PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mui Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kerry Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ward has chosen People are strange by The Doors as his entrance music. Kerry Ward acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Thai
vs
Ward

205 cm
27
265 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

193 cm
24
263 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Springfield HW Nutrition

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mui Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kerry Ward!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thai scores with a jab to the head.
Ward tries to clinch
and Thai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Ward moves into the clinch successfully.
Ward has had enough of the clinch but Thai keeps him there for the moment.
Thai's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Thai lands a hook that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Thai has Ward pressed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thai lands with a light punch inside.
Ward tries to break the clinch but Thai is controlling the position.
A short body shot lands from Thai as the two fighters clinch.

Ward breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thai dips to his left and cracks Ward with an uppercut!
Thai changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thai scores with a punch to the head.
Thai getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Ward shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ward looks gassed!
Thai works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai has his hands on Ward's head, controlling the position.
Ward wants to stand but Thai has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thai wants to sweep here but Ward controlling him for the moment.
Ward wants to stand but Thai has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thai manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ward manages to get himself to full guard.
Thai will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ward wants to hit a switch here but Thai passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ward there!
Ward squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Thai lands a heavy elbow.
Thai has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ward's face.
Ward wants to try and get back to his feet.

Ward bucks Thai off and manages to get back to his feet!
Ward is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Mui Thai has been cut.

Ward closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thai's guard.
Ward wanted to stand there but Thai had control of the position.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thai is adopting a defensive guard.
Thai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ward tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Thai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ward misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ward thuds his right hand into Thai's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Ward feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ward trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thai's guard.
Ward thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thai wants to stand and escape but Ward is having none of it.
Ward is looking to stand up but Thai won't let him.
Ward won't allow Thai to sweep him here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ward wants to stand but Thai has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thai has his hands on Ward's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mui Thai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mui Thai's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thai connects with the punch.
Thai is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ward pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ward listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ward looks to land a combination but Thai avoids it well.
Thai misses with a double jab.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ward looking to score a takedown here. Thai is defending well but Ward drives through and ends up in Thai's guard.
Thai is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ward gets to his feet - Thai follows without any prompting.

Ward scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thai to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thai shrugs it off.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Ward unloads with some shots from mount but Thai bucks and avoids them well.
Thai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Ward is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thai to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thai shrugs it off.
Thai wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ward.
Thai can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Ward get's back to his feet.
Thai defending well as Ward loads up on a big left hand.
Ward throws a series of punches but Thai avoids them all with ease.
Ward throws a sloppy body shot

and Thai counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thai makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thai passes into side control.
Ward gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thai thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ward's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai trying to control from half guard but Ward is working away.

Ward pushes Thai off and gets back to his feet.
Ward throws a head kick but Thai moves out of range.

Thai gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thai has Ward pressed against the cage, preventing Ward from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Ward's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ward misses with a body kick.
Thai takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ward is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thai ducks under a wild hook from Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Thai enables Ward to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Thai manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thai lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ward!
Ward is trying to stand.
Thai lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ward is trying desperately to improve position.
Thai unloading with bombs!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kerry Ward will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mui Thai's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ward misses with a body punch

and Thai counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thai.
Ward preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thai postures up and lands a big shot to Ward's brow.
Ward can't keep his opponent in guard - Thai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ward looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ward missing with punches from the bottom.
Thai stops Ward from getting back to his feet.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thai missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thai stops Ward from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ward gets full guard.
Thai wants to pass the guard but Ward is keeping the position.

Ward has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thai prevents Ward from getting back to his feet.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Thai from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thai passes into half guard.
Ward won't allow Thai to pass to mount.
Ward looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thai lands a nice short elbow.
Thai throwing shots but Ward is blocking nicely.
Ward manages to get to full guard.

Ward looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Thai from controlling successfully.
Thai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thai stops Ward from standing up.

Ward pushes Thai off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ward has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ward there as he acknowledges the shot.

Ward scores a takedown into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai is looking to improve his position but Ward isn't that keen on the idea.
Thai is working hard here to advance position.

Ward stands up from mount. Strange move.
Mui Thai is winning the standup battle so far.
Ward ducks under a wild hook from Thai.
Nice sprawl there from Ward as Thai shoots in.
Thai is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Thai gets caught flat footed, as Ward shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Ward drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thai manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ward has Thai in his guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thai lands a couple of digs.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mui Thai.
I think Thai has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mui Thai!