PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dallas Ware (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cooper Ensign (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cooper Ensign has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Dallas Ware's chin.

Ware
vs
Ensign

150 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dallas Ware!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cooper Ensign!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ensign pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ensign tries for a takedown but Ware sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ware ducks under a wild hook from Ensign.
Ware tried to counter with a leg kick but Ensign avoided it.
Ware shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ensign as he jumps to the side.

Ensign gets caught flat footed, as Ware shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ensign tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ensign is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ensign tries to strike from the bottom.
Ware postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ensign bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ware's guard.

Ensign drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ware looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ware looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ware!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ware connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ensign some visible discomfort.
Ensign is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ensign tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Ware easily slips into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ware avoids the attempt from Ensign to control.
Ensign might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ware haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ensign is working to get back to half guard.
Ensign is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ware is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ensign can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ensign tries to lock up and control but Ware gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ensign working to try and regain half guard.
Ensign takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ware tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ware avoids the attempt from Ensign to control.
Ensign is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ware takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ensign is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ware with a couple of short strikes.
Ensign is looking to improve his position but Ware isn't that keen on the idea.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ware controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dallas Ware dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dallas Ware's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ensign misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ware could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ensign throws a head kick but Ware moves out of range.
Cooper Ensign seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ensign. Ware does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ware throws a counter high kick but Ensign was just alert enough to avoid it.

Ensign changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ware looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ware is trying to buck Ensign off.
Ware might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ware struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ensign tries to advance position but instead Ware slips a leg back in to half guard.
Ensign throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ensign looks to land a strike but Ware avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ensign trying to control the position from guard on top but Ware is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ensign landing with the ground and pound.
Ware seems keen to control Ensign's posture.
Ensign must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ensign trying to control the position from guard on top but Ware is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ware fails with a takedown attempt.
Ware defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ensign.
Ensign fails with a takedown attempt.
Ensign fails to land the takedown.
Dallas Ware has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cooper Ensign.
Ensign is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ware shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ensign as he avoids it easily.
Ware dives in for a single leg takedown but Ensign sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A head kick misses from Ensign.
Ware half committed to a counter leg kick.

Ensign closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ensign lands in his opponent's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ware manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Ensign struggles to land a body shot inside as Ware controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ware controlling the action here for a moment.
Ensign unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ware lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ensign looking to stall.
Ware is pushing Ensign up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ware is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ensign to keep the fight standing.
Ware on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ware pulls guard effortlessly.
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!
Ware trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ware looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cooper Ensign will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dallas Ware's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ensign shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ensign was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ware is not content to let Ensign control the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Ensign.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ensign is looking to take a break and control but Ware is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ensign tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ensign has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ensign tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Ensign is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ware will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Ensign swings around for an armbar but Ware sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ensign's guard.
Ware working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ensign's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ware is fighting to break Ensign's control of his arms but Ensign is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ensign manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Ensign takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ensign lands a nice knee to the body.
Ware is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ensign to keep the fight standing.
Ensign is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ensign pulls guard.
Ware postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ensign trying to keep a closed guard but Ware is proving a slippery customer.
Ware stopping the sweep attempt from Ensign.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ensign working a defensive guard here.
Ware controlling from the top position.

Ensign is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ware looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ensign is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ensign trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Ware manages to pass to mount!
Ensign is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cooper Ensign.
I think Ensign has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dallas Ware!