PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Garret Woodard (ranked 25106 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oscar Chow (ranked 6078 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Woodard
vs
Chow

219 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

182 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Garret Woodard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Oscar Chow!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chow shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Chow was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Chow is looking to take a break and control but Woodard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Chow stands up.
Chow shoots in for a takedown but Woodard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Chow misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Woodard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Woodard stands up from half guard.
Woodard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chow.

Chow gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chow wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Woodard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Chow's coach down at Rabid Reindeer Training was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Chow's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Chow has had enough of the clinch but Woodard keeps him there for the moment.

Chow is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Woodard can't fight it off and eventually Chow manages to take the fight to the floor. Woodard looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Chow would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Woodard wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Chow manages to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woodard gets back to full guard.

Woodard pushes Chow off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Woodard stuffs the takedown attempt from Chow. Chow gets slowly back to his feet.
Woodard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Woodard backing away here, and Chow unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Woodard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Chow as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garret Woodard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chow throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Woodard.
Woodard swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chow darts in and clinches Woodard up against the cage.

Chow manages to break the clinch.
Chow throws a lazy head kick

and Woodard counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Woodard drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Chow manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Woodard has Chow in his guard.

Woodard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Chow controls from within his opponent's guard.
Chow trying to control the position from guard on top but Woodard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woodard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Woodard is looking to stand back up but Chow counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Woodard.
Woodard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Chow's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Chow's back!

Chow is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Woodard is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Chow is defending well though. Woodard let's go of the attempt for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Chow defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Woodard's arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Garret Woodard will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A slapping leg kick lands for Chow.
Chow misses with a series of wild punches.

Chow shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woodard tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Chow gets to his feet - Woodard follows without any prompting.
Woodard fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chow rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Woodard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Chow has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Woodard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Woodard can't get the takedown.
Woodard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Chow wants to get back to striking at distance but Woodard won't allow it.
Woodard stalls.
Chow is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Chow tries for a takedown. No joy.

Chow breaks from the clinch.
Woodard lands a head kick!
Oscar Chow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Woodard avoids a punch combination nicely.

Woodard darts in and clinches Chow up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Chow lands a hook that snaps the head of Woodard backwards.

Woodard manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Woodard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chow.
Chow throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A leg kick checked by Woodard.
Woodard tries to counter by clinching up but Chow breaks away and moves out of range.
Chow dives in and grabs Woodard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Woodard pushes down on Chow's head and hops out.
Garret Woodard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oscar Chow.
A punch lands to the side of Woodard 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice defenses there by Woodard.
Woodard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Woodard sets himself, and Chow steps forward looking for the clinch! Woodard avoids it this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Woodard shoots in looking for a takedown but Chow manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Woodard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A punch combination from Chow misses.
Woodard half committed to a counter leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Chow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Woodard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Woodard dodges the punch combination from Chow.
Woodard seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Chow looks to land a left hand but Woodard moved out of range nicely.
Chow keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Woodard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice uppercut there from Woodard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woodard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Chow but Chow pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Chow tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Chow misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chow will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Woodard shoots in and drives through. Chow sprawls well.
Woodard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Chow.
Woodard takes one on the chin but seems OK.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Woodard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garret Woodard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chow misses with a low kick as Woodard jumps back.

Chow scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Chow is looking to take a break and control but Woodard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Woodard wants to get back to his feet but Chow is dominant here and he's now got Woodard's back!
Woodard is trying to get back to his feet but Chow has full control of the position and if anything, Woodard has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Chow trying to control.
Chow keeps control of the position as Woodard tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woodard just trying to survive but Chow is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Woodard is in bad spot here.
Chow throwing damaging strikes from the back! Woodard could be in trouble here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woodard looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Woodard wants to escape the position.
Chow avoiding Woodard 's attempts to control his hands.
Chow keeps control of the position easily here as Woodard tries to buck him off.
Woodard is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chow has good solid back control here.
Woodard is trying to get back to his feet but Chow has full control of the position and if anything, Woodard has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Woodard tries to roll but Chow sticks to his back.
Woodard is trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Woodard rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chow is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oscar Chow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Chow has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oscar Chow!