PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Greg Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy McLarnin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ward
vs
McLarnin

178 cm
33
183 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

182 cm
32
183 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Greg Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy McLarnin!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLarnin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ward lands with an overhand left.
Ward jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McLarnin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ward defending well as McLarnin loads up on a big left hand.
McLarnin throws out a loose jab but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ward swings for the body but McLarnin moves out of range.
Ward fails with the takedown.
Ward showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McLarnin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLarnin throws out a loose jab but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.
Greg Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McLarnin tries to sprawl but Ward drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ward trying to pass the guard but McLarnin defending well.
Ward lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLarnin is trying to stand back up but Ward is controlling him
Ward moves nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McLarnin is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ward has just dragged him back down to the mat.
McLarnin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ward wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McLarnin is trying to control Ward's posture but Ward avoids it.
Ward is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt McLarnin will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Ward tries to move into full mount but can't pass McLarnin's legs.
McLarnin tries to buck Ward off but Ward is having none of it.

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

Ward is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McLarnin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McLarnin is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
McLarnin is pushing Ward's head away, looking to escape. Ward manages to hold on to the position though.
McLarnin isn't going anywhere.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but McLarnin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McLarnin is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants to lay and pray for a moment but McLarnin keeps working.
McLarnin is looking for a sweep.
McLarnin is letting Ward control him for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
McLarnin closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
McLarnin misses the shot to the body.

McLarnin gets caught napping as Ward dives in and scores a takedown. McLarnin manages to retain guard.
Ward stops McLarnin from standing up.
Ward sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ward trying to control but McLarnin is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McLarnin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McLarnin has his hands on Ward's head, controlling the position.
Ward wants to pass the guard but McLarnin is keeping the position.
Ward is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McLarnin is trying to hold Ward in close to prevent damage but Ward has managed to pass into half guard.
Ward tries to pass the half guard into mount. McLarnin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ward darts in looking for a takedown but McLarnin gets double underhooks and turns Ward into the cage.
McLarnin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McLarnin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ward digs a good hook to McLarnin's body.
McLarnin slips a straight right by Ward.
McLarnin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McLarnin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ward.
McLarnin tests Ward's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McLarnin walks into a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward misses the shot to the body.
McLarnin misses with a looping left.
Ward takes a swing at McLarnin's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for McLarnin!
Ward working away.
Ward prevents McLarnin from escaping the position.
McLarnin tries to bench press Ward off him but Ward keeps the position.
McLarnin being controlled for a moment.

Ward swings around for an armbar but McLarnin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ward's guard.
Ward wants to sweep here but McLarnin controlling him for the moment.
Ward has McLarnin pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants to stand and escape but McLarnin is having none of it.
McLarnin controls from within his opponent's guard.
McLarnin wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Ward controls McLarnin momentarily but McLarnin frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward is pulling down on McLarnin's head. It's preventing any offense from McLarnin, at least for the moment.
McLarnin controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
McLarnin trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ward throws a looping overhand right but McLarnin ducks down to avoid it.
McLarnin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Good exchange - McLarnin coming out on top.
McLarnin misses with a series of wild punches.
Ward attempts a counter takedown but McLarnin avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ward.
Ward clobbers McLarnin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
McLarnin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ward was well out of range. Poor timing from McLarnin.
Ward bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McLarnin's head.
McLarnin cracks Ward with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ward jabs McLarnin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ward with a poor takedown
and McLarnin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slapping body kick lands there for Ward.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McLarnin moves away.
McLarnin sizes up Ward with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
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 Greg Ward will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McLarnin tries a head kick but it misses.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ward throws a jab but it's blocked by McLarnin.

Ward scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ward wants to lay and pray for a moment but McLarnin keeps working.
McLarnin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
McLarnin is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLarnin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
McLarnin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward trying to control the position but McLarnin is working away.
McLarnin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ward wants to control but McLarnin is keeping him busy.
McLarnin tries to roll over but Ward keeps him under control.
Ward wants to lay and pray for a moment but McLarnin keeps working.
Ward stops McLarnin from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Still in half guard, Ward seems content to control.

McLarnin pushes Ward off and gets back to his feet.
Ward scores with a decent looking hook.
Ward connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between McLarnin's hands.
McLarnin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Jimmy McLarnin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ward connects with a good right hand that stumbles McLarnin. McLarnin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McLarnin takes one to the side of the head.
Ward throws a shot to the body.

McLarnin rushes Ward and presses him up against the cage.
McLarnin has Ward pressed against the cage, preventing Ward from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jimmy McLarnin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ward is keen to just control but McLarnin is a slippery customer.
McLarnin wants to get back to his feet.

McLarnin has one foot on Ward's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Greg Ward is winning the standup battle so far.
Ward fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ward moves out of range of the strikes.
McLarnin stuffs the takedown attempt from Ward. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
McLarnin with the counter takedown but Ward avoids it easily.
Ward throws out a loose jab but McLarnin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ward looks to score with a jab to the body but McLarnin is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLarnin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward connects with a crisp jab.
Ward throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward avoids the head kick by McLarnin.
Ward throws a body shot but no joy.
Ward tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McLarnin defends well and Ward ends up having to push McLarnin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McLarnin misses with a straight right.

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 Greg Ward.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ward, 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Greg Ward!
Greg Ward decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.