PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erik Draven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Draven comes to the cage accompanied by Your going down. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Draven
vs
Ward

184 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Erik Draven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Ward!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Dirk Anderson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward checks a low kick from Draven.
Draven avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ward shoots for a takedown but Draven saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ward moves into the clinch.
Ward drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Draven gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Ward breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ward tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ward shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Draven but Draven pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Erik Draven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Ward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Draven shoots in looking for a takedown but Ward manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Draven's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ward or perhaps it was just good defense by Draven, which made it look bad.
Draven appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ward tries to clinch but Draven is having none of it.
As Ward looks to move away, Draven throws a big counter combo but Ward just gets out of the way.
Ward rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Draven moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Draven manages to break the clinch.
Ward will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ward dodges the punch combination from Draven.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Draven.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Draven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Draven throws a big counter combination but Ward scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Ward falls off balance throwing a combination
and Draven counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ward is looking to clinch.
Draven displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ward moves in looking to clinch but Draven pushes him off.

Ward clinches up against the cage.

Draven's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ward has closed the distance and engaged Draven in a clinch.
Ward is trying to drag Draven to the mat but Draven just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ward managing to block the knees to the body from Draven.

Ward breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Draven keeps the fight on the outside.
Ward slips a jab and a cross from Draven.
Ward darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ward moves in looking to clinch but Draven pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ward drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Draven gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ward.

Draven turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Draven manages to end up in side control.
Ward wants to get back to his feet.
Draven wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.

Draven decides to stand back up. Draven steps back and let's Ward get back to his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Draven.

Ward has Draven up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward jumps guard.
Draven stopping the sweep attempt from Ward.

Draven avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Draven trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Ward avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Draven passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ward is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Erik Draven will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Draven looks to land a combination. Ward sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ward looks for a takedown but Draven sprawls well.
Draven appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ward closes this distance looking for a takedown but Draven circles away.

Draven gets tackled into the cage by Ward. Ward maintains the clinch.
Draven is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ward blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
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 fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ward tries to pull guard but Draven holds him up against the cage and eventually Ward drops back down to his feet.
Erik Draven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Ward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Draven's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ward clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Draven breaks from the clinch.
Ward misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ward avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ward tries to clinch there but Draven circles away.
Draven shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ward defends it nicely.
Ward misses with a series of wild punches.
Ward plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Erik Draven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ward clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ward throws an elbow but misses.
Ward goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Draven pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up but Draven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Draven went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Ward pushes Draven up against the cage in a clinch.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Draven shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ward pinned against the cage. Ward gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Draven sets himself, and Ward steps forward looking for the clinch! Draven avoids it this time.
Ward throws a series of punches but Draven moves out of range.
Draven swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Ward fails to land the takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Draven fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward throws a leg kick but Draven sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Draven went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Draven ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ward moves away.
Ward stuffs the takedown attempt from Draven. Draven gets slowly back to his feet.
John Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward wants to clinch up but Draven keeps it at a distance.
Ward tries to clinch there but Draven circles away.
Ward fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Draven wants to clinch.
Ward dives in for a single leg takedown but Draven sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Ward has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward jumps guard but Draven stands there with Ward around his waist. Ward gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ward is breathing heavily.

Ward breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Draven shoots for a double leg takedown but Ward sprawls well. He's pushed Draven's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ward is looking to clinch but Draven is avoiding it.
As Ward looks to move away, Draven throws a big counter combo but Ward just gets out of the way.
Ward tries to clinch but Draven is having none of it.
Draven avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Draven scores with a head kick. Ward tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ward fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Draven throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ward shoots in looking for a takedown but Draven manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ward's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Draven drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ward sprawls and moves away.
Ward tries to bum rush Draven with a series of wild strikes but Draven uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ward throws a combination that misses
and Draven counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
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 Erik Draven will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ward shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Draven sprawls well. Draven wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
Ward throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ward connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Draven scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ward tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Draven manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ward fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward fails in his attempt to clinch.
Draven stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Draven tries a head kick but it misses.
Ward throws a right hand that Draven ducks under and follows up with a left that Draven also avoids with ease.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Draven shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ward pinned against the cage. Ward gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draven misses with a kick to the body.
Ward tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Draven defends well and Ward ends up having to push Draven into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Erik Draven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Ward.
Ward tries to score with a low kick but Draven moves his leg out of the way.
Ward shoots in for a double leg but Draven sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ward takes one to the chin there.
Draven lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ward backs up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Draven.
Draven circles away from the clinch attempt.
Draven shoots for a takedown but Ward saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draven stalks Ward and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ward's face. Ward staggers backwards, shaken.
Ward tries to clinch but Draven is having none of it.

Ward moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ward can't get the takedown.
Draven goes for a takedown attempt but Ward pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Draven fails to land with a series of punches.
Ward darts in looking for a takedown but Draven gets double underhooks and turns Ward into the cage.
Draven fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Draven fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Draven shoots in and drives through. Ward sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward dives in for a single leg takedown but Draven sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Draven closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ward to the mat! Ward manages to get full guard.
Draven engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Draven drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ward dives on top into guard.

Ward throws a big right hand that misses.

Ward stands and steps away. Draven gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ward or perhaps it was just good defense by Draven, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ward lands with a slapping head kick.
A good leg kick by Draven.
Ward tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Draven changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Draven throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Draven moves out of range as Ward throws a body kick.
A head kick misses from Ward.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ward wants to clinch up but Draven keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ward is defended easily by Draven.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Draven showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Draven, 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Erik Draven!
A relieved looking Erik Draven thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.