PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darrel Petersen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ward comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Spazz - Crush Kill Destroy kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Max Ward enters the cage!

Petersen
vs
Ward

182 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
193 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Darrel Petersen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Ward!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petersen lands the left hand.
Petersen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ward moves away.

Ward dives in and scores a takedown into Petersen's guard.
Ward loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Petersen trying to keep a closed guard but Ward is proving a slippery customer.

Petersen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Petersen has his hands on Ward's head, controlling the position.
Ward tries to free his leg and advance position but Petersen is retaining full guard.
Petersen seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward throws a big right hand that misses.
Petersen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ward throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ward stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Petersen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Petersen looking for a sweep. Not yet Petersen, not yet.
Ward makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Petersen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ward defends well.
Ward trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
Petersen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Ward postures up in Petersen's guard and throws a big left but Petersen blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Petersen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ward. Ward circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Petersen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ward takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Petersen scores with a decent looking hook.

Ward shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ward landing with the ground and pound.
Petersen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ward trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ward throwing strikes from guard but Petersen blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen wants to sweep here but Ward controlling him for the moment.

Petersen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ward defends well.
Ward connects with a couple of short punches.
Petersen trying to keep a closed guard but Ward is proving a slippery customer.

Petersen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ward gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ward landing some decent shots from guard.
Petersen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ward's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petersen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Petersen won't allow Ward to get back to his feet.
Petersen trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petersen wants to pass the guard but Ward is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Petersen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ward is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ward has escaped and now he's on top!

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 Darrel Petersen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Petersen with a hook.
Ward takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ward drops his hands momentarily and Petersen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ward takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Ward looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ground and pound from Ward.
Ward has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward thows a huge punch but Petersen dodges it nicely.
Petersen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Petersen.
Petersen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ward manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen is stalling in the full guard.
Petersen throws a strike but Ward rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ward trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ward throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward preventing the sweep.
Ward postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ward throws a big elbow that misses.
Ward stopping the sweep attempt from Petersen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petersen has Ward pulled in close to control his posture.
Ward lands a couple of elbows.
Ward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ward throws a big elbow that misses.
Petersen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Petersen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ward postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Petersen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ward defends it easily.
Ward throws a strike but Petersen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Petersen prevents Ward from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Petersen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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

Ward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ward stopping the sweep attempt from Petersen.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ward accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Petersen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.
Petersen is trying to keep Ward in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ward throws a big right hand that misses.
Petersen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ward throws a big right hand that misses.

Petersen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ward distracts Petersen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Petersen looking for a sweep. Not yet Petersen, not yet.
Ward working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Max Ward will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Petersen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Ward feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Petersen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Petersen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ward can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ward's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petersen has momentary wrist control but Ward slips an elbow through the middle.

Petersen working for a triangle but Ward defends it easily.
Petersen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ward postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ward chips away with some ground and pound.
Ward landing with the ground and pound.
Ward preventing the sweep.
Ward with a nice head shot there.
Ward with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ward landing some decent shots from guard.
Petersen is trying to control the position but Ward postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward scoring with punches to the head and body.

Petersen has his foot on Ward's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ward works his way back into a safe position though.
Max Ward has got the better of the ground game so far.
Petersen has his hands on Ward's head, controlling the position.

Petersen working for a triangle but Ward defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Petersen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Petersen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Ward has passed into side control.
Ward lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward cracks Petersen with a big elbow.
Ward throws an elbow but Petersen slips to the side and avoids it well.
Petersen manages to get back to half guard.
Petersen trying to control from the bottom.
Ward throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ward winds up and cracks Petersen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Petersen trying to hold on to Ward's head to control him but Ward postures up.
Ward seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ward prevents Petersen from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ward scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ward lands strikes from half guard.

Petersen is rocked!
Ward lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Petersen! More strikes land and this one is all over! Ward jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Max Ward!
A victorious Max Ward thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.