PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alika Hakekia (ranked 916 p4p, 1040 weight class) and Maxim Ward (ranked 120 p4p, 145 weight class). Hakekia's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, FE!N. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ward's choice of entrance music: ERA - Ameno. Maxim Ward told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hakekia
vs
Ward

180 cm
46
170
37 - 24 - 3

185 cm
34
172
19 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
NARCOS

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 37 - 24 - 3, fighting out of Montreal, Alika Hakekia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Maxim Ward!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Damien Edna and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hakekia pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

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

Hakekia uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hakekia looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hakekia throws a lazy right hand but Ward sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maxim Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward misses the jab.
Ward throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hakekia thinks about countering with a body kick.

Ward looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hakekia is looking for a sweep. Ward is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ward is controlling the pace.
Hakekia is doing well to control the position and prevent Ward from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hakekia is trying to escape back to his feet but Ward uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Ward 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.
Hakekia manages to get back to half guard.
Hakekia preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Still in half guard, Ward seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward trying to mount his opponent but Hakekia defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ward moves into range and clinches up with Hakekia.
Hakekia misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ward blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Ward is trying to trip Hakekia. He has hold of a leg but Hakekia is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ward persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Hakekia is keeping the position.
Ward sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hakekia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ward is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ward's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Ward dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Ward works the jab nicely.
Hakekia throws a body punch but Ward moves out of range.
A jab from Hakekia does it's job there.
Good exchange - Ward coming out on top.

Ward moves into the clinch.
Hakekia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hakekia misses with a body punch.
Ward blocks an uppercut.
Ward tries to pull guard but Hakekia forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hakekia can't find room to land a body shot as Ward controls the action.
Hakekia misses with a punch on the inside.
Hakekia lands with a short shot to the head.
Ward lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hakekia lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ward tries to pull guard but Hakekia won't allow it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hakekia digs a right hand underneath Ward's ribcage. Ward let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ward lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hakekia lands an uppercut.
Ward goes for a takedown attempt but Hakekia pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Alika Hakekia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Ward.
Hakekia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ward was well out of range. Poor timing from Hakekia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hakekia throws a shot from downtown. Ward moves away and avoids it.
Hakekia misses with a wild body shot.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hakekia moves away.
Hakekia throws a leg kick
and Ward counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ward sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Hakekia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ward throws out the jab.
Hakekia lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ward's sensitive parts.

Ward bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hakekia keeps working.
Ward controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hakekia prevents Ward from moving into mount.
Ward controlling the position from side mount.
Let's hope that Ward has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hakekia sprawls well. Hakekia wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
Hakekia was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hakekia enables Ward to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hakekia manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ward seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
More stalling from Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hakekia looking for a sweep. Not yet Hakekia, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward is looking to pass into half guard but Hakekia pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hakekia is in guard.

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hakekia passes into half guard.
Ward wants to control but Hakekia passes into side.
Ward is trying to control Hakekia's posture but Hakekia avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alika Hakekia dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Hakekia lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ward rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hakekia cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Hakekia misses.
Ward is looking for the big counter here.
Hakekia scores with a kick to the midsection.
Hakekia misses with a straight left.
Ward takes one on the button.
Ward lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hakekia backs up against the cage.
Ward misses with a wild body shot.
Ward throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hakekia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Hakekia.
Ward moves out of range of the body kick.
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!
Hakekia lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Ward scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Hakekia kicks off Ward and gets to his feet.
Hakekia looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ward lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hakekia circles away quickly and effectively.
Hakekia misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ward lands a hook that snaps the head of Hakekia backwards.
Ward scores with a shot to the side of Hakekia's head.
Ward prevents a body shot from Hakekia.
A head punch on the inside from Hakekia fails to land.
Ward is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hakekia to keep the fight standing.
Hakekia lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hakekia wants to get back to striking at distance but Ward won't allow it.
Hakekia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ward misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ward.
Hakekia looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Ward has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hakekia regains guard immediately.
Hakekia has Ward pulled in close to control his posture.
Ward stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hakekia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hakekia wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hakekia is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward misses with a few strikes there.
Ward throws a lazy right hand but Hakekia sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ward!

Ward has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hakekia lands with a left to the head.
Alika Hakekia has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hakekia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hakekia looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ward tries to score a body lock takedown but Hakekia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ward blocks an elbow strike.
Hakekia struggles to land a body shot inside as Ward controls his hands.
Hakekia misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ward avoids the elbow strike from Hakekia, against the cage.
Ward avoids the elbow strike from Hakekia, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Ward.
Hakekia swings wildly with an uppercut but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hakekia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hakekia creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hakekia has a couple of punches blocked by Ward.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ward gets through Hakekia's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ward fails to pull guard.
Alika Hakekia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Ward.
Ward fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hakekia is trying to break the clinch but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hakekia.
Hakekia tries to land knees in the clinch but Ward avoids the damage to the body.

Ward has clasped his hands together around Hakekia's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hakekia seems a little lost for a moment, as Ward dominates the positioning.
Hakekia is trying to control Ward's posture but Ward avoids it.
Ward happy to just control the position for now.

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 Alika Hakekia.
I think Hakekia 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alika Hakekia!
An out of breath Alika Hakekia thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.