PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sarel Labuschagne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Woodley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sarel Labuschagne could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mike Woodley's chin.

Labuschagne
vs
Woodley

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sarel Labuschagne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Woodley!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Labuschagne gets tackled into the cage by Woodley. Woodley maintains the clinch.
Labuschagne stalling in the clinch.
Woodley scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Sarel Labuschagne has been cut.
Labuschagne looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Woodley tries to land knees in the clinch but Labuschagne avoids the damage to the body.

Woodley ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Woodley no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Woodley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Woodley looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Labuschagne passes into half guard.
Labuschagne is taking a breather. Woodley says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woodley looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Labuschagne trying to control the pace.
Labuschagne wants to stand up but Woodley is controlling the position.

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.
Woodley wants to get back to his feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Sarel Labuschagne wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Woodley tries to close the distance and clinch but Labuschagne swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Woodley doesn't manage to clinch there - Labuschagne circles away.
Woodley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Labuschagne swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodley tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Labuschagne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick misses from Woodley.
Woodley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Labuschagne swivels and escapes.
Woodley plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Woodley darts in trying to clinch
and Labuschagne counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Labuschagne fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Labuschagne misses with a double jab.
Labuschagne closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Labuschagne throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Woodley forces Labuschagne back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Labuschagne is trying to break the clinch but Woodley is controlling him.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Woodley just misses with a elbow thrown towards Labuschagne's brow.
Woodley goes for a takedown attempt but Labuschagne pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Labuschagne lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Labuschagne throws a head kick that misses.
Woodley throws a head kick but Labuschagne moves out of range.
Labuschagne lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Labuschagne.
Mike Woodley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Woodley forces Labuschagne back against the cage and clinches.
Woodley is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Labuschagne gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sarel Labuschagne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Woodley.
Woodley looks gassed!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Labuschagne managing to block the knees to the body from Woodley.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Woodley will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sarel Labuschagne's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Woodley takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Labuschagne shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Woodley has one foot on Labuschagne's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Labuschagne has closed the distance and engaged Woodley in a clinch.
Labuschagne takes a knee right on the jaw!
Labuschagne blocking some punches.

Woodley manages to break the clinch.
Woodley shoots in but Labuschagne avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woodley fails with an attempt to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Labuschagne.
Woodley tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Labuschagne counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Woodley is breathing heavily.
Labuschagne keeps the fight on the outside.
Labuschagne misses with a two punch combination.
Woodley tries to clinch up but Labuschagne circles away and keeps his distance.
Woodley blocks a head kick by Labuschagne.
Labuschagne fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Labuschagne scores with a one two! Woodley had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Woodley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sarel Labuschagne is winning the standup battle so far.
Good standup being displayed there by Labuschagne as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woodley with a lazy takedown attempt
and Labuschagne counters with a three punch combo that has Woodley backing up. Woodley nods at Labuschagne to acknowledge the strikes.
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!
Labuschagne lands a nice shot to the body.

Labuschagne shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Labuschagne showed some decent athleticism there.
Labuschagne not doing much here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Woodley is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Sarel Labuschagne wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Labuschagne throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Woodley tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Labuschagne is in Woodley's guard.

Labuschagne decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Woodley, up you get!

Labuschagne shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Woodley manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Labuschagne stands up and waves to Woodley to follow him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Labuschagne.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Woodley tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Labuschagne trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Woodley doesn't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarel Labuschagne dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sarel Labuschagne's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Woodley tries to clinch
and Labuschagne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Woodley closes the distance looking to clinch
and Labuschagne counters with a nice body shot.

Woodley gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Woodley with a knee to the head.

Woodley pulls guard.
Labuschagne's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Sarel Labuschagne wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Labuschagne misses with a leg kick.

Labuschagne scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Labuschagne decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labuschagne cracks Woodley with a good jab.
Woodley shoots for a double leg takedown but Labuschagne sprawls well. He's pushed Woodley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Woodley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Labuschagne stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Labuschagne wants it to stay on the feet.

Labuschagne gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Woodley using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Labuschagne has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Labuschagne scores with a nice hook to the head.
Woodley pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Labuschagne wants to get back to striking at distance but Woodley won't allow it.
Woodley throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Labuschagne blocks it with crossed arms.
Woodley has Labuschagne pressed against the cage, preventing Labuschagne from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Woodley can't break the clinch.
Labuschagne wants to break free but Woodley has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labuschagne can't break the clinch.
Woodley has Labuschagne pressed against the cage, preventing Labuschagne from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Woodley misses with a knee strike.
Woodley tries a knee to the head but Labuschagne blocks it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Labuschagne ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Labuschagne no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Labuschagne bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Woodley's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Labuschagne controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Woodley looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Labuschagne passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Woodley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Labuschagne is pressing down on Woodley's thigh, looking to free his foot. Woodley is holding on for now.

That's four 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.
Labuschagne controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sarel Labuschagne just wasn't active enough.
Labuschagne displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Woodley.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sarel Labuschagne showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Labuschagne 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sarel Labuschagne!