PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Woodhead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harry Bancroft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Woodhead
vs
Bancroft

190 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
24
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Woodhead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harry Bancroft!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bancroft throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Woodhead tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bancroft is in Woodhead's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bancroft stopping the sweep attempt from Woodhead.
Woodhead is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Woodhead wants to pass to mount but Bancroft is defending the position.
Nice strikes from Woodhead there.
Woodhead drops an elbow to the side of Bancroft's head.
Woodhead stalling away here and it's allowed Bancroft to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Woodhead postures up.
Woodhead with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Woodhead looking to pass the guard.
Woodhead missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bancroft 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodhead postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bancroft avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Woodhead throwing strikes but missing.

Bancroft has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Woodhead can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bancroft preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Woodhead wants to pass the guard but Bancroft is keeping the position.
Woodhead will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Woodhead slips nicely into half guard.
Bancroft wants to control but Woodhead is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Woodhead lands a nice short elbow.
Woodhead thows a huge punch but Bancroft dodges it nicely.
Bancroft moves into full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Woodhead trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Woodhead accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Woodhead accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bancroft not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bancroft keeping moving, preventing Woodhead from controlling successfully.
Woodhead throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bancroft works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Woodhead stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bancroft swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bancroft tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodhead landing some decent shots from guard.
Woodhead trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Woodhead advances to half guard.
Bancroft is trying to stand.
Woodhead seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bancroft does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Woodhead works his foot free and advances to mount.
Woodhead has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bancroft's face.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woodhead lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Woodhead lands a nice shot to the head.

Bancroft is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Woodhead lands a big shot to the head and Bancroft winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Pekka Woodhead!