PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Palmer Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ward
vs
Martin

215 cm
27
309 lbs
8 - 12 - 0

170 cm
30
350 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Palmer Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tim Martin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martin looks to throw the jab but Ward is out of range.
Ward moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

It looks like Palmer Ward has been cut.
Martin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Martin takes one to the side of the head.
Ward uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Martin.
Some wild striking there from Ward.
Martin tries to clinch but Ward is having none of it.

Ward gets a clinch.
Martin swings wildly with an uppercut but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.
Martin stops a takedown attempt from Ward.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Martin.
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!
A right hook to the body lands for Martin.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Martin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ward avoids it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Martin.
Ward blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward looking for a takedown.
Martin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Martin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ward has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ward blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Martin struggles to land a body shot inside as Ward controls his hands.
Martin prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Palmer Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Martin.
Martin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Martin misses with a knee strike.
Martin'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin misses with an elbow over the top.
Ward is trying to drag Martin to the mat but Martin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Martin lands a shoulder strike.
Martin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Martin has Ward pressed against the cage.
Martin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Martin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
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!
Martin looking to throw knees to the head but Ward is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin misses with a punch to the body.
Ward blocks the elbow strike.
Martin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Martin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ward.
Martin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ward drops down looking for an ankle pick but Martin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Martin is looking to clinch.
Martin throws a low kick but Ward avoids it.
Martin lands with a nice body punch.
Palmer Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martin throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Martin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ward circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martin rushes Ward and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Martin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Martin.
Martin lands a shoulder strike.

Palmer Ward's cut is getting worse.
Martin looking to throw knees to the head but Ward is blocking nicely.
Martin lands an elbow just above Ward 's eye.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ward on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Martin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Martin presses Ward against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Martin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Palmer Ward's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Martin throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Martin.
Ward throws a hook but Martin blocks it.
Martin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Martin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ward misses with a two punch combination.
Martin is looking to clinch but Ward is avoiding it.
Ward has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Martin closes the distance and clinches.
Ward tries for a takedown but Martin manages to get underhooks.
Ward is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Martin misses with a punch on the inside.
Martin lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Martin.
Martin tries a knee to the head but Ward blocks it.
A nice left hand lands by Martin.

Palmer Ward's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martin lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Martin.
Martin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Martin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ward is defending well for now.
Martin lands a left hand.
Martin is stalling here.
Martin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ward is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Martin is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Palmer Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martin swings wildly with an uppercut but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin stalling.
Tim Martin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Martin looking to throw knees to the head but Ward is blocking nicely.
Martin trying to land knees to the body.
Ward blocks an elbow strike from Martin.
Martin pushes Ward back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Martin is pressed up against the cage. Ward has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Martin down to the mat. Martin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Martin is looking to clinch.
Martin doesn't manage to clinch there - Ward circles away.
Ward avoids the head kick by Martin.
Martin throws a low kick but Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Martin circles away quickly and effectively.
Martin wants to clinch up but Ward keeps it at a distance.
Martin moves in looking to clinch but Ward pushes him off.

Martin drives through and clinches with Ward against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin cracks Ward with a nice body shot.
A bit of stalling here from Martin.
Martin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ward.
Martin looking to throw knees to the head but Ward is blocking nicely.
Martin is stalling here.
Martin misses with a knee to the head.
Martin slows down the pace here.
Martin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Jeez, Palmer Ward's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Martin looking to throw knees to the head but Ward is blocking nicely.
Martin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Martin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Martin.
Martin lands a shot to the body.
Ward dodges an elbow strike from Martin.
Ward on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Martin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Martin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martin lands a body punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martin lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Martin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ward up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Martin misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Martin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Palmer Ward's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Martin forces Ward back against the cage and clinches.
Martin stalls.
Ward tries for a takedown. No joy.
Martin prevents a takedown attempt there.
Martin trying to control the position but instead, Ward has worked for underhooks and has pushed Martin into the cage.
Martin slows down the pace here.
Martin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Palmer Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin just leaning against Ward, taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tim Martin.
Martin tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.
Martin throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Martin walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ward checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ward checks a leg kick.
Martin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ward moves away.
A head kick misses from Martin.

Ward drives through and clinches with Martin against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Martin.
The crowd are getting on Martin's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Ward goes for a takedown in the clinch but Martin prevents it.
Martin misses with a knee to the head.
Martin just leaning against Ward, taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin tries to land knees in the clinch but Ward avoids the damage to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Martin.
Martin misses with a knee strike.
Martin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ward blocks it with crossed arms.
Ward is trying to drag Martin to the mat but Martin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Martin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ward.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Martin.
Martin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Palmer Ward's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:10 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Tim Martin!
An out of breath Tim Martin thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.