PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between JJ Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas comes into the arena with Linkin Park - In the End blaring out of the sound system. JJ Thomas has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Thomas
vs
Ward

184 cm
37
177 lbs
21 - 13 - 1

178 cm
29
183 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, JJ Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Greg Ward!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas shoots in for a double leg but Ward sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ward has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Thomas avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ward misses with a low kick.
Nice uppercut there from Thomas.
A head kick misses from Ward.
Thomas cracks Ward with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Thomas walks into a left hand.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas advances to half guard.
Ward manages to get to full guard.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.

Thomas is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ward is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ward has escaped and now he's on top!

Ward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Ward throwing strikes but missing.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward throws an elbow that misses. Thomas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ward's guard. Nice move by Thomas!

Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward controlling Thomas's posture.

Ward is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thomas is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thomas trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ward looking for a sweep. Not yet Ward, not yet.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.

Thomas is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ward is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ward has escaped and now he's on top!

Ward throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ward is looking to work some ground and pound but Thomas has wrist control.
Ward trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas looking for a sweep. Not yet Thomas, not yet.
Ward looking to pass the guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ward throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Greg Ward will probably get the nod.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thomas lands a jab.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Greg Ward is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ward rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas misses with a straight right.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ward counters with a nice uppercut.

Thomas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.
Thomas pushes down on Ward's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Thomas seems to be looking for submissions.
Ward trying to control here.
JJ Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas not doing much here.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but Ward defending well.
Ward moves into full guard.
Thomas won't allow Ward to sweep him here.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.
Ward has control of Thomas's left arm, preventing Thomas from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thomas seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Thomas postures up.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ward misses with a head kick.
Ward looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Ward looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
It looked like Thomas wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ward tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ward's half guard.
Ward is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to advance position but Ward counters by regaining guard.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Ward is keeping the position.
Thomas is working hard here to advance position.
Ward wants to sweep here but Thomas controlling him for the moment.
Thomas trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ward looking to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Thomas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ward's guard.
Ward is trying to maintain the position but Thomas is very close to passing his half guard.
Ward wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Ward is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thomas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Thomas dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ward misses with a looping left.
Greg Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Ward misses the body punch
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Thomas, right into the meat.
Nice sprawl there from Ward as Thomas shoots in.
Ward feints a jab promting Thomas to slip. Ward then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thomas slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Ward misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ward misses with a jab to the body
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.
Ward moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
A head kick by Ward misses

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

Ward has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Thomas is on him like a limpet, forcing Ward back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ward is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ward tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
Thomas is working for takedown but Ward is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JJ Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Thomas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ward lands a body shot.
Thomas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ward pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thomas looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Ward feints a jab promting Thomas to slip. Ward then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thomas slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Ward throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thomas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ward fakes the leg kick and cracks Thomas in the body.
Thomas shoots for a takedown but Ward saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ward lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward misses with a head kick.
Thomas is looking to counter punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ward lands a big head kick that sends Thomas tumbling to the mat! Ward takes a step backwards and waves Thomas back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Thomas is rocked!
Ward looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Oh Thomas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ward bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thomas seems to have got his legs back now.
Thomas throws a combination that misses

and Ward counters with a crisp one two that drops Thomas! Ward thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Thomas to his feet! Thomas is in big trouble!
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ward.
Jab, jab by Ward - just one landing.
Thomas staying out of range there.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
An attempted straight right counter from Thomas misses the target.
Greg Ward seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ward thuds his right hand into Thomas's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ward throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas missing with a left hand there. Ward was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ward! But no joy.
Thomas's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ward connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thomas scrambles back to his feet.
Ward connects with a right hand. Thomas shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Ward! Thomas is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Greg Ward!
A victorious Greg Ward thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.