PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Pereira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paddy Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pereira
vs
Ward

173 cm
29
324 lbs
10 - 0 - 0

193 cm
21
279 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Highland Clothing
M.O. Fight Wear

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcus Pereira!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Paddy Ward!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pereira gets caught napping as Ward dives in and scores a takedown. Pereira manages to retain guard.

Pereira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ward is aware though and is defending well.
Ward working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ward controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pereira controlling Ward's posture.
Pereira's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ward accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward trying to control but Pereira is working from the bottom.
Pereira working a defensive guard here.
Ward must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ward's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pereira's head.
Pereira has Ward pulled in close to control his posture.
Pereira trying to keep a closed guard but Ward is proving a slippery customer.
Pereira trying to control the position here.
Ward's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Ward fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pereira sprawls well initially but Ward persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pereira knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ward wants to take a breather but Pereira is having none of it.
Pereira tries to roll over but Ward keeps him under control.
Pereira is not content to let Ward control the position.
Pereira might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pereira is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ward's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ward's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but Pereira has full control of the position and if anything, Ward has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Pereira is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ward knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ward for a finish.

Ward showing good submission defense here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward is in a bad position with Pereira working for a choke. Ward manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Pereira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pereira looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ward has picked Pereira up and slammed him! Pereira can't keep hold of the triangle and Ward manages to pass to side control!
Pereira wants to control but Ward postures up.
Pereira avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ward.
Ward lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Pereira down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward landing strikes.
Pereira is not content to let Ward control the position.
Pereira sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Pereira works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ward is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ward is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pereira looking to control.
Ward sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pereira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ward.
Ward postures up in Pereira's guard and throws a big left but Pereira blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paddy Ward dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ward gets a takedown into half guard.
Ward is just content to waste time from the top position. Pereira takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ward throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ward accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pereira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
My spies in RCJ Machado Jiu-Jitsu inform me that Ward has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Ward makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pereira can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ward controls the pace.
Ward postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pereira is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ward throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward trying to control but Pereira is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Pereira is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ward defends well.

Pereira is looking for a triangle but Ward pushes his legs off easily.
Pereira not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ward landing some decent shots from guard.

Pereira looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ward lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereira working a defensive guard but Ward passes into half guard.
Pereira regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pereira has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ward forces his way into half guard.
Pereira is looking to improve his position.
Pereira gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward landing some decent shots from guard.
Pereira utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ward got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pereira has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ward has managed to get both his arms back between Pereira's legs - danger averted.
Ward lands a couple of elbows.
Ward trying to control but Pereira is working from the bottom.

Pereira looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ward postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pereira controls Ward momentarily but Ward frees himself.
Ward trying to control but Pereira is working from the bottom.
Pereira controls Ward momentarily but Ward frees himself.

Pereira looking for a guillotine here but Ward defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ward is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paddy Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ward shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ward was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ward creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pereira is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ward's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ward has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pereira gets back to full guard.
Ward wants to control from the top but Pereira keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pereira looking to control but Ward passes into half guard.
Pereira trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but Pereira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pereira taking some punishment here, with Ward in his half guard.
Pereira has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ward is working away from the top position though.
Ward wants to take a breather but Pereira is having none of it.
Ward working over Pereira with some ground and pound. Pereira looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pereira is looking for a sweep. Ward is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pereira is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at RCJ Machado Jiu-Jitsu, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Pereira is not content to let Ward control the position.
Pereira makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pereira.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ward trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pereira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ward controls from within his opponent's guard.
Let's hope that Ward has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ward looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pereira is looking to control Ward's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pereira avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Pereira manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward trying to control but Pereira is working from the bottom.

Ward is posturing up here but Pereira has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Ward tries to roll out but it's too tight and Ward has to tap! Slick submission there by Pereira!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Marcus Pereira!
Marcus Pereira retains his super heavyweight title!
In his post fight interview, Marcus Pereira started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.