PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Glen Hoddle (ranked 584 p4p, 593 weight class) and Maxim Ward (ranked 70 p4p, 72 weight class). Ward comes into a darkened arena with his song building. ERA - Ameno kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hoddle
vs
Ward

175 cm
33
170
13 - 8 - 0

185 cm
33
172
18 - 7 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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Conviction

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Glen Hoddle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Maxim Ward!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoddle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ward with the counter takedown but Hoddle avoids it easily.
Ward leaves Hoddle with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ward shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hoddle counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Maxim Ward has been cut.
Ward throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hoddle counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Maxim Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hoddle counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ward lands with a shot to the body.
Ward steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoddle.

Hoddle gets caught flat footed, as Ward shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

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

Hoddle is looking for a triangle but Ward pushes his legs off easily.

Hoddle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ward won't allow Hoddle to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Hoddle is keeping the position.
Ward trying to control but Hoddle is working from the bottom.
Ward controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Hoddle looking for subs off his back but Ward has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hoddle wants to control but Ward is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Hoddle is defending well.
Hoddle is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Mentor Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Ward passes the guard and advances to mount!
Ward controlling the pace for now.
Ward has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Italian Job. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Hoddle is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hoddle is trying to escape the mount.
Ward controlling his opponent.
Hoddle is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hoddle wants to hold on but Ward pushes him away.
Ward controlling from the full mount.

That's four 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.
Hoddle is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ward tries to control but Hoddle wriggling away.
Hoddle is trying desperately to improve position.
Hoddle wants to hold on but Ward pushes him away.
Hoddle can't escape the position.
Ward looking to control but Hoddle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ward takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hoddle is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Ward dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maxim Ward's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A shot to the liver by Ward. Beautiful body shot.
Hoddle will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Good shot there by Ward.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ward!
Ward moves out of range as Hoddle strikes.
Hoddle takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ward ducks under a wild hook from Hoddle.
Ward throws a one two combo.

Hoddle shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ward is looking to improve his position.
Ward keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hoddle stalling away here and it's allowed Ward to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Maxim Ward has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ward looking for a guillotine here but Hoddle defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoddle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hoddle trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hoddle with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hoddle postures up and lands a big shot to Ward's brow.
Hoddle throwing strikes but missing.
Hoddle trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Hoddle postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hoddle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hoddle chips away with some ground and pound.

Hoddle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hoddle forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward actively working from the bottom here.
Hoddle with the ground and pound but Ward uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Ward being controlled here, momentarily.
Hoddle's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hoddle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Hoddle from controlling successfully.

Ward had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hoddle defends it easily.
Ward not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hoddle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hoddle misses with a wild body shot.
Ward shoots in and drives through. Hoddle sprawls well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maxim Ward will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Maxim Ward'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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ward uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hoddle.
Hoddle takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch but Hoddle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hoddle slips under a jab.

Hoddle shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hoddle throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ward to regain full guard.
Hoddle has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hoddle throws a big elbow that misses.
Hoddle throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoddle wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

Ward is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hoddle trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoddle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ward trying to keep a closed guard but Hoddle is proving a slippery customer.
Hoddle stands and throws Ward's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ward is trying to control Hoddle's posture but Hoddle avoids it.
Ward is trying to get back to half guard.
Glen Hoddle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maxim Ward is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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.
Ward prevents Hoddle from improving position.
Hoddle 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.
Hoddle wants to control but Ward is keeping him busy.
Hoddle working the ground and pound but Ward is defending the strikes.
Hoddle wants to control but Ward is keeping him busy.
Sloppy strikes there by Hoddle.
Hoddle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoddle sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ward is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hoddle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hoddle on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ward. Ward obviously looking to wear him down.
Ward lands a lovely overhand right.
Ward scores with a nice head shot.
Hoddle takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ward misses with a body shot.
Ward fails with the takedown.
Ward has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ward connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ward staying out of range there.
Ward takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoddle bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ward's head.
Hoddle takes one to the chin there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ward bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hoddle's head backwards.
Ward scores with a hook.
Ward clobbers Hoddle with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hoddle misses with a straight right.
Hoddle throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoddle tried to score with a low kick but Ward checks it.
Nice body punch from Ward.
Ward slips under a jab from Hoddle.
Hoddle shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ward as he avoids it easily.

Ward forces Hoddle back against the cage and clinches.
Hoddle misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hoddle fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hoddle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ward tries to score a body lock takedown but Hoddle shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Glen Hoddle.
I think Ward 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Maxim Ward!
Maxim Ward decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.