PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mr Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jermaine Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Washington is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Lorddikim Allah - You Can Run. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Jermaine Washington enters the cage!

Ward
vs
Washington

150 cm
22
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Prefers ground

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mr Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jermaine Washington!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Alyssa Summers and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Washington.
Washington is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ward's shoulder. That is not cool.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Washington wants to control but Ward is keeping him busy.
Ward might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Washington decides to stand back up.
Ward takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Ward looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Washington preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Washington is looking for a sweep. Ward is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Washington wants to control but Ward is keeping busy.
Washington is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Ward is working for a submission of some sort.
Ward wants to free his trapped foot but Washington is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington gets back to full guard.
Ward stopping the sweep attempt from Washington.
Washington really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ward. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ward tries to free his leg and advance position but Washington is retaining full guard.
Washington tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ward advances position into side control!
Ward is breathing heavily.
Washington regains half guard.
Washington is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ward's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ward's back!
Ward breaks Washington's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Washington is trying to keep Ward in close.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Washington can do anything to dispel that myth.
Washington looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward looking to pass the guard.
Washington looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.
Washington is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ward postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Washington is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ward, into his guard.
Washington must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Ward isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Washington stacks Ward on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Washington!
Ward is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Washington is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ward knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ward is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Washington lands an elbow.
Ward is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Washington decides to stand back up.
Washington goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mr Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Washington throws a head kick but Ward moves out of range.

Washington clinches.

Washington gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ward throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ward has his foot on Washington's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Washington works his way back into a safe position though.
Washington working some strikes from top position.
Ward keeping full guard, as Washington tries to pass.
Washington wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

Ward is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Washington distracts Ward with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jermaine Washington will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Washington closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ward is looking to regain half guard here but Washington keeps moving and retains side control.
Washington moves into full mount!
Ward is working to get back to half guard.
Washington is landing with some decent strikes but Ward is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Washington postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ward looks a forlorn figure.
Washington has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ward's face.
Ward is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ward takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ward is trying to escape the mount.
Ward is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington cracks Ward with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Washington with a couple of short strikes.
Washington trying to control but Ward is having none of it.
Washington connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Ward takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ward tries to reverse the position but Washington maintains control.

Washington working for a submission but Ward is keeping him at bay.
Washington raining down shots from the mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee warns Ward that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ward is squirming around, avoiding Washington's attempts to control the action.
Ward regains half guard.
Ward keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Washington is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ward!
Washington controlling the pace for now.
Washington fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Washington with good strikes from the mount here!
Ward gets back to half guard.
Washington lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ward knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ward regains full guard. Nicely done.
Washington works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Jermaine Washington has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ward gets full guard.
Washington would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ward looking for a sweep. Not yet Ward, not yet.
Washington trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.

Ward working for a triangle but Washington defends it easily.

Ward has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Washington can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward has his foot on Washington's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Washington works his way back into a safe position though.
Washington stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Washington postures up in Ward's guard and throws a big left but Ward blocks it.
Ward looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Washington slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ward on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ward manages to get back to half guard.
Washington lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Washington wants to control but Ward is keeping him busy.
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 Mr Ward will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ward lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ward on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Washington will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Washington shoots in for a takedown but Ward shows good takedown defense.
Washington closes the distance and clinches up with Ward, looking for a takedown. Washington pushes Ward against the cage but Ward circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mr Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jermaine Washington.

Ward looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Washington!

Ward working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ward wants to take Washington's back but he can't do it this time.

Ward wants to finish this one by submission but Washington is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ward.

Washington bucks up and throws Ward to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Washington ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
Mr Ward is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ward swinging wilding here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Washington.

Washington wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ward, who protects the arm well.
Washington throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Ward manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Ward is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Ward is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Washington doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ward.
Ward is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Washington!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington is controlling an arm, preventing Ward from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Washington is wriggling around trying to escape.
Washington wants to hold on but Ward pushes him away.

Ward has control of Washington's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Washington regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Washington has given up his back here. Will Ward look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Washington rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Washington desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Ward is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Washington is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mr Ward!