PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wes Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Bakoume (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bakoume is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Journey. 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
Bakoume

175 cm
20
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
25
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Wes Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Henry Bakoume!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward throws a head kick that misses.
Ward is looking to clinch.
Ward misses with a combination
and Bakoume counters with a head kick.
Ward fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bakoume tries to clinch but Ward moves out of range.
Ward looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Bakoume is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ward's half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bakoume wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.
Ward regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bakoume.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ward doesn't manage to clinch there - Bakoume circles away.
Ward throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bakoume counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bakoume.
Ward tries to land knees in the clinch but Bakoume avoids the damage to the body.
Bakoume tries to circle away but Ward has him pinned against the cage.
Ward takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bakoume is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ward to keep the fight standing.
Ward keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bakoume's efforts to push away.
Bakoume tries to pull guard but Ward holds him up against the cage and eventually Bakoume drops back down to his feet.
Bakoume is trying to pull guard but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Wes Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Bakoume.
Bakoume avoiding damage as Ward throws knees to the body.

Bakoume pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bakoume throws a head kick that Ward semi-blocks.
Wes Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bakoume on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ward. Ward obviously looking to wear him down.
Bakoume takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Ward closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bakoume circles away.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Bakoume tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ward swivels and escapes.
Bakoume connects with a high kick.
Ward misses with a series of wild punches.
Ward misses with a body kick.
Bakoume fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch but Bakoume swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bakoume fails with a takedown attempt.
Bakoume tries to clinch up.
Ward doesn't manage to clinch there - Bakoume circles away.
Ward misses with a combination

and Bakoume counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ward!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward avoids a series of strikes thrown by Bakoume.
Ward is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ward regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bakoumeis looking to pass into half guard but Ward pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Ward is in guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ward drops back looking for a leg! Bakoume is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bakoume manages to kick Ward off! Ward jumps back into Bakoume's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Bakoume is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bakoume working a defensive guard here.
Bakoume wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bakoume works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ward scoring with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ward drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ward jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Henry Bakoume will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ward shoots in and drives through. Bakoume sprawls well.
Bakoume misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ward is looking to clinch but Bakoume is avoiding it.
Bakoume lands a head kick!
Ward swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Ward gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bakoume to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Ward working for submissions but it's allowed Bakoume to get to half guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Bakoume. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ward keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakoume wants to pass the guard but Ward is defending well.
Ward is trying to get back to full guard.
Bakoume tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ward knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakoume is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ward trying to hold on to Bakoume's head to control him but Bakoume postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bakoume tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ward sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bakoume somewhat.

Bakoume darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward manages to get to full guard.

Ward looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bakoume works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward actively working from the bottom here.
Bakoume is looking to take a break and control but Ward is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ward on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bakoume is stalling here. Ward is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bakoume seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ward has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Bakoume tries to buck Ward off but Ward is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Bakoume showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ward is looking to clinch.
Ward throws a nice looking combination but Bakoume bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ward throws a right hand that Bakoume ducks under and follows up with a left that Bakoume also avoids with ease.
Bakoume lands with a kick to the temple. Ward shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ward throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bakoume counters with a big head kick but Ward shrugs it off.

Ward closes the distance and pushes Bakoume back into the cage.
Bakoume is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Ward's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ward is looking to score with low kicks.
Henry Bakoume seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Bakoume throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ward tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bakoume is in Ward's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bakoume stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ward fails with the takedown

and Bakoume counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ward is not content to let Bakoume control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bakoume in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Ward tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Bakoume!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Henry Bakoume!
A victorious Henry Bakoume thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.