woods shoots in and bounces Souza off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Woods is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Souza has his foot on Woods's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Woods works his way back into a safe position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Woods trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Woods's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gonzo Souza will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Souza gets a takedown into half guard.
Woods tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Souza manages to move to mount!
Woods is desperately trying to improve his position but Souza has a good base and remains in mount.

Souza swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Woods is now in Souza's guard. A big mistake from Souza there, giving up the dominant position!

Souza working for submissions but it's allowed Woods to get to half guard.
Woods takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Woods wants to take a breather but Souza is having none of it.
Souza is controlling Woods's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Woods is thwarting Souza's attempts to control the position.
Souza wants to get back to full guard.
Woods wants to stand but Souza has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Souza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Woods pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Woods wants to get back to his feet.
Woods is controlling the pace.
It looks like Woods is going to stand back up.
Souza lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is trying to maintain the position but Woods is very close to passing his half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Woods trying to mount his opponent but Souza defends it.
Woods trying to control the action but Souza is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Woods closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Woods gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Souza regains guard.
Woods scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Woods from controlling successfully.
Woods works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza is trying to get back to full guard.
Woods seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Souza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Souza actively working from the bottom here.
Woods is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Souza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Woods is working away from the top position though.
Woods wants to stand but Souza has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Woods showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Woods shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Woods showed some decent athleticism there.
Woods working over Souza with some ground and pound. Souza looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Woods wants to lay and pray for a moment but Souza keeps working.
Woods has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Woods wants to free his trapped foot but Souza is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woods is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Souza wants to improve his position but Woods is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Woods prevents Souza from improving his position.

Woods is trying to work for a kimura but Souza is defending well.
Souza won't allow Woods to pass to mount.
Woods seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Woods trying to control the action but Souza is working from the bottom.
Woods stalling away here and it's allowed Souza to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Woods wanted to stand there but Souza had control of the position.

Souza escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Woods gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Woods not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Woods would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Charlie Woods has got the better of the ground game so far.
Woods is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gonzo Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Woods shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Souza napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Woods happy to just control the position for now.
Woods tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Woods trying to control the position but Souza is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Woods is looking to take a break and control but Souza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Souza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Woods wants to stand but Souza is controlling his arm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Souza is looking to regain half guard here but Woods keeps moving and retains side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Woods comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Woods has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie Woods!