PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Legate Lanius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jemichael Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lanius
vs
Ward

200 cm
19
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

165 cm
26
141 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Legate Lanius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jemichael Ward!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Lou da Vinci and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lanius doesn't manage to clinch there - Ward circles away.

Lanius instigates a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lanius just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ward's brow.
Ward has Lanius pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lanius manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lanius lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lanius using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ward has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ward has Lanius pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lanius manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lanius really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ward goes for a takedown attempt but Lanius pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Legate Lanius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jemichael Ward.

Ward shoots in and gets a takedown into Lanius's guard.
Ward trying to control but Lanius is working from the bottom.

Ward thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lanius is looking to stand up but Ward isn't so interested in that idea.
Ward postures up in Lanius's guard and throws a big left but Lanius blocks it.
Ward pushes down on Lanius's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Lanius is defending against the submission attempts here by Ward.
Lanius is looking to get back to full guard here but Ward has managed to pass to side control instead.
Ward throwing strikes here but Lanius is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward takes Lanius's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Lanius is in trouble.

Ward working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Lanius is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Ward has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Lanius taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jemichael Ward!