PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe McJoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dustin Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ward has chosen White and nerdy as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Dustin Ward has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McJoe
vs
Ward

150 cm
26
130 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
142 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe McJoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dustin Ward!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McJoe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ward manages to avoid it.
McJoe backing away here, and Ward unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McJoe.
Ward only half commits to the counter leg kick.
McJoe just misses with a punch to the body.
Ward tries a quick counter leg kick but McJoe is wise to it.
McJoe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ward circles away quickly and effectively.
McJoe shoots in for a double leg but Ward sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McJoe.
McJoe backing away here, and Ward unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe McJoe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McJoe lands with a nice combination. Ward backs away looking to recover.
McJoe misses with a body shot.
Ward was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Joe McJoe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown attempt by McJoe or perhaps it was just good defense by Ward, which made it look bad.
McJoe shoots for a takedown but Ward saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McJoe has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McJoe shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ward as he avoids it easily.
Ward appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
McJoe throws a shot to the body.
McJoe shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ward defends it nicely.
Ward only half commits to the counter leg kick.
McJoe pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ward back to the cage. McJoe follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McJoe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ward's waist but Ward gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McJoe off to one side.
Ward tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
McJoe shoots in looking for a takedown. Ward tries to sprawl out of it but McJoe 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.
McJoe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ward but Ward pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McJoe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McJoe misses with a body shot
and Ward finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
McJoe lands with a good body shot.
McJoe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ward but Ward pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McJoe backing away here, and Ward unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
McJoe lands with a shot to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McJoe swings for the body but Ward moves out of range.
Ward looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ward avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ward is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe McJoe dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McJoe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ward but Ward pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ward avoids the body shot from McJoe.
Ward flicks out a counter leg kick but McJoe steps away.
McJoe misses with a wild body shot.
McJoe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ward tries to avoid it but McJoe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ward to the ground. Ward escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McJoe lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McJoe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ward manages to avoid it.
McJoe scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McJoe throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ward stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ward has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
McJoe goes for a double leg but Ward avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ward continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe McJoe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McJoe tries for a takedown but Ward sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McJoe shoots in for a takedown but Ward shows good takedown defense.
McJoe shoots in for a double leg but Ward sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A nice side step and Ward releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
McJoe shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ward defends it nicely.
McJoe is looking to wear down Ward with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McJoe throws a nice looking combination but Ward bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

McJoe closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ward's guard.
Ward keeping moving, preventing McJoe from controlling successfully.
Ward trying to control the position.

Ward has his foot on McJoe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McJoe works his way back into a safe position though.
McJoe trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ward can do anything to dispel that myth.

Ward looking for a guillotine here but McJoe defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McJoe wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
McJoe looking to pass the guard.
Ward wants to sweep but no luck.
McJoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward wants to get back to his feet but McJoe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McJoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McJoe pushes down on Ward's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ward wants to improve his position but McJoe is controlling well.
McJoe passes to full mount!
McJoe tries to control but Ward wriggling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ward wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe McJoe dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

McJoe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ward avoids it really well and circles away.
Ward replies with a solid counter kick to the body but McJoe blocks it well.
McJoe looks for a takedown but Ward sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McJoe closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ward to the mat! Ward manages to get full guard.
McJoe looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward keeping moving, preventing McJoe from controlling successfully.
McJoe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ward working a defensive guard but McJoe manages to pass into side control anyway.
Ward is looking to regain half guard here but McJoe keeps moving and retains side control.
Ward is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but McJoe is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Ward tries to reverse the position but McJoe maintains control.
McJoe thowing shots but they're missing.
McJoe looking to control but Ward is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McJoe goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Ward turns into him and now he's in McJoe's guard.
Ward really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McJoe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ward trying to control but McJoe is working from the bottom.
McJoe being controlled here, momentarily.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but McJoe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Dustin Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ward chips away with some ground and pound.
Ward preventing the sweep.
Ward throws a strike but McJoe rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McJoe looking to pass the guard.
McJoe won't allow Ward to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward keeps trying to improve his position.

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

Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but McJoe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McJoe throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
McJoe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
McJoe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ward advances position into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joe McJoe.
Well McJoe 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe McJoe!
An out of breath and clearly excited Joe McJoe thanked Lion Fightwear for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).
Dustin Ward was interviewed post fight and said 'Sorry to disappoint all my fellow nerds out there but I will be back stronger than ever'.