PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Grant Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ward
vs
Gracie

178 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
179 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward lands with a nice body punch.
Ward thows a body shot but no joy.
Ward misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ward jabs Gracie right on the nose. Gracie blinks but takes it well.
Ward misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ward lands with a hook. Gracie tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ward throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Gracie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ward takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ward tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Ward lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.

Ward pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie walks into a left hand.

Ward closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ward is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Ward unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gracie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gracie misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ward to keep the fight standing.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward lands a shoulder strike.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Ward won't allow it.
Grant Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Gracie.
Ward digs a right hand underneath Gracie's ribcage. Gracie let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ward with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ward with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ward works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Ward holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Ward is trying to drag Gracie to the mat but Gracie just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ward is pushing Gracie up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Ward for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Ward misses with a knee strike.
Gracie lands an uppercut.
Ward makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
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 blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward is leaning against Gracie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Ward forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ward to keep the fight standing.
Gracie can't find room to land a body shot as Ward controls the action.
Ward throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ward looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ward landing knees to the head.
Ward throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ward stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A short left from Ward.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Ward.
Ward comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ward holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gracie throws a head punch that misses.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Ward turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracie tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ward misses with a knee to the head.
Ward lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Ward tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.

Ward jumps guard and drags Gracie to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie throws a strike but Ward rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ward is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Ward is proving a slippery customer.

Ward decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
Gracie blocks a head kick by Ward.

Ward moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ward gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ward works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
Ward connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie working aggressively here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie is trying to drag Ward to the mat but Ward just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gracie is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ward lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ward fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gracie takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ward clinches with his opponent.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ward.
Gracie is trying to drag Ward to the mat but Ward just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Ward dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ward lands with an uppercut that bounces Gracie off the cage and back into range.
Gracie darts in trying to clinch
and Ward counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracie wants to clinch but Ward slips to the side
and Ward counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gracie's knee momentarily.
Ward lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Ward scores with a nice strike.
Ward lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie tries to clinch but Ward is having none of it.
Ward throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Ward pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Ward pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ward sprawls well. Ward wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Grant Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Gracie.
Good standup being displayed there by Ward as he connects with a hook.
It looks like Ward has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Ward throws a sloppy head kick

and Gracie moves into the clinch.
Gracie takes a shot to the head.
Ward controlling the action here for a moment.
Ward throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ward lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Ward lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gracie decides to pull guard.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.

Gracie throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ward uses it to pass to side control.
Gracie is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ward is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Ward isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ward sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Ward controlling from mount.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ward get's back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ward fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ward scores with a spinning back kick!
Grant Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick from Ward.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Ward sprawls well.
Ward throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gracie takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ward keeps the fight on the outside.
Ward scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Ward circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grant Ward is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ward goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ward pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ward shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gracie napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control Ward's posture but Ward avoids it.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Ward keeps moving and retains side control.
Ward has control of an arm but Gracie manages to advance to Ward's back!
Gracie somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Ward rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ward looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ward tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Ward is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ward!
Gracie takes Ward's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Ward is in trouble.

Gracie looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Ward is controlling Gracie 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ward is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ward defends well.
Ward advances to half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Ward is keeping busy.
Matt Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ground and pound from Ward.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ward in particular looking to stall.
Grant Ward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward stops Gracie from getting back to his feet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ward decides to stand up.
Ward dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gracie. That did some damage!
Gracie drops his hands momentarily and Ward takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ward is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
A chopping leg kick lands by Ward.
Gracie tries to clinch but Ward moves away
and Ward counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ward swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ward fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Gracie 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.
Ward misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Ward showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ward has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grant Ward!
Our winner, Grant Ward, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.