PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Woodcock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Woodcock
vs
Drake

179 cm
22
185 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
19
175 lbs
3 - 14 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Woodcock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Drake!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drake gets caught flat footed, as Woodcock shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Woodcock trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Woodcock wants to pass the guard but Drake is keeping the position.

Woodcock drops back looking for a leg! Drake is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Drake manages to kick Woodcock off! Woodcock jumps back into Drake's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Woodcock 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.
Woodcock trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodcock forces his way into half guard.

Woodcock is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Drake defends it well.
Woodcock not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Woodcock looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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.
Woodcock keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Drake trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Woodcock seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Drake does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Drake won't allow Woodcock to pass to mount.
Woodcock seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Drake does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Drake throws a head kick but Woodcock moves out of range.

Woodcock closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Woodcock lands in his opponent's guard.
Woodcock tries to free his leg and advance position but Drake is retaining full guard.

Woodcock stands and steps away. Drake gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Drake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Drake throws a head kick but Woodcock moves out of range.
Drake throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like James Woodcock has been cut.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Woodcock misses the shot to the body.
Woodcock connects with a single shot there.
Nice jab there from Woodcock.
Woodcock pushes Drake away with a front kick.
Drake takes one to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Woodcock throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Drake stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Woodcock avoids the head kick by Drake.

Woodcock shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Drake is trying to defend but Woodcock finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Drake tries to roll over but Woodcock keeps him under control.
Woodcock slows the pace down in half guard.
Woodcock is trying to control the action in half guard but Drake is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Woodcock dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Woodcock's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Drake tries a head kick but it misses.
Woodcock is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Drake throws a head kick that misses.

Woodcock gets the takedown into side control.
Woodcock is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Drake's shoulder. That is not cool.
Woodcock is looking to take a break and control but Drake is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Woodcock tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Woodcock has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Woodcock is trying to get an arm triangle but Drake is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woodcock swings around for an armbar but Drake sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Woodcock's guard.
Woodcock is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Woodcock is keen to just control but Drake is a slippery customer.
Drake is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Woodcock has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Woodcock goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Drake turns into him and now he's in Woodcock's guard.

Woodcock working for a triangle but Drake defends it easily.
Woodcock lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Drake!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodcock can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Drake is looking to escape.
Woodcock content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Woodcock goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Drake turns into him and now he's in Woodcock's guard.
Drake wants to pass the guard but Woodcock is keeping the position.
Drake throws and elbow that misses. Woodcock uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Drake's guard. Nice move by Woodcock!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Woodcock dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Woodcock's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Drake throws a head kick but Woodcock moves out of range.
Drake throws a head kick that misses.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drake keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Drake gets caught flat footed, as Woodcock shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Woodcock slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Woodcock seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Drake for as long as he can get away with.
Drake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Woodcock forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodcock is keen to just control but Drake is a slippery customer.
James Woodcock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Drake is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Woodcock seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Woodcock decides to stand up.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drake uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Woodcock.
Drake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two 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.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Woodcock closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Woodcock is looking to take a break and control but Drake is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Woodcock stands up out of the half guard.
Drake throws a head kick that misses.
Woodcock lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Woodcock shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Drake as he jumps to the side.
Woodcock blocks a head kick by Drake.
Woodcock's corner calls for a 1-2. Woodcock obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Drake avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Drake misses with a head kick.
Drake moves out of range as Woodcock strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodcock paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Woodcock misses with a hook. Drake ducked under it nicely.
Woodcock listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A head kick misses from Drake.
Woodcock keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drake takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Woodcock blocks a head kick by Drake.
Steven Drake is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A cross from Woodcock lands.
Woodcock waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drake.
Drake has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Woodcock finds it's way round the side to connect with Drake's head.
Woodcock lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Woodcock lands a nice shot to the body.

Woodcock gets the takedown into side control.

Woodcock tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Woodcock has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Woodcock working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Steven Drake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Woodcock crashes against the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Woodcock showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Woodcock 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Woodcock!