PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Acton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arturo Ward has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ward
vs
Acton

175 cm
22
154 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

160 cm
25
150 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Cage Wars Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arturo Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Acton!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Acton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Acton throwing shots but Ward is blocking nicely.
Acton passes the guard and advances to mount!
Ward manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ward tries to kick Acton off but Acton keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Ward actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Acton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.
Ward is trying to stand up here but Acton is controlling him well.
Acton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ward's head.

Acton is trying to work for a kimura but Ward is defending well.

Ward looking for submissions off his back.
Acton wants to control but Ward is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ward shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Acton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Acton.
Acton wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Acton passes into half guard.
Acton is trying to control. Ward wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Ward looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Acton is looking to advance position but Ward won't allow it.

Acton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Acton looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ward looking for submissions off his back.
Acton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ward wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ward darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Acton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ward seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Acton slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Acton looking for a sweep. Not yet Acton, not yet.
Ward tries to stand but Acton is controlling from the bottom.
Acton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Acton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Acton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ward doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ward manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Acton working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ward gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Acton counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Ward looking for a guillotine here but Acton defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Acton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ward's head.

Ward looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Acton dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ward gets caught flat footed, as Acton shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ward is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Ward has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Acton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Acton wants to pass the guard but Ward is keeping the position.
Joe Acton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Acton pushes down on Ward's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Acton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ward doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Acton.
Acton moves into full mount! Ward won't be happy about that!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acton working for a guillotine from mount but Ward is in no mood to give up.
Ward is working to get back to half guard.
Ward slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Acton trying to control from half guard but Ward is working away.
Ward slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Ward had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Acton defends it easily.
Acton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ward working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Acton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Acton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ward wants to sweep but no luck.
Acton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Acton advances to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ward regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward looking for a guillotine here but Acton defends easily.
Acton landing some decent shots from guard.
Acton sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Acton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Acton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Ward has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Acton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Acton sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ward's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward is trying to stand up here but Acton is controlling him well.
Acton passes to full mount!
Ward is wriggling around trying to escape.
Acton in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Acton trying to control but Ward is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Acton wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Ward blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arturo Ward dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ward misses with a takedown attempt

and Acton counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ward!
Acton connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Acton with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ward prevents Acton from taking his back.
Ward sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ward is pressing down on Acton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Acton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ward is keeping the position for now.
Ward is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acton wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

Ward has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Acton should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Ward has tightened it up now! Acton should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Arturo Ward!