PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kerry Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Greg Stevenson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ward
vs
Stevenson

193 cm
21
255 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
28
260 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kerry Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Greg Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson moves out of range as Ward strikes.
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ward looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ward thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ward lands a jab to Stevenson's midsection.
Ward takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ward connects with a crisp jab.
Stevenson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ward. Ward obviously looking to wear him down.
Ward throws a poor cross that misses
and Stevenson counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stevenson is defended easily by Ward.
Ward cracks Stevenson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ward misses with a body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ward.
Ward scores with a head kick.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ward sprawls well. Ward wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick by Ward misses

and Stevenson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson being controlled here momentarily.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

Stevenson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ward is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ward has escaped and now he's on top!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevenson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Stevenson is looking for a triangle here but Ward uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ward 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 Stevenson's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is looking to reverse the position.
Stevenson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Stevenson manages to get to full guard.
Ward wants to stand but Stevenson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ward sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Stevenson working for a triangle but Ward defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ward can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stevenson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.

Stevenson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ward defends it easily.
Ward has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ward tries to stand but Stevenson is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kerry Ward dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ward throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stevenson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ward keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stevenson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Ward misses.
Ward scores with a nice strike.
Stevenson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward connects with a looping right hand.
Ward waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stevenson.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ward lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevenson circles away quickly and effectively.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ward sprawls well. Ward wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Kerry Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greg Stevenson.
Ward shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kerry Ward is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ward defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stevenson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward throws a wild body kick that Stevenson sees coming a mile off.
A punch combination from Ward misses.
Stevenson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Stevenson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Stevenson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ward manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ward on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ward tries to get out of the position.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Stevenson from controlling successfully.
Stevensonis looking to pass into half guard but Ward pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Ward is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson has a closed guard, preventing Ward from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ward wanted to stand there but Stevenson had control of the position.

Stevenson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ward passes Stevenson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ward takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Stevenson looking for submissions off his back.
Stevenson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stevenson is looking for a sweep. Ward is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Stevenson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Stevenson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stevenson is looking to improve his position.
Stevenson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Stevenson.
Ward won't allow Stevenson to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kerry Ward dominated that second round.
That's time! Ward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ward just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick from Ward lands but Stevenson takes it in his stride.
A low kick from Ward misses

and Stevenson counters with a shoot takedown. Ward fights it but they end up in guard.

Stevenson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ward looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ward looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ward!
Stevenson throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Stevenson is looking for a sweep.
Stevenson can't do much from the bottom here.

Ward decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward lands with an uppercut that bounces Stevenson off the cage and back into rage.
Stevenson loads up on a big right hand but Ward slips the punch.
Ward throws a leg kick but Stevenson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Stevenson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Stevenson dives in and grabs Ward's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ward pushes down on Stevenson's head and hops out.
Stevenson thows a body shot but no joy.
Ward connects with a right hand. Stevenson shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson looks to throw a body kick
and Ward counters with a straight right hand.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ward.
Stevenson fails with the takedown
and Ward counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stevenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ward leaves Stevenson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kerry Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greg Stevenson.
Stevenson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson shoots in but Ward avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevenson.
Stevenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ward throws a low kick, looking for Stevenson's leg but Stevenson calmly moves out of range.
Stevenson ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
Ward throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ward is looking to slow Stevenson down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries for a takedown but Ward circles away easily
and Ward counters with a low kick, right behind Stevenson 's knee.
Ward lands with a nice body punch.
Kerry Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevenson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ward.
Stevenson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ward counters with a stiff right hand.
Greg Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kerry Ward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ward tries to score with a low kick but Stevenson moves his leg out of the way.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevenson closes the distance and clinches up with Ward, looking for a takedown. Stevenson pushes Ward against the cage but Ward circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ward dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kerry Ward showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ward, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kerry Ward!