PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Varro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ward comes to the cage accompanied by Blur - Song 2 . The key to victory for Josh Ward has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ward
vs
Varro

175 cm
20
166 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

186 cm
22
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Varro!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Varro shoots in for a double leg but Ward sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Varro takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Ward lands a high kick to the side of Varro's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Ward dives into guard, looking to finish.

Varro is rocked!

It looks like Jason Varro has been cut.
Varro has a closed guard, preventing Ward from standing up.
Varro is still in real trouble! Can Ward finish him?
Varro wants to sweep here but Ward controlling him for the moment.
Ward trying to stand up but can't free himself from Varro's guard.
Varro seems to have recovered his senses.
Ward wants to stand and escape but instead Varro has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Varro 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.
Varro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Varro has managed to clinch.
Ward tries to break free but Varro pushes him back against the cage.
Varro drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ward pulls his leg out and moves away.
Josh Ward is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Varro rushes Ward and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ward is looking to break free of the clinch but Varro has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Ward's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ward has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ward looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ward is trying to break the clinch but Varro has him pressed against the cage.
Ward is trying to break free.

Ward escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ward prevents the takedown attempt.
Josh Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Varro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward is trying to break free.
Varro keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ward's efforts to push away.
Ward wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Varro has him pressed against the cage.
Ward gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Varro.

Varro wants the takedown. Ward is fighting it off but Varro persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ward's guard against the cage.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Ward avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ward is looking to stand up but Varro isn't so interested in that idea.
Varro throws a strike but Ward rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Varro can do anything to dispel that myth.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Varro pushes Ward off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varro shoots for a double leg takedown but Ward sprawls well. He's pushed Varro's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Varro scores a takedown into full mount!
Ward is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Varro controlling from mount.
Varro thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants to get back to his feet.
Ward knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Varro on the ground.
Ward is bucking up trying to escape but Varro cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varro lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jason Varro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jason Varro's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ward pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ward misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ward misses with a head kick.

Varro closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Varro works to advance to full mount. Ward defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Varro landing strikes from the mount.
Varro landing punches.
Varro with shots to the head and body - Ward looks very uncomfortable down there.
Varro content just to control the position here.
Varro pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Varro.
Varro lands with some strikes.
Ward taking shots to the head.
Ward takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Varro is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ward can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Varro working Ward over with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Varro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varro content just to control the position here.
Ward taking shots to the head.
Ward is bucking up trying to escape but Varro cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Varro working the ground and pound effectively.
Varro working Ward over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varro controlling his opponent.
A nice elbow there by Varro.
Varro controlling the pace for now.
A nice elbow there by Varro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Varro.
Varro looking to finish Ward with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ward!
Varro is landing with some decent strikes but Ward is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The referee warns Ward that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ward is bucking up trying to escape but Varro cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Varro raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Varro is landing with some decent strikes but Ward is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Varro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jason Varro's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Varro gets the takedown into side control.
Ward wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
You can see the frustration on Ward's face as Varro controls the position.
Varro lands a decent elbow from side control.
Varro tries to move to mount but Ward blocks the move with his legs.
Varro scores with a couple of short elbows.
Varro is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ward's shoulder. That is not cool.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varro landing strikes.
Varro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ward takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Check out the look on Varro's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ward takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
A lull in the action here.
Varro passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Ward!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varro controlling the position easily from mount.
Varro unloading with bombs!
Varro landing shots from mount.
Ward in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varro lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ward hang on?
Varro lands a nice shot to the head.
Ward is bucking up trying to escape but Varro cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Varro is landing with some decent strikes but Ward is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Varro scoring with strikes but Ward is staying in there.
Varro working Ward over with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Varro.
Ward is in a horrible position here. Varro smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varro unloading with bombs!
Varro lands a big elbow.
Varro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Josh Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jason Varro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Varro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Varro content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Varro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Varro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 25:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 25:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Varro!