PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamie Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arturo Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arturo Francis looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Ward
vs
Francis

217 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jamie Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arturo Francis!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francis shoots in but Ward avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Francis throws a right hand that misses
and Ward counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Francis gets tackled into the cage by Ward. Ward maintains the clinch.
Ward stalling in the clinch.
Ward's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ward prevents Francis from breaking the clinch.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Ward has him pressed against the cage.

Francis breaks from the clinch.

Francis moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward avoiding damage.
Francis tries to circle away but Ward has him pinned against the cage.
A short uppercut from Ward.
Francis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Francis looks winded!

Francis manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Ward does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward moves into the clinch successfully.
Francis working hard to break the clinch.
Ward is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ward lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Francis tries to pull guard but Ward holds him up against the cage and eventually Francis drops back down to his feet.
Jamie Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arturo Francis.
Ward displaying some good clinch control by pressing Francis up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ward slows down the pace here.
Francis wants to break free but Ward has control.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ward.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ward - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ward with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Francis throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ward manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jamie Ward.

Ward drives through and clinches with Francis against the cage.
Ward throws an elbow but it misses.
Francis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ward keeps control of Francis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ward slows down the pace here.
Come on Ward - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Francis being controlled against the cage.
Ward gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Francis should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ward controlling the action here for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis wants to get back to striking at distance but Ward won't allow it.
The referee calls for Ward to work.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jamie Ward.

Francis has closed the distance and engaged Ward in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Francis's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Ward.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ward avoiding damage.
Francis working hard to break the clinch.
Ward manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Francis working hard to break the clinch.

Francis breaks the clinch.

Ward has Francis up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ward just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ward lands with a light punch inside.
Ward lands a right hand.

Ward pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Francis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Francis misses with a body kick.
Arturo Francis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Francis shoots for a double leg takedown but Ward sprawls well. He's pushed Francis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ward goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Ward fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Francis, pushing him back against the cage.
Ward is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ward stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Ward for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Ward manages to break the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Francis rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Ward counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Ward dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ward throws a right and a left that Francis avoids nicely.
Francis swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ward throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Ward gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ward is trying to work for a kimura but Francis is defending well.
Ground and pound from Ward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward prevents Francis from standing back up.
Ward is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Francis can do to turn this around?

Ward stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Francis keeps Ward at a distance using the push kick.
Francis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward throws a head kick but Francis moves out of range.

Francis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ward gets through Francis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ward keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Francis's efforts to push away.
Ward keeps control of Francis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ward manages to break the clinch.

Ward has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ward lands with a light punch inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ward.
Ward is stalling here.
Francis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ward walks away with a smile on his face. Francis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Ward closes the distance and clinches.
Ward scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Ward on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward connects with a nasty looking knee right to Francis's face.
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 makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ward is pushing Francis 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 pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ward with a knee to the head.
Ward makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ward is pressed up against the cage. Francis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ward down to the mat. Ward avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ward throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ward lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ward scores with a jab to the body.
Ward connects with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Francis, pushing him back against the cage.
Ward pushes Francis back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ward is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Francis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ward blocks it with crossed arms.
Jamie Ward has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ward lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ward manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short uppercut from Ward.
Ward lands a left hand that snaps the head of Francis backwards.
Ward dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ward slows down the pace here.
Ward makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Francis rushes Ward and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ward slowing the pace effectively.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jamie Ward.

Francis closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Francis is trying to pull guard but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Jamie Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arturo Francis.
Ward lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Francis takes an elbow to the temple.
Ward content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Ward dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Francis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Ward escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Francis gets a clinch.
Ward lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ward takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Come on Ward - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ward has Francis pressed against the cage, preventing Francis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ward stalling against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francis tries to break the clinch but Ward is controlling the position.
Francis is trying to break free.
Ward is pushing Francis up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ward slowing the pace effectively.
Francis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ward creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ward's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jamie Ward.

Francis drives through and clinches with Ward against the cage.
Ward stalls.
Ward manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Francis jumps guard but Ward stands there with Francis around his waist. Francis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Francis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis misses with a hook from the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Francis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Francis being controlled against the cage.
Francis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ward.
Francis's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ward has Francis pushed against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Ward.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jamie Ward.

Francis moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Francis's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ward throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Franciss head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ward takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Francis is trying to break the clinch but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Ward slows down the pace here.
Ward lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ward lands an elbow just above Francis 's eye.
Ward stalling in the clinch.
Ward lands a nice uppercut.
Ward is struggling to control the position.
Ward lands a hook that snaps the head of Francis backwards.
Ward slowing the pace effectively.
Ward scores with a shoulder strike.
Ward landing knees to the head.
Ward stalling the fight.
Ward pushes Francis back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ward stalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis is trying to break the clinch but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Ward dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jamie Ward.

Francis instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ward with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ward managing to block the knees to the body from Francis.
Ward is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ward lands with a left to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Ward.
Francis is trying to push Ward away but Ward has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Francis's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ward.
Arturo Francis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jamie Ward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ward lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ward creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Francis's defenses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamie 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamie Ward!