PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Israel Wood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Klychko (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.

Wood
vs
Klychko

169 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Israel Wood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Arthur Klychko!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good work by Klychko as he checks the leg kick.
Klychko moves to clinch but Wood breaks away

and Wood moves into the clinch.
Klychko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Klychko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klychko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Klychko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Wood has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Wood could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Wood manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Klychko is looking to stand up but Wood won't let him.

Wood pushes Klychko off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wood closes the distance and clinches up with Klychko, looking for a takedown. Wood pushes Klychko against the cage but Klychko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wood has a takedown stuffed.
Wood tries a head kick but it misses.
Klychko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wood tries a head kick but it misses.
Wood goes for a double leg but Klychko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Klychko continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Israel Wood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Klychko misses with a knee to the head.
Wood drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Klychko gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wood pulls guard.
Klychko wanted to stand there but Wood had control of the position.
Wood might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Klychko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wood manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Klychko looks winded!
Klychko avoids a series of strikes thrown by Wood.
Wood looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Wood looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Wood throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Klychko wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Wood.
You get the feeling that Klychko really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Wood jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Klychko manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wood sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Klychko is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klychko is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Wood is controlling him well.
Wood controls the position from side control.
Klychko is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Wood asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Wood decides to stand back up.
Klychko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wood swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wood misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wood throws a low kick, looking for Klychko's leg but Klychko calmly moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Wood or perhaps it was just good defense by Klychko which made him look bad.

Wood moves into range and clinches up with Klychko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wood wants a takedown.
Klychko misses with a knee to the head.
Klychko with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Wood pulls guard.
Klychko wants to stand and escape but instead Wood has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Wood loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wood chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wood pushes down on Klychko's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Wood is looking for a kimura but Klychko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Wood to get the leverage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Klychko is trying to stand back up but Wood is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Wood dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wood fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Klychko, pushing him back against the cage.
Klychko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klychko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Klychko tries to land a knee to the head but Wood blocks with his arms.
Wood lands a left hand.
Klychko tries to land a knee to the head but Wood blocks with his arms.
Klychko throws a knee to the head but misses.
Klychko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Wood has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Klychko tries a knee to the head but Wood blocks it.
Klychko is pressed up against the cage. Wood has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Klychko down to the mat. Klychko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Wood forces Klychko back against the cage and clinches.
Klychko is pressed up against the cage. Wood has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Klychko down to the mat. Klychko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Klychko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Israel Wood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wood shoots in looking for a takedown. Klychko tries to sprawl out of it but Wood keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Klychko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Klychko leaves Wood with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klychko closes the distance looking to clinch

and Wood moves into the clinch.
Klychko misses with a knee to the head.
Wood goes for a takedown in the clinch but Klychko prevents it.
Wood wants to break the clinch but can't.
Wood controlling the action here for a moment.
Klychko with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Wood manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Klychko stands and steps away. Wood gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Wood.
The fight stays on the outside here - Klychko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Klychko tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Wood counters by clinching up.
Klychko misses with a knee to the head.
Klychko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Wood has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Wood stalling.
Klychko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A frustrated look appears on Wood's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Wood changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Klychko fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Klychko tries to clinch but Wood is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wood darts in and clinches Klychko up against the cage.
Wood is trying to drag Klychko to the mat but Klychko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Klychko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wood holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Klychko misses with a knee to the head.

Wood pulls guard.
Klychko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wood is proving hard to escape from.
Wood manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Klychko manages to get himself to full guard.
Klychko keeping moving, preventing Wood from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klychko wants to stand and escape but Wood is having none of it.
Wood has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wood is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Wood decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Klychko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wood.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Klychko closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wood counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Wood dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Klychko moves in looking to clinch but Wood pushes him off.
Klychko tries to clinch

and Wood counters by clinching up.
Wood wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wood misses with an elbow over the top.
Wood tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wood takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Israel Wood has been cut.
Klychko looking to throw knees to the head but Wood is blocking nicely.
Wood fails to pull guard.
Klychko tries to land a knee to the head but Wood blocks with his arms.
Wood trying to land knees to the body.
Klychko tries to land a knee to the head but Wood blocks with his arms.

Wood successfully pulls guard.
Wood looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wood is pulling down on Klychko's head. It's preventing any offense from Klychko, at least for the moment.
Klychko is looking to stand up but Wood won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wood throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Klychko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wood has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Klychko has managed to get both his arms back between Wood's legs - danger averted.
Wood 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.
Klychko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wood. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Wood has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Klychko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Klychko wanted to stand there but Wood had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klychko being controlled here momentarily.

Wood working for a triangle but Klychko defends it easily.
Klychko trying to stand up but can't free himself from Wood's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wood stands up from half guard.

Wood forces Klychko back against the cage and clinches.
Klychko tries to land a knee to the head but Wood blocks with his arms.
Klychko keeps control of Wood as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wood slows down the pace here.
Klychko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wood wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Wood wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wood dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Klychko throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wood blocks it with crossed arms.
Wood wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Klychko tries to land a knee to the head but Wood blocks with his arms.

Wood has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Klychko regains guard immediately.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wood passes Klychko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wood throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wood thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wood thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Klychko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Wood performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Arthur Klychko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Israel Wood is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Klychko actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Israel Wood showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wood 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Israel Wood!