PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Seiji Yamasaki (ranked 2954 p4p, 5291 weight class) and Fransisco Woodley (ranked 339 p4p, 502 weight class). Fransisco Woodley is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Yamasaki
vs
Woodley

183 cm
18
182
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
178
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

BANZAI COMBAT 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Seiji Yamasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fransisco Woodley!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woodley dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Woodley misses with a looping right.
Woodley dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yamasaki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Yamasaki throws the kick towards the body but Woodley avoids it.
Woodley uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Yamasaki has time to react.
Yamasaki fails with the takedown
and Woodley counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yamasaki misses with a takedown
and Woodley counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Seiji Yamasaki has been cut.
Woodley cracks Yamasaki with an open hand slap.
Woodley throws a poor cross that misses

and Yamasaki counters by clinching up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamasaki is pushing Woodley up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Woodley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamasaki gets control of Woodley's arms and successfully pulls guard. Yamasaki will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Woodley with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Woodley controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Woodley wants to stand but Yamasaki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Woodley engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Yamasaki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Woodley on the ground.
Yamasaki looking for a sweep. Not yet Yamasaki, not yet.
Woodley controlling from the top position.
Yamasaki wants to hit a sweep here but Woodley passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Yamasaki there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woodley looking to control and managing it successfully.
Yamasaki is in all sorts of trouble here.
Woodley looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki working to try and regain half guard.
Woodley controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yamasaki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Woodley takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Let's hope that Woodley has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Woodley's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Woodley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fransisco Woodley dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Seiji Yamasaki's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yamasaki clinches with his opponent.
Woodley tries to break the clinch but Yamasaki is controlling the position.
Yamasaki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Woodley is pressed up against the cage. Yamasaki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Woodley down to the mat. Woodley avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Woodley goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Woodley lands a lovely overhand right.
Seiji Yamasaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamasaki takes one to the chin there.
Woodley throws a series of punches but Yamasaki avoids them all with ease.
Woodley has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Yamasaki is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Yamasaki ducks under a wild hook from Woodley.
Yamasaki appears to be looking for a big counter.
Woodley scores with a one two! Yamasaki had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Woodley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Woodley connects with a looping right hand.

Yamasaki is rocked!
Yamasaki has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Woodley finds it's way round the side to connect with Yamasaki's head.
Oh Yamasaki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yamasaki throws a series of punches but Woodley moves out of range.
Yamasaki seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodley scores with a jab to the body.
Woodley throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fransisco Woodley seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Woodley throws a hook to the side of Yamasaki's head but Yamasaki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Woodley misses with a lunging right hand
and Yamasaki counters with a good low kick that Woodley was not able to check.
Yamasaki misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Woodley counters with a crisp one two that drops Yamasaki! Woodley thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Yamasaki to his feet! Yamasaki is in big trouble!
Woodley leaves Yamasaki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Yamasaki has Woodley up against the cage in a clinch.
Yamasaki tries a body shot but Woodley blocks it.
Yamasaki is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamasaki successfully pulls guard.
Woodley wanted to stand there but Yamasaki had control of the position.
Woodley slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Yamasaki is looking to stand up but Woodley isn't so interested in that idea.
Yamasaki on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Yamasaki tries to get out of the position.
Woodley lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yamasaki wants to control but Woodley passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Woodley scores with a couple of nice shots.
Woodley sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yamasaki defending well though.
Woodley seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Woodley scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Yamasaki wants to control but Woodley is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Woodley tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Woodley takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four 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.
Woodley wants to stand up but Yamasaki has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Woodley lands the left hand.
Woodley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yamasaki.
Yamasaki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Woodley connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Yamasaki's hands.
Woodley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Yamasaki gets a clinch.
Yamasaki landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Woodley is looking to break free of the clinch but Yamasaki has double underhooks.

Yamasaki breaks from the clinch.
Fransisco Woodley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Woodley lands a nice looking body shot.
Yamasaki misses with a takedown
and Woodley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fransisco Woodley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Seiji Yamasaki's cut.
That's time! Yamasaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yamasaki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Woodley.

Yamasaki rushes Woodley and presses him up against the cage.
Yamasaki is trying to pull guard but Woodley has him pressed against the cage.

Yamasaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Woodley lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Woodley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamasaki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Yamasaki pushes Woodley up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamasaki fails to pull guard.
Yamasaki prevents Woodley from breaking the clinch.
Yamasaki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Woodley gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seiji Yamasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Woodley stops a takedown attempt from Yamasaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodley is trying to push Yamasaki away but Yamasaki has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Yamasaki breaks from the clinch.
Woodley circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yamasaki moves away from the strike by Woodley.
Yamasaki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Woodley sprawls and moves away.
Woodley lands with a shot to the body.
Yamasaki misses with a takedown
enabling Woodley to counter with a crisp jab.
Woodley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yamasaki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Woodley lands a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Woodley.
Yamasaki slips a jab and a cross from Woodley.

Yamasaki has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woodley gets underhooks to prevent Yamasaki's takedown attempt.
Woodley is trying to push Yamasaki away but Yamasaki has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yamasaki tries to pull guard but Woodley holds him up against the cage and eventually Yamasaki drops back down to his feet.
Yamasaki is looking for a takedown.
Yamasaki has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Woodley after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamasaki jumps guard but Woodley turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

Yamasaki clinches up against the cage.
Yamasaki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Woodley prevents the takedown attempt.
Woodley working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamasaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Yamasaki throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Woodley tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Yamasaki is in Woodley's guard.
Woodley trying to control the position here.
Yamasaki won't allow Woodley to get back to his feet.
Woodley keeping moving, preventing Yamasaki from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodley pulls Yamasaki in close to prevent any damage.
Woodley throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Fransisco Woodley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Woodley is looking to stand up but Yamasaki isn't so interested in that idea.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Woodley connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Woodley lands with a good body shot.
Seiji Yamasaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fransisco Woodley is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yamasaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fransisco Woodley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Woodley winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fransisco Woodley!