PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emiley Heskey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stuart Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Heskey
vs
Ward

192 cm
21
196 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

186 cm
22
198 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Emiley Heskey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stuart Ward!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward throws a right and a left that Heskey avoids nicely.
Stuart Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ward moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Heskey 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.
Heskey misses with an elbow over the top.
Ward lands an elbow that stopped Heskey in his tracks for a moment.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ward tries a knee to the head but Heskey blocks it.
Heskey working Ward over with knees to the body.
Heskey with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ward's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Heskey can't find room to land a body shot as Ward controls the action.
Heskey lands an elbow just above Ward 's eye.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ward just misses with a elbow thrown towards Heskey's brow.
Heskey is looking to control Ward's arms but Ward gets an underhook and turns him. Now Heskey has his back to the cage.
Heskey tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ward avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Heskey's defenses.
Heskey is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Heskey avoids the elbow strike from Ward, against the cage.
Ward tries to land a knee to the head but Heskey blocks with his arms.
Ward with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ward tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Heskey misses with a punch to the body.
Heskey tries a knee to the head but Ward blocks it.
Ward throws an elbow but it misses.
Heskey looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ward lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Heskey creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Heskey tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ward lands an elbow that stopped Heskey in his tracks for a moment.
Ward comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Heskey misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ward.
Ward dodges an elbow strike from Heskey.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward misses with an elbow over the top.
Ward lands an elbow that stopped Heskey in his tracks for a moment.
Heskey misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice elbow from Ward.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Heskey misses with some punches.
Ward lands an elbow that stopped Heskey in his tracks for a moment.
Heskey with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Heskey tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ward gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Heskey is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Heskey gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ward wants to stall.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ward takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Heskey stalls.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heskey misses with an elbow strike.
Heskey is trying to maintain a safe position but Ward gets an underhook and turns Heskey into the cage.
Ward comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Heskey throws a head punch that misses.
Heskey is looking to control Ward's arms but Ward gets an underhook and turns him. Now Heskey has his back to the cage.
Ward is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Heskey is defending well for now.
Ward avoiding damage as Heskey throws knees to the body.
Ward is trying to maintain a safe position but Heskey gets an underhook and turns Ward into the cage.
Heskey tries to land knees in the clinch but Ward avoids the damage to the body.
Ward with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Heskey scores with a hook to the body.
Ward avoiding damage as Heskey throws knees to the body.
Ward lands an elbow just above Heskey 's eye.

It looks like Emiley Heskey has been cut.
Heskey lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ward blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Ward.
Ward blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Heskey missing with knees to the body.
Heskey pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Heskey takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Heskey missing with knees to the body.
Ward throws an elbow but it misses.
Heskey wants to stall.
Ward lands an elbow inside that Heskey shrugs off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ward misses with an elbow over the top.
Ward avoids the elbow strike from Heskey, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Heskey blocks an elbow strike from Ward.
Heskey connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ward's face.
Heskey misses with a punch to the body.
Heskey lands an elbow that stopped Ward in his tracks for a moment.
Ward tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
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 Emiley Heskey will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Emiley Heskey's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Heskey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ward is trying hard to land a takedown here. Heskey sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ward scores with the left hand. Heskey knows he should have avoided that one.
Heskey fails with an attempt to clinch.
Heskey takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ward.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Heskey tries to control but Ward manages to take his back.
Ward trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Ward softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Ward is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward tightening his grip on Heskey, looking for the choke.

Ward working for the choke.
Heskey is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward trying to control.
Heskey tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Heskey working to try and regain half guard.
Ward avoids the attempt from Heskey to control.
Heskey is squirming around, avoiding Ward's attempts to control the action.

Ward looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heskey tries to hold on but Ward postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heskey tries to reverse the position but Ward maintains control.
Ward takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Heskey wants to control but Ward is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heskey is looking to get to half guard.
Ward trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ward lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Ward working for a guillotine from mount but Heskey is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stuart Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Emiley Heskey'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 fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward misses with a takedown
and Heskey counters with a big head kick but Ward shrugs it off.

Ward closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Heskey pushes Ward off looking to stand but Ward dives back in and keeps control.
Ward prevents Heskey from improving his position.
Heskey knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ward on the ground.
Heskey is trying to stand up here but Ward is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward wants to free his trapped foot but Heskey is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ward trying to control the pace.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Ward seems to be working for a kimura but Heskey defends the submission attempt.
Ward is trying to control. Heskey wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Heskey wants to get back to his feet.
Ward passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Heskey!

Ward stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Ward shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Heskey as he jumps to the side.
Emiley Heskey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stuart Ward.

Heskey clinches up with Ward and pushes him back against the cage.
Ward throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heskey comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ward takes a knee to the side of the body.
Heskey trying to land knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ward as Heskey tries to tie him up.
Ward blocks an elbow strike.
Ward slowing the pace effectively.
Ward throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Heskey pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ward tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Heskey avoids it.
Ward avoids a wild elbow strike from Heskey.
Heskey tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ward avoids it.
Ward managing to block the knees to the body from Heskey.
Ward throws an elbow that misses.
Heskey pushes Ward back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Heskey lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Heskey.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ward trying to land knees to the body.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ward letting Heskey take a breather here.
Emiley Heskey has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Heskey stalling in the clinch but Ward improves position.
Ward throws an elbow but it misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ward as Heskey tries to tie him up.
Ward on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ward landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ward is struggling to control the position.
Heskey lands an elbow that stopped Ward in his tracks for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Heskey is keeping busy.
Heskey misses with some punches.

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 Emiley Heskey.
I think Heskey 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Stuart Ward!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Stuart Ward!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Stuart Ward!

Stuart Ward wins by unanimous decision!
Stuart Ward decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.