PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dem Myan Mayer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mick Ward will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Myan Mayer
vs
Ward

185 cm
26
178 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

178 cm
27
178 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very quick

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dem Myan Mayer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mick Ward!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mayer.
A punch combination from Mayer misses.
Mayer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mayer shoots in looking for a takedown but Ward manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mayer's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dem Myan Mayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mayer looks for a takedown but Ward sprawls well.

Mayer shoots in and bounces Ward off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ward manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mayer manages to get himself to full guard.
Ward must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mayer is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mayer stands and throws Ward's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mayer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.
Mayer tries to move to mount but Ward blocks the move with his legs.
Ward dodges the ground and pound from Mayer.
Ward tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mayer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Mayer decides to stand back up. Mayer steps back and let's Ward get back to his feet.
Mayer shoots in but no luck this time.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mayer is defended easily by Ward.
Mayer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ward sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mayer somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ward is fending him off so far but Mayer persists. Nope, Ward circles away and we're back to standing.
Mayer misses with a body shot
and Ward counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mayer shoots in but Ward avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mayer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mayer throws a right hand that misses
and Ward makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mayer throws a combination that misses
and Ward counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mayer has been working on his balance at , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Ward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward stuffs the takedown attempt from Mayer. Mayer gets slowly back to his feet.

Mayer looking to score a takedown here. Ward is defending well but Mayer drives through and ends up in Ward's guard.
Mayer advances position into side control!
Ward is letting Mayer control him for a moment.

Mayer stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mayer shoots in and drives through. Ward sprawls well.
Mayer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ward sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayer throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ward counters with a lovely shot to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mayer.
Mayer is breathing heavily.
Mayer shoots in and drives through. Ward sprawls well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mayer fails with a takedown attempt.
Mayer throws a combination that misses
and Ward counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mayer or perhaps it was just good defense by Ward, which made it look bad.
Mayer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ward pinned against the cage. Ward gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mayer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dem Myan Mayer dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mayer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ward counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mayer shoots for a takedown but Ward saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mayer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ward as he avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Ward. No joy for Mayer on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dem Myan Mayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mayer.
Ward defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mayer.
Mayer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ward checks it well.
We've been informed that Ward has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Mayer changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ward tries to avoid it but Mayer manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ward to the ground. Ward escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mayer shoots in and drives through. Ward sprawls well.
Mayer misses with a takedown attempt - Ward sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ward swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ward keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dem Myan Mayer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mayer shoots in and drives through. Ward sprawls well.
Mayer shoots in but no luck this time.
Mayer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ward defends it nicely.
Mayer tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.
Dem Myan Mayer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward slaps away a takedown attempt from Mayer, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayer falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ward cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mayer fails with a takedown attempt.
Mayer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ward's waist but Ward gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mayer off to one side.
Mayer will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Mayer 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. Mayer is in Ward's guard.
Ward tries to land a sweep but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ward controls Mayer momentarily but Mayer frees himself.
Mayer prevents Ward from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward looking for a sweep. Not yet Ward, not yet.
Mayer trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Mayer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mayer trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mayer.
Mayer changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ward tries to avoid it but Mayer manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ward to the ground. Ward escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ward swivels and escapes.
Mayer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mayer shoots in looking for a takedown. Ward tries to sprawl out of it but Mayer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ward manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mayer misses with a combination
and Ward counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mayer fails with a takedown attempt.
Mayer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dem Myan Mayer will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mayer tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ward is able to avoid easily.
Mayer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ward displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mayer.
Mayer 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.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dem Myan Mayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mayer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ward's efforts to push away.
Ward gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mayer.
Mayer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ward's efforts to push away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ward is trying to force a seperation but Mayer has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward tries to break the clinch but Mayer is controlling the position.
Mayer has Ward pressed against the cage, preventing Ward from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mayer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mayer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ward pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ward lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Mayer or not.
Mayer tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ward smiles and moves away.
Mayer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mayer misses with a combination
and Ward makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mayer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mayer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ward's guard.
Ward looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mayer is one step ahead there.
Mayer stops Ward from standing up.
Dem Myan Mayer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mayer preventing the sweep.
Mayer tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.
Mayer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ward works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Mayer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mayer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mayer is controlling him.
Ward is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ward keeping full guard, as Mayer tries to pass.
Ward can't keep his opponent in guard - Mayer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mick Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mayer trying to control the pace.
Mayer stops Ward from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mayer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mayer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ward is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mayer wants to pass the guard but Ward is keeping the position.
Mayer is working hard here to advance position.
Dem Myan Mayer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mayer advances position into side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mayer just content to control the position.

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 Dem Myan Mayer.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mayer, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dem Myan Mayer!
Mick Ward spoke after the fight, saying 'You trained well....'.