PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Read (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heath Ledger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Read comes to the cage accompanied by Don't Fence Me In. Ledger has chosen Seven Nation Army as his entrance music. The key to victory for Mark Read has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Read
vs
Ledger

177 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

200 cm
26
200 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Read!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Heath Ledger!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Read goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mark Read seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Read leaves Ledger with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ledger shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Read as he avoids it easily.
Read misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Read. Ledger does a little dance to reset his feet.

Ledger changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Read looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Read can't do much from the bottom here.

Ledger is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Read knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ledger wants to stand but Read has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Read controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ledger wants to pass the guard but Read is keeping the position.
Ledger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Read working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Read wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ledger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Read swivels and escapes.
Mark Read has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Ledger.
Jab, jab by Read - just one landing.
Ledger misses with a two punch combination.
Ledger tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ledger stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Read.

Ledger fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Read, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Ledger works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Read manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ledger tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ledger wants to hold on but Read pushes him away.
Read can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ledger is looking to escape.
Ledger tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ledger looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Read is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Read patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Read wants to control but Ledger is keeping busy.
Read is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Ledger tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Read with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Ledger wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Read can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ledger is looking to escape.
Ledger wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Read controlling well, preventing Ledger from escaping the position.
Read biding his time, controlling Ledger.
Ledger is in bad spot here.
Read trying to control momentarily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ledger is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Read.
Ledger turns into Read and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mark Read will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Read lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Ledger pushes Read up against the cage in a clinch.
Read displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ledger up against the cage.

Read breaks the clinch.
Read connects with a leg kick. Ledger looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ledger's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Read connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ledger scrambles back to his feet.
Read lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ledger dives in and grabs Read's left leg, looking for a takedown. Read pushes down on Ledger's head and hops out.
Ledger tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Read lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Read, right into the meat.
Read misses with a straight left.
Read throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Read lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ledger takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Read listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Read misses with a hook.

Ledger shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Read's guard.
Read looking for a sweep. Not yet Read, not yet.
Ledger wants to control from the top but Read keeps moving.
Read is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Read keeping full guard, as Ledger tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Read is working an open guard so Ledger takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Read swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Read lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Ledger is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Read's half guard.
Ledger looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Read wants to control but Ledger is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Ledger is working for a submission of some sort.
Ledger throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ledger is working for a submission of some sort.
Ledger is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Ledger is keen to just control but Read is a slippery customer.

Ledger is working for a kimura but Read is defending it quite comfortably.
Ledger is stalling here. Read is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ledger seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Read has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ledger is not content to let Read control the position.
Ledger is trying to improve his position.
Ledger is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Read is looking to take a break and control but Ledger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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 Mark Read will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Read misses with a wild body shot.

Ledger looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Read is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ledger is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Read is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Read has escaped and now he's on top!

Read avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ledger looking for a sweep. Not yet Ledger, not yet.
Ledger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ledger 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.
Read wants to control from the top but Ledger keeps moving.

Ledger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Read can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Read engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Ledger is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Read defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Read got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ledger has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Read has managed to get both his arms back between Ledger's legs - danger averted.

Ledger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Read defends it easily.

Ledger working for a triangle but Read defends it easily.
Mark Read is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ledger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Read won't allow Ledger to sweep him here.

Ledger working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Read has passed into half guard!
Read trying to control from half guard but Ledger is working away.

Ledger looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Read pushes past his half guard into mount!
Read trying to control but Ledger is having none of it.
Ledger is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Read can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ledger is looking to escape.
Ledger is working to get back to half guard.
Ledger is squirming around, avoiding Read's attempts to control the action.
Heath Ledger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ledger is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heath Ledger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Read 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Read!
Mark Read seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.