PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danny Wood (ranked 6147 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksey Rypalev (ranked 5242 p4p, 0 weight class). Wood comes to the cage accompanied by Notorious B.I.G - Hypnotyze. Aleksey Rypalev is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Wood
vs
Rypalev

173 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Wood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Aleksey Rypalev!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rypalev shoots in for a double leg but Wood sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Aleksey Rypalev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rypalev fails with a takedown attempt.
Rypalev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wood defends well and Rypalev ends up having to push Wood into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Danny Wood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksey Rypalev.
No luck for Rypalev with that takedown attempt.
Rypalev closes the distance and clinches up with Wood, looking for a takedown. Rypalev pushes Wood against the cage but Wood circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rypalev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wood sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rypalev fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rypalev takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wood misses with a few strikes there.
Wood throws a series of punches but Rypalev avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rypalev with a poor takedown
and Wood counters with a series of strikes. Rypalev will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rypalev shoots in looking for a takedown. Wood tries to sprawl out of it but Rypalev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wood manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wood lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rypalev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wood as he jumps to the side.
Rypalev misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Wood to counter with a crisp jab.
Wood misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rypalev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wood sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rypalev looks winded!
Rypalev closes the distance and clinches up with Wood, looking for a takedown. Rypalev pushes Wood against the cage but Wood circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood scores with a one two! Rypalev had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wood throws a series of strikes that have Rypalev backpedaling.
Wood lands with an overhand left.
Rypalev dodges the punch combination from Wood.
Wood throws a right and a left that Rypalev avoids nicely.
Wood lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rypalev circles away quickly and effectively.
Rypalev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Wood swivels and escapes.
Wood defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rypalev.
Rypalev darts in looking for a takedown but Wood gets double underhooks and turns Rypalev into the cage.
Wood looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Wood throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rypalev.
Wood rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rypalev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Wood both land. Nice combination.
Rypalev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rypalev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Wood counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wood lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rypalev circles away quickly and effectively.
Wood lands with a nice combination. Rypalev backs away looking to recover.
Wood throws a series of strikes that have Rypalev backpedaling.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Wood!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wood swinging wildly here.
Wood throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rypalev darts in looking for a takedown but Wood gets double underhooks and turns Rypalev into the cage.
Wood stuffs the takedown attempt from Rypalev. Rypalev gets slowly back to his feet.
As Rypalev looks to move away, Wood throws a big counter combo but Rypalev just gets out of the way.
Rypalev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wood.
Rypalev looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rypalev drops his hands momentarily and Wood takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A left and a right from Wood both land. Nice combination.
No luck for Rypalev with that takedown attempt.
Wood swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Wood dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rypalev slips a jab and a cross from Wood.
And Rypalev tries to counter it with a takedown but Wood pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rypalev misses with a takedown attempt - Wood sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wood stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wood wants it to stay on the feet.
Rypalev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wood pinned against the cage. Wood gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wood went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Danny Wood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksey Rypalev.
Rypalev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wood defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rypalev.
Rypalev is breathing heavily.
Wood's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Wood duly obliges.
Wood throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rypalev fails with the takedown.
Wood throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rypalev is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Rypalev fails with a takedown attempt.
Wood closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Wood lands a jab-cross combination.
Rypalev fails with the takedown
and Wood cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wood throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wood will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Rypalev might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Wood has got the better of the exchanges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rypalev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Wood counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some wild striking there from Wood.
Rypalev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Wood connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A nice combination there by Wood.
Rypalev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wood is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rypalev can do to turn this around?
Rypalev shoots for a takedown but Wood saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wood lands the left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Danny Wood is winning the standup battle so far.
Wood lands with a shot to the body.
Wood is working the combinations to good effect here.
Rypalev takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rypalev tries for a takedown but Wood circles away easily
and Wood counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wood lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Wood.
Sloppy strikes from Wood. Those never looked like landing.
Wood lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wood throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wood lands with a nice combination. Rypalev backs away looking to recover.
Wood is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rypalev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Wood counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rypalev shoots in looking for a takedown. Wood tries to sprawl out of it but Rypalev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wood manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No joy there for Wood, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Danny Wood is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wood keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wood throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rypalev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wood circles away.
Wood scores with a jab. Rypalev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Wood misses with a few strikes there.
Wood throws a nice looking combination but Rypalev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rypalev with the counter takedown but Wood avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Wood dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Wood defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rypalev.
Wood throws a series of punches but Rypalev moves out of range.
Wood slaps away a takedown attempt from Rypalev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rypalev shoots in but Wood avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wood throws a big counter combination but Rypalev scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Danny Wood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksey Rypalev.
Rypalev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wood defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rypalev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wood sprawls well. Wood wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rypalev gets slowly back to his feet.
As Rypalev looks to move away, Wood throws a big counter combo but Rypalev just gets out of the way.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rypalev with a poor takedown
and Wood counters with a nice uppercut.
Rypalev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wood throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wood throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Wood.
Rypalev has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Rypalev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wood sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rypalev somewhat.
Wood is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Wood lands a lovely overhand right.
Wood lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rypalev circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rypalev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Wood swivels and escapes.
Wood throws out a powerful jab.
Rypalev shoots for a double leg takedown but Wood sprawls well. He's pushed Rypalev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A punch combination from Wood misses.
Wood throws a series of punches but Rypalev moves out of range.
A jab lands there for Wood.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rypalev shoots in looking for a takedown. Wood tries to sprawl out of it but Rypalev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wood manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rypalev slips a jab and a cross from Wood.
Rypalev shoots and misses
and Wood counters with a straight right hand.
Wood misses with a wild combination.
Rypalev is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Wood.
Rypalev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wood.
Rypalev fails with a takedown attempt.
Wood misses with a two punch combination.
Danny Wood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rypalev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rypalev shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rypalev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Wood keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wood throws a big counter combination but Rypalev scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Wood connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Wood lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Aleksey Rypalev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rypalev shoots in but Wood avoids the takedown attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rypalev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As Rypalev looks to move away, Wood throws a big counter combo but Rypalev just gets out of the way.
Wood throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:24
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:24
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Wood!
In his post fight interview, Danny Wood started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.