PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mr Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maya Selnezz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ward's entrance music is Everything in its right place- Radio Head. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ward
vs
Selnezz

150 cm
25
144 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

169 cm
20
144 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

STEEL PENN NUTRITION - STEEL RESERVE 158+ ONLY$89
STEEL PENN NUTRITION - STEEL RESERVE 158+ ONLY$89

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maya Selnezz!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ward closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ward tries to move to mount but Selnezz blocks the move with his legs.
Selnezz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ward off and has taken his back!
Ward tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Selnezz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ward is looking for a sweep. Selnezz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Selnezz throwing shots but Ward is blocking nicely.
Selnezz is trying to control. Ward wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Selnezz is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ward!
Selnezz controlling his opponent.
Ward is looking to get to half guard.
Selnezz connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is working to get back to half guard.

Selnezz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Selnezz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ward sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ward is looking for a sweep. Selnezz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ward works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Selnezz throws a big right hand that misses.
Ward is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ward works his way into side control.
Selnezz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ward. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ward working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Ward looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ward is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward advances to mount.

Ward working for a guillotine from mount but Selnezz is in no mood to give up.
Selnezz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Selnezz swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Selnezz is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Ward has taken his back.
Selnezz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selnezz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ward is working away from the top position though.
Ward is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Selnezz is working to get back to half guard.
Ward is trying to take his opponent's back.
Ward prevents Selnezz from getting the reversal.

Ward with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Selnezz tries to reverse the position but Ward maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants to take Selnezz's back here but Selnezz is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Ward forces the positional change into back control.
Ward has the hooks in. Selnezz is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Selnezz defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Ward's arms.

Selnezz defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Ward's arms.
Selnezz tries to roll but Ward sticks to his back.

Selnezz defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Ward's arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Ward dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ward gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Ward is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Selnezz defends well.
Ward wants to sweep here but Selnezz controlling him for the moment.
Ward has momentary wrist control but Selnezz slips an elbow through the middle.
Selnezz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ward can't keep his opponent in guard - Selnezz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Selnezz is trying to control the action in half guard but Ward is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ward looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Selnezz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ward with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selnezz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Selnezz trying to control from half guard but Ward is working away.
Ward is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ward is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Selnezz pulls his head out easily.

Selnezz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ward is just riding it out for now. Selnezz eventually gives up the hold.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Selnezz tries to clinch up but Ward circles away and keeps his distance.

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.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ward has his takedown stuffed

and Selnezz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Selnezz prevents the takedown attempt.
Selnezz slows down the pace here.

Selnezz manages to break the clinch.
Ward getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Selnezz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ward counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Selnezz!
Ward moves to back control.

Ward tightening his grip on Selnezz, looking for the choke.
Selnezz tries to roll but Ward sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Selnezz breaks Ward's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Ward can't keep his opponent in guard - Selnezz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Selnezz is pressing down on Ward's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ward is holding on for now.
Ward is trying to get back to full guard.
Ward is staying active underneath Selnezz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ward is looking to improve his position.
Selnezz is keen to just control but Ward is a slippery customer.

That's four 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 works his way to full guard. Good work.

Ward is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

Selnezz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ward is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Selnezz winds up and cracks Ward with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Selnezz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ward tries to roll over but Selnezz keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ward manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Selnezz passes into half guard.

Selnezz wants to work for an arm triangle but Ward is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mr Ward will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ward gets the takedown into side control.

Ward is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Selnezz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Selnezz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ward frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Selnezz tries to hold on but Ward pushes him away.
Selnezz is looking to get to half guard.
Selnezz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Selnezz is trying to escape the mount but Ward keeps good control and instead manages to take Selnezz's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selnezz is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ward is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Selnezz knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Selnezz for a finish.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Selnezz wants to escape the position.

Ward is cranking Selnezz's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Selnezz! He's tightened the choke and Selnezz is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mr Ward!