PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David Lemieux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyron Woodley (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.

Lemieux
vs
Woodley

180 cm
45
172 lbs
54 - 27 - 2

176 cm
39
182 lbs
20 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear

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 54 - 27 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, David Lemieux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Tyron Woodley!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woodley ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lemieux misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Woodley tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Good exchange - Lemieux coming out on top.
Lemieux's corner calls for a 1-2. Lemieux obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Woodley shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lemieux is looking to counter punch.
Lemieux misses with a looping right.
Lemieux rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Woodley decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lemieux's guard.
Woodley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lemieux works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Woodley prevents Lemieux from getting back to his feet.
Lemieux looking to hit a scissor sweep but Woodley is one step ahead there.
Woodley is in close to Lemieux's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Woodley not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodley missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Woodley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lemieux wants to get back to his feet but Woodley is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Woodley throws a big elbow that misses.
Woodley throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lemieux preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lemieux is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lemieux keeping full guard, as Woodley tries to pass.
Lemieux is trying to control the position but Woodley postures up.
Woodley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Woodley content to stall in guard here.

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.

Lemieux pushes Woodley off and scrambles back to his feet.
Lemieux throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Woodley has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A jab from Lemieux misses.
Woodley with the counter takedown but Lemieux avoids it easily.
A low kick from Lemieux misses

and Woodley counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lemieux won't be happy with that.

Lemieux throws Woodley to one side and escapes!
Woodley walks into a left hand.
Lemieux looks to throw the jab but Woodley is out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Woodley.
Lemieux tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Woodley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lemieux is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodley is working Lemieux over with some ground and pound from side control.
Lemieux manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Lemieux is looking to take a break and control but Woodley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woodley is looking for a sweep. Lemieux is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Woodley trying to control here.
Lemieux wants to free his trapped foot but Woodley is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lemieux is looking to take a break and control but Woodley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Woodley trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux is looking to take a break and control but Woodley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Woodley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Woodley is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Woodley wants to sweep here but Lemieux controlling him for the moment.
Woodley wants to improve his position but instead Lemieux has moved into half guard.

Lemieux stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Woodley.
Woodley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lemieux.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Lemieux dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lemieux fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lemieux darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Woodley shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lemieux napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lemieux is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Woodley can do to turn this around?

Woodley is trying to get an arm triangle but Lemieux is defending well.
Lemieux is pushing Woodley's head away, looking to escape. Woodley manages to hold on to the position though.
Woodley tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Woodley throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Lemieux works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Woodley there.
Woodley landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Woodley prevents Lemieux from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux has a hand on Woodley's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Woodley takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Woodley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Woodley lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lemieux hang on?
Lemieux is trying to stand.
Woodley landing strikes from the mount and Lemieux is in trouble!
Woodley working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Woodley raining down shots from the mount!
Tyron Woodley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lemieux is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lemieux gets back to half guard.
Woodley seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lemieux does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woodley looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lemieux with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Woodley prevents Lemieux from improving his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Woodley scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Woodley lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Woodley missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Woodley stops Lemieux from getting back to his feet.
Lemieux preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Woodley stops Lemieux from getting back to his feet.
Lemieux trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux pushes Woodley off but Woodley dives into side control.
Woodley in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Woodley trying to control the position but Lemieux is working away.
Lemieux is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Woodley is controlling him well.
Woodley lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The strikes coming from Woodley are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Woodley trying to control the action but Lemieux is working from the bottom.
Lemieux trying to remain calm as Woodley controls from the top position.
Woodley works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Woodley working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodley trying to control the action but Lemieux is working from the bottom.
Lemieux tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Woodley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
You can see the frustration on Lemieux's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Woodley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lemieux keeps working.
Lemieux is trying to get back to half guard.
Lemieux pushes Woodley away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Woodley gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Lemieux tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Woodley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Woodley landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Woodley slips under a jab from Lemieux.
Lemieux throws a body shot but no joy.
Woodley drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lemieux defends it well.
Woodley slips a jab from Lemieux.
Woodley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lemieux tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Woodley drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lemieux defends it well.

Woodley closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Woodley lands in his opponent's guard.
Woodley landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lemieux is on top in guard.

Lemieux preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodley doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Woodley manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lemieux manages to get himself to full guard.

Lemieux is trying to keep Woodley in close.
Woodley throwing strikes but missing.

Lemieux has his feet on Woodley's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Woodley slips a jab from Lemieux.
Woodley uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lemieux.
A slow jab from Lemieux misses its intended target.
Lemieux throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux throws a lazy uppercut
and Woodley counters with a straight right hand.
Lemieux misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Woodley counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lemieux throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Woodley sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Woodley wants to counter the offense by Lemieux and move into the clinch position.
Lemieux throws the left hand but Woodley avoids the punch easily.
The fighters circling - Lemieux throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
David Lemieux is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
Lemieux misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Woodley.
Woodley tries to counter by closing the distance.
Woodley moves out of range of the body kick from Lemieux.
Lemieux misses with a straight right.
A jab from Lemieux misses.
Lemieux throws a looping overhand right but Woodley ducks down to avoid it.
Lemieux throws a looping overhand right but Woodley ducks down to avoid it.

Woodley scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodley grinds an elbow into Lemieux's temple.
Woodley is working Lemieux over with some ground and pound from side control.
Woodley lands a decent elbow from side control.
Woodley trying to control the position but Lemieux is working away.
Woodley misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Woodley lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lemieux down.
Lemieux trying to control but Woodley flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Lemieux is trying to remain composed but Woodley is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Woodley is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Lemieux breaks Woodley's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lemieux engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lemieux has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Woodley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lemieux gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux stopping the sweep attempt from Woodley.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Woodley looking to control.
Woodley 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.
Lemieux wants to control from the top but Woodley keeps moving.
Lemieux stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Woodley swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Woodley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tyron Woodley.
I think Woodley has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... David Lemieux!
A relieved looking David Lemieux thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.