PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). White's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Schatten. Ward has chosen Spazz - Crush Kill Destroy as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

White
vs
Ward

186 cm
23
197 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
193 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Thomas White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Ward!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ward takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
White connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ward. Ward circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Ward throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. White was covering up waiting for the punch and Ward finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ward scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ward is in close to White's body, working some short punches and elbows.
White seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
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 loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ward throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ward throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as White works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ward working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
White pulls Ward in close to prevent any damage.
Ward keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of White's head.
Ward is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ward postures up in White's guard and throws a big left but White blocks it.
White has momentary wrist control but Ward slips an elbow through the middle.
Ward postures up and lands a big shot to White's brow.
Ward throws a big right hand that misses.
Ward throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
White wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ward fails with the takedown
letting White counter with a right hand.
Ward shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts White as he jumps to the side.
Nice body kick there by White.
Ward misses with a takedown attempt
and White counters with a straight right hand.
Thomas White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Ward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and White makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ward has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Ward shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has White pinned against the cage. White gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
White lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
White scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White connects with a right hand. Ward shakes it off.
Ward shoots in looking for a takedown but White manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ward's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Ward scores with a takedown into White's guard.
White controlling the position.
White preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ward in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as White works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
White utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
White is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas White dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

White works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ward has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by White.
White lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from White.
No luck for Ward with that takedown attempt.
White is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's one minute gone in the round.
White scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ward shoots in but White avoids the takedown attempt easily.
White appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ward takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
White throws a leg kick which misses Ward's front leg but catches the back leg as Ward tries to avoid it.
White lands a body shot.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Ward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ward shoots for a takedown but White saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ward takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ward takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Decent striking displayed by White there.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but White shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ward doesn't succeed with the takedown
and White counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thomas White is winning the standup battle so far.
Ward is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
White is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
White works Ward's body with a nice hook.
White swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ward.
Ward shoots in looking for a takedown but White manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ward's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
White feinted there with a counter leg kick.
White defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ward.
Ward with a poor takedown
and Ward takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ward under the eye.
Thomas White is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as White sprawls well. White wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas White dominated that second round.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ward with a lazy takedown attempt
and White counters with a right hand to the body.
Ward looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
White punishes Ward's body with a nice straight punch.
It looks like White has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by White.
Ward with a lazy takedown attempt
and White counters with a nice uppercut.
Ward tries to move into range but White moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ward tries to move into range but White moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ward gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and White counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thomas White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Ward.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice body kick from White.
White with a hook.
Ward has his takedown stuffed
and White counters with a straight right hand.
White digs a good body shot into Ward's ribs.
White lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ward fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
White lands with a hook. Ward tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ward takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ward shoots and misses
and White counters with a nice kick to the body.
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!
White fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ward.
Ward shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and White counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ward looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? White is fending him off so far but Ward persists. Nope, White circles away and we're back to standing.
Ward has his takedown stuffed
and White counters with a lovely straight right hand!
White smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
White dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ward. That did some damage!
Ward takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White with a jab.
White lunges at Ward with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ward's hand.
Ward takes one to the chin there.
Ward walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ward has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Ward fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ward has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from White.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
White with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
White scoring well with a low kick there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas White showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for White, 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:25
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:25
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas White!
A relieved looking Thomas White thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.