PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Little Rick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neal Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neal Ward has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Rick
vs
Ward

174 cm
26
150 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

175 cm
26
150 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Little Rick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neal Ward!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Chad Campbell and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rick moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rick.
Ward is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ward stuffs the takedown.
Ward wants to clinch up but Rick keeps it at a distance.
Rick shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ward as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Little Rick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rick shoots in looking for a takedown. Ward tries to sprawl out of it but Rick 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rick looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward tries to clinch but Rick moves out of range.
Ward stuffs the takedown attempt from Rick. Rick gets slowly back to his feet.
Ward tries to counter by closing the distance.
Decent striking displayed by Ward there.

It looks like Little Rick has been cut.
Ward wants to clinch up but Rick keeps it at a distance.

Rick gets the takedown into side control.
Ward tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rick tries for a kimura but Ward is defending well.
Rick is breathing heavily.

Rick tries for a kimura but Ward is defending well.
Ward prevents Rick from improving position.
Ward is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ward trying to control from the bottom.

Ward looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ward looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Ward trying to control but Rick postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rick in particular looking to stall.
Rick is looking to take a break and control but Ward is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rick is looking for a kimura but Ward is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rick to get the leverage.
Rick wants to free his trapped foot but Ward is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Ward looking for submissions off his back.

Rick is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ward sees it coming and defends easily.
Ward is trying to maintain the position but Rick is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rick wants to free his trapped foot but Ward is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Ward looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ward is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rick pulls his head out easily.
Ward tries to get to full guard but Rick has control of the leg.
Ward trying to control from the bottom.
Ward is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Rick is staying active.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rick is pressing down on Ward's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ward is holding on for now.
Ward is trying to maintain the position but Rick is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Neal Ward will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Little Rick's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ward tries to clinch but Rick moves away

and Rick counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rick seems to be looking for submissions.
Ward tries to get to full guard but Rick has control of the leg.

Ward looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ward is trying to get back to full guard.

Rick is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rick is working for a kimura but Ward is defending it quite comfortably.
Rick is pressing down on Ward's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ward is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward trying to hold on to Rick's head to control him but Rick postures up.

Rick is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ward sees it coming and defends easily.
Rick is thwarting Ward's attempts to control the position.
Rick is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ward is trying to get back to full guard.

Ward actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rick controlling the action here.
Ward is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ward is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rick pulls his head out easily.

Rick is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ward sees it coming and defends easily.

Ward actively working from the bottom here.

Rick looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rick wants to pass to mount but Ward is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rick is trying to control the action in half guard but Ward is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ward actively working from the bottom here.
Ward wants to get back to full guard but Rick has mounted him!
Ward wants to control but Rick is having none of it.
Ward is looking to get to half guard.

Rick looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rick is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
Ward tries to reverse the position but Rick maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rick tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rick is looking to take Ward's back but instead Ward gets back to half guard. Nice work.

Ward is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rick pulls his head out easily.

Rick is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ward doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rick is working for a kimura but Ward is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Little Rick dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Little Rick's cut.
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 fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rick, pushing him back against the cage.
Rick takes a shot to the head.
Ward prevents the takedown attempt.
Rick tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Rick is rocked!
Ward unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Rick! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Ward is unloading with more strikes now! Rick drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Neal Ward!