PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lafon Bornay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dustin Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bornay comes into the arena with House Boulevard - Set Me Free blaring out of the sound system. Ward is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: White and nerdy. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bornay
vs
Ward

175 cm
20
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
26
142 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lafon Bornay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dustin Ward!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters are only really looking to counter, so after a good 30 seconds of circling eachother endlessly, the referee has stepped in and told them both to be more aggressive.
Bornay shoots in for a takedown but Ward shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bornay drives through with a takedown into Ward's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Bornay stands up from Ward's guard - Bornay perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bornay shoots in but Ward avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A little jabbing left from Ward on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bornay shoots in but no luck this time.
Ward let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lafon Bornay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ward shoots for a takedown but Bornay saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bornay tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ward sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bornay somewhat.
Ward throws out a counter right but Bornay avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bornay fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ward to the ground. Bornay is now in Ward's guard.
Bornay really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bornay postures up.
Bornay wants to stand but Ward has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants to sweep here but Bornay controlling him for the moment.
Bornay trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ward's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward wants to sweep but no luck.

Bornay gets to his feet - Ward follows without any prompting.

Bornay feints and as Ward raises his hands in defense, Bornay changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bornay has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ward is proving hard to escape from.
Bornay trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lafon Bornay dominated that round.
That's time! Bornay's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bornay enables Ward to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bornay manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ward throws a big elbow that misses.
Ward is looking to work some ground and pound but Bornay has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward throws a big elbow that misses.
Ward trying to control but Bornay is working from the bottom.
Bornay on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bornay tries to get out of the position.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bornay keeping full guard, as Ward tries to pass.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Bornay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've been hearing good reports from Bornay's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Ward looking to sit in guard and control but Bornay gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bornay trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ward's guard.
Ward looking to control.
Bornay wanted to stand there but Ward had control of the position.

That's two 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward swings widly with a right hand

and Bornay counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ward won't be happy with that.
Bornay wants to stand but Ward has his arm trapped.
Bornay tries to stand but Ward controls the position and pulls Bornay into his guard.
Bornay wants to get up but he can't break Ward's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bornay won't allow Ward to get back to his feet.
Bornay wants to get up but he can't break Ward's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ward closes the distance looking to clinch

and Bornay counters with a takedown into side control.
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 Lafon Bornay will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bornay shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ward appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Bornay shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ward as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bornay stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bornay wants it to stay on the feet.
Bornay attempts a counter takedown but Ward avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward takes a swing at Bornay's ribcage but misses.
Bornay half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Bornay shoots and misses
and Ward counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lafon Bornay. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two 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.
Bornay shoots for a takedown but Ward saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A little jabbing left from Ward on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ward misses with a right hand

and Bornay counters with a takedown into side control.
Bornay wants to stand but Ward has his arm trapped.
Bornay wants to stand but Ward has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Bornay trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ward's guard.
Ward is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bornay wants to stand and escape but instead Ward has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Dustin Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ward throwing strikes from guard but Bornay blocks nicely.
Ward tries to free his leg and advance position but Bornay is retaining full guard.
Ward is looking to work some ground and pound but Bornay has wrist control.
Ward looking to sit in guard and control but Bornay gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ward has a closed guard, preventing Bornay from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bornay wants to stand and escape but instead Ward has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Ward throws an elbow that misses. Bornay uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ward's guard. Nice move by Bornay!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bornay trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ward's guard.
Ward wants to hit a switch here but Bornay passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ward there!
Ward is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bornay stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Ward has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Bornay dives in and scores a takedown into Ward's guard.

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 Lafon Bornay.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bornay, 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lafon Bornay!
In defeat, Dustin Ward stepped up to the mic, saying 'Sorry to disappoint all my fellow nerds out there but I will be back stronger than ever'.