PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rhys Woods (ranked 6515 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Martinez Jr (ranked 8424 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Woods
vs
Martinez Jr

180 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rhys Woods!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Javier Martinez Jr!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Winston Alpacca and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woods throws a sloppy head kick and Martinez Jr moves out of range easily.

Martinez Jr shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Martinez Jr showed some decent athleticism there.
Woods wants to control but Martinez Jr is keeping busy.
Martinez Jr is controlling the pace.
Martinez Jr really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Woods. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Woods trying to hold on to Martinez Jr's head to control him but Martinez Jr postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woods is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez Jr keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Woods controlling the position well.
Woods is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Woods fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Martinez Jr avoids it really well and circles away.
Woods with a lazy takedown attempt

and Martinez Jr counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Martinez Jr breaks from the clinch.
Martinez Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A looping hook to the body misses from Woods. Martinez Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
Woods shoots in looking for a takedown. Martinez Jr tries to sprawl out of it but Woods keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Martinez Jr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As Woods backs off Martinez Jr throws a huge counter combo but Woods manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhys Woods. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Woods fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Martinez Jr manages to avoid it.
Woods slaps away a takedown attempt from Martinez Jr, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Woods is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Martinez Jr.
Martinez Jr shoots for a takedown but Woods saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No joy there for Martinez Jr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Martinez Jr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Woods tries to avoid it but Martinez Jr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Woods to the ground. Woods escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Martinez Jr throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Woods's waist but Woods gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Martinez Jr off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez Jr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Woods as he jumps to the side.
Martinez Jr slips a jab and a cross from Woods.

Martinez Jr gets a clinch.

Martinez Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Martinez Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.
Martinez Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Woods.
Despite the aggression on Martinez Jr's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Woods.

Martinez Jr pushes Woods up against the cage in a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Martinez Jr to work.
Woods has had enough of the clinch but Martinez Jr keeps him there for the moment.

Martinez Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Martinez Jr slaps away a takedown attempt from Woods, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Martinez Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Woods, which made it look bad.
A combination from Martinez Jr does no damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Martinez Jr tries for a takedown but Woods circles away easily
and Woods counters with a two punch combo.
Martinez Jr looks winded!
Woods shoots in for a takedown but Martinez Jr shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Martinez Jr dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Martinez Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Martinez Jr is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Martinez Jr avoids the body shot from Woods.
Woods lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Martinez Jr circles away quickly and effectively.

Woods rushes Martinez Jr and presses him up against the cage.
Woods avoiding damage as Martinez Jr throws knees to the body.

Martinez Jr breaks the clinch.

Martinez Jr tries to keep at a distance but Woods has taken the fight into the clinch.
Martinez Jr looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez Jr avoiding damage as Woods throws knees to the body.

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

Woods shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Woods showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods wanted to stand there but Martinez Jr had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woods trying to control the position from guard on top but Martinez Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Woods 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.

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.
Martinez Jr is trying to keep Woods in close.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Woods wants to control from the top but Martinez Jr keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A looping hook to the body misses from Woods. Martinez Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
Woods scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Martinez Jr moves out of range of the body kick.

Woods darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Woods wants to stand up but Martinez Jr has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Woods throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods thows a huge punch but Martinez Jr dodges it nicely.
Woods is trying to control the action in half guard but Martinez Jr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Woods is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Woods passes into side control, despite Martinez Jr's attempt to control the position.
Martinez Jr is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Martinez Jr wants to control but Woods postures up.
Woods advances to full mount.
Woods tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Woods swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Martinez Jr is now in Woods's guard. A big mistake from Woods there, giving up the dominant position!
Martinez Jr passes Woods's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Martinez Jr wants to stand up but Woods is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rhys Woods dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Woods dives in and grabs Martinez Jr's left leg, looking for a takedown. Martinez Jr pushes down on Woods's head and hops out.
Martinez Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Woods circles away.

Martinez Jr has closed the distance and engaged Woods in a clinch.
Woods tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Martinez Jr is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Woods struggles to land a body shot inside as Martinez Jr controls his hands.
Woods drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Martinez Jr gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Woods.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Martinez Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martinez Jr fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Woods checks it well.
Woods keeps the fight on the outside.
Woods attempts a counter takedown but Martinez Jr avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woods closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Woods advances to mount.
Martinez Jr has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Woods's lack of action.
Martinez Jr wants to get back to his feet.
Martinez Jr trying to hold on to Woods's head to control him but Woods postures up.

Martinez Jr actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woods wants to stand up but Martinez Jr has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Martinez Jr is trying to maintain the position but Woods is very close to passing his half guard.
Woods trying to control the action but Martinez Jr is working from the bottom.
Martinez Jr is concentrating on defense, preventing Woods from advancing position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Martinez Jr is looking to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods misses with a head kick.
Woods stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Woods wants it to stay on the feet.
Martinez Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Martinez Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Woods.

Martinez Jr clinches up with Woods and pushes him back against the cage.
Martinez Jr misses with a hook to the ribs.
Martinez Jr misses with a body punch.
Woods is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Martinez Jr gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhys Woods. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martinez Jr is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Woods to keep the fight standing.
Woods managing to block the knees to the body from Martinez Jr.
Woods is pressed up against the cage. Martinez Jr has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Woods down to the mat. Woods avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woods fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Martinez Jr avoids it really well and circles away.
Rhys Woods is winning the standup battle so far.
Woods throws a sloppy head kick and Martinez Jr moves out of range easily.
Woods moves in looking to clinch but Martinez Jr pushes him off.
Woods stuffs the takedown.

Woods feints and as Martinez Jr raises his hands in defense, Woods changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Woods cracks Martinez Jr with a solid left hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Woods looking to pass the guard.
Woods won't allow Martinez Jr to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rhys Woods.
I think Woods has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28

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