PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Wooden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bender
vs
Wooden

157 cm
25
151 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donovan Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, William Wooden!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bender misses with a head kick.

Wooden moves into range and clinches up with Bender.
Wooden being controlled against the cage.
Wooden goes for a takedown attempt but Bender pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bender misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wooden tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Bender gets caught flat footed, as Wooden shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wooden throws a strike but Bender rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bender stopping the sweep attempt from Wooden.
Wooden pulls Bender in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wooden is proving hard to escape from.
Wooden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bender is one step ahead there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Wooden can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wooden has his hands on Bender's head, controlling the position.
Bender postures up in Wooden's guard and throws a big left but Wooden blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bender stopping the sweep attempt from Wooden.
Bender trying to control the position from guard on top but Wooden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bender wants to get up but he can't break Wooden's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Wooden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bender.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bender misses with a takedown attempt - Wooden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Bender darts in and clinches Wooden up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bender - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Bender stalls.
Bender is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bender has Wooden pushed against the cage.

Bender escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bender closes the distance and clinches.

Bender manages to pull guard.

Bender has his foot on Wooden's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wooden works his way back into a safe position though.
Wooden controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooden postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wooden makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bender could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Wooden cracks Bender with a solid left hand.
Wooden landing with the ground and pound.

Bender is rocked!
Wooden is working Bender over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Oh Bender is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooden engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Wooden arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Bender's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). William Wooden!