PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Laston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laston comes to the cage accompanied by The Nortorious Big feature Bone Thug N Harmony-Notorious Thugs. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Laston
vs
Ward

185 cm
22
198 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

179 cm
19
175 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Urban Savage

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Laston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Ward!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward has his takedown stuffed
and Laston cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ward dives in and grabs Laston's left leg, looking for a takedown. Laston pushes down on Ward's head and hops out.
Laston looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A good leg kick by Laston.
Laston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ward moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Ward gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ward trying to mount his opponent but Laston defends it.
Still in half guard, Ward seems content to control.
Ward throwing shots but Laston is blocking nicely.
Ward is keen to just control but Laston is a slippery customer.
Ward prevents Laston from standing back up.
Laston avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ward.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward wants to control but Laston is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward not doing much here.
Ward tries to pass to full mount but Laston defends it.
Laston wants to get back to his feet.
Laston knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ward on the ground.
Ward thows a huge punch but Laston dodges it nicely.
Ward takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ward prevents Laston from standing back up.
Ward thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Laston taking some punishment here, with Ward in his half guard.
Ward wants to free his trapped foot but Laston is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Laston keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Laston's head.
Ward throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Laston is trying to stand up here but Ward is controlling him well.
Ward has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ward stalling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ward's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Laston blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ward.
Ward is nestled in close to Laston, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ward misses with a head shot. Laston uses the momentum to regain guard.
Laston keeping full guard, as Ward tries to pass.
Ward seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Laston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Laston utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ward prevents Laston from getting back to his feet.
Ward throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laston avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ward sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Josh Laston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laston throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ward sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Josh Laston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ward goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ward feints and then cracks Laston's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Laston down.
Laston misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ward.
Ward scores with a push kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ward looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward misses with a takedown attempt - Laston sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laston throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ward on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Ward dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ward scores with a nice body kick.
Laston throws a right and a left that both miss.
Blake Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward dives in and grabs Laston's left leg, looking for a takedown. Laston pushes down on Ward's head and hops out.
Ward feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Laston's calf.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ward.
Ward uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Laston.
Laston circles away from the clinch attempt.
Laston will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Laston misses with a wild combination.
Laston throws out a leg kick but Ward moves out of range and Laston only half commits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward shoots in for a double leg but Laston sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Josh Laston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Ward.
Ward throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ward takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ward moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Ward slips a jab from Laston.
Ward does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Ward shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Laston manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ward won't allow Laston to get back to his feet.
Ward trying to control but Laston is working from the bottom.
Ward won't allow Laston to get back to his feet.
Ward throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laston is looking to stand up but Ward isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ward controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Laston is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ward is controlling him.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Laston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laston on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ward. Ward obviously looking to wear him down.
Ward fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Laston throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ward throws a wild body kick that Laston sees coming a mile off.
Laston keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Ward slams his shin into Laston's torso.
Ward throws a body kick that misses.
Ward throws a push kick but Laston slaps the foot to one side.
Ward tries to land a front kick but Laston steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ward lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A cross from Laston lands.
Ward is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ward is looking to land body kicks.
Laston is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ward.
Ward misses with a body kick.
Ward throws a lazy right hand but Laston sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward tries to work over Laston's front leg with a kick but Laston checks it.
Ward thuds his shin into the meat of Laston's side.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ward looks to land a right hand but Laston moved out of range.
Laston displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ward.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ward, right into the meat.
Ward avoids a punch combination nicely.
Laston throws a leg kick but Ward sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ward. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ward doesn't manage to clinch there - Laston circles away.
Ward keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A solid leg kick lands there for Ward.
Ward throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Laston takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ward is looking to clinch but Laston is avoiding it.
Laston checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Laston moves out of range of the body kick.
A big right from Laston misses.

Ward moves into the clinch.
Ward tries to pull guard but Laston forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ward jumps guard but Laston turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Ward breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ward pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ward connects with a leg kick. Laston looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laston keeps the fight on the outside.
Laston misses with a jab, cross combination.
Laston lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Laston.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laston blocks a low kick nicely.
Ward goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Josh Laston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Ward.
Ward throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ward throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ward throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
An inside leg kick from Ward misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Laston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ward was well out of range. Poor timing from Laston.
Nice takedown defense from Laston. No joy for Ward on that attempt.
Ward shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laston defends it nicely.
Laston misses with the combination.
Josh Laston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ward moves into the clinch.

Laston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laston defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward misses with a low kick as Laston jumps back.
A solid body kick from Ward.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ward.
Blake Ward seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ward misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Laston misses with a series of wild punches.
Laston on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ward. Ward obviously looking to wear him down.
Ward throws a front kick that sends Laston stumbling back into the cage.
Ward cracks the inside of Laston's front leg.
Ward throws a jab but it's blocked by Laston.
Laston looks to throw the jab but Ward is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ward tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Laston smiles and moves away.

Ward takes the fight into the clinch.
Laston will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Laston tries to break free but Ward pushes him back against the cage.
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!

Laston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ward throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward slips under a jab.
Ward uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Laston.
Josh Laston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blake Ward is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Ward moves into range and clinches up with Laston.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Ward comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ward has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Ward!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Blake Ward waved his t-shirt featuring Championship Clothing! (Laundry Available)'s logo in front of the cameras.
Josh Laston was interviewed post fight and said 'I loss, so what I will come back, and you will see a better me.'.