PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kurt Lockheart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurt Lockheart has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Lockheart
vs
Ward

191 cm
22
178 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

178 cm
26
178 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kurt Lockheart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mick Ward!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lockheart changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ward tries to avoid it but Lockheart manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ward to the ground. Ward escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lockheart changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ward tries to avoid it but Lockheart manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ward to the ground. Ward escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lockheart looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Lockheart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lockheart is defended easily by Ward.
Lockheart fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lockheart fails to land the takedown.
Lockheart falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ward cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lockheart fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No luck for Lockheart with that takedown attempt.
Lockheart wants to clinch up but Ward keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lockheart dives in and grabs Ward's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ward pushes down on Lockheart's head and hops out.
Lockheart shoots in for a takedown but Ward shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lockheart tries to bum rush Ward with a series of wild strikes but Ward uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lockheart looks for a takedown but Ward sprawls well.
Lockheart fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lockheart throws a head kick but Ward moves out of range.
Lockheart shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ward as he avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lockheart.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lockheart is defended easily by Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Lockheart closes the distance and clinches.
Ward can't break the clinch.
Ward is trying to break free.

Lockheart breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mick Ward is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lockheart shoots for a takedown but Ward saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lockheart.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Lockheart dominated that round.
That's time! Lockheart's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ward slaps away a takedown attempt from Lockheart, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Lockheart looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Ward is working an open guard so Lockheart takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ward has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Lockheart tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ward sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lockheart somewhat.
Lockheart fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Lockheart. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lockheart with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lockheart swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ward counters with a stiff right hand.
Lockheart misses with a takedown attempt - Ward sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lockheart goes for a double leg but Ward avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ward continues to drive forward.
Lockheart stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward is trying to force a seperation but Lockheart has the dominant position.
Ward wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ward can't break the clinch.
Ward is trying to push Lockheart away but Lockheart has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lockheart is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lockheart is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ward gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lockheart tries for a takedown but Ward manages to get underhooks.
Ward wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lockheart has him pressed against the cage.
Lockheart is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ward is defending well.
Lockheart keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ward's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Ward's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lockheart is looking for a takedown.
Ward is trying to force a seperation but Lockheart has the dominant position.
Ward lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lockheart can't get the takedown.
Lockheart tries to stall but Ward uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lockheart is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ward tries to break free but Lockheart pushes him back against the cage.
Ward wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lockheart has him pressed against the cage.
Ward has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ward wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lockheart is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ward pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ward is trying to break the clinch but Lockheart is controlling him.
Ward is trying to push Lockheart away but Lockheart has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ward wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lockheart drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ward pulls his leg out and moves away.
Lockheart shoots in but Ward avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lockheart tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ward defends well and Lockheart ends up having to push Ward into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Lockheart keeps control of Ward as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ward is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ward wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lockheart is looking for a takedown.
Ward is trying to force a seperation but Lockheart has the dominant position.
Lockheart wants to take the fight to the mat but Ward manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ward stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
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!
Lockheart can't get the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward lands a shoulder strike.
Ward wants to get back to striking at distance but Lockheart won't allow it.
Ward wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ward is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Lockheart or perhaps it was just good defense by Ward which made him look bad.
Lockheart tries to clinch but Ward moves out of range.
Lockheart shoots and misses
and Ward counters with a nice uppercut.
Lockheart shoots for a double leg takedown but Ward sprawls well. He's pushed Lockheart's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Lockheart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lockheart shoots in looking for a takedown but Ward manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lockheart's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lockheart fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lockheart fails with a takedown attempt.
Lockheart tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ward swivels and escapes.
Lockheart tries to clinch but Ward moves out of range.
Lockheart fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lockheart shoots in looking for a takedown but Ward manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lockheart's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lockheart shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lockheart tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ward swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck for Lockheart with that takedown attempt.
Lockheart will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lockheart throws a combination that misses
and Ward counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lockheart throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ward counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ward swats away the attempt to clinch by Lockheart.
Lockheart tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ward swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lockheart shoots for a double leg takedown but Ward sprawls well. He's pushed Lockheart's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lockheart dives in for a single leg takedown but Ward sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ward wants to break free but Lockheart has control.

Ward pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lockheart throws a right and a left that Ward avoids nicely.
Lockheart tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ward sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lockheart somewhat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lockheart.

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 Kurt Lockheart.
I think Lockheart 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kurt Lockheart!
A relieved looking Kurt Lockheart thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Mick Ward spoke after the fight, saying 'You trained well....'.