PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darrel Petersen (ranked 2644 p4p, 315 weight class) and Max Ward (ranked 1670 p4p, 219 weight class). Ward is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Spazz - Crush Kill Destroy. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Petersen
vs
Ward

182 cm
23
190 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
193 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Darrel Petersen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Ward!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ward takes a jab right on the kisser.
Petersen lands a jab to Ward's midsection.
Ward shoots in looking for a takedown. Petersen tries to sprawl out of it but Ward keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Petersen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Petersen lands a slapping body shot.
Petersen lands a right hook to the body.
We've been hearing reports that Petersen has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ward takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ward shoots and misses
and Petersen counters with a straight right hand.
Petersen scores with a nice strike.
Ward gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Petersen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Darrel Petersen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Ward.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward dives in for a single leg takedown but Petersen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Ward changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Petersen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Petersen 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.
Petersen is trying to control Ward's posture but Ward avoids it.

Ward tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ward looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Petersen is avoiding damage well.
Petersen is looking to regain half guard here but Ward keeps moving and retains side control.
Petersen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Petersen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ward in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Petersen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ward with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petersen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Petersen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Petersen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Petersen managing to control the position.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Petersen is pulling down on Ward's head. It's preventing any offense from Ward, at least for the moment.
Ward throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petersen controls Ward momentarily but Ward frees himself.
Petersen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ward.
Ward postures up in Petersen's guard and throws a big left but Petersen blocks it.
Petersen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ward with a nice head shot there.
Ward scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ward throws a big right hand that misses.
Petersen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Petersen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Petersen is pulling down on Ward's head. It's preventing any offense from Ward, at least for the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Petersen is keeping the position for now.
Ward scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Petersen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ward landing some decent shots from guard.
Ward lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward is working Petersen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Petersen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ward accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ward is fighting to break Petersen's control of his arms but Petersen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Petersen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Petersen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ward.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ward's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ward makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Ward got a little sloppy there for a moment and Petersen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ward has managed to get both his arms back between Petersen's legs - danger averted.
Petersen is pulling down on Ward's head to control his posture.
Petersen wants to sweep here but Ward controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darrel Petersen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Petersen leaves Ward with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ward shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Petersen sprawls well. Petersen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
A quick step to the side and Petersen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Petersen appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Darrel Petersen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Ward.
Ward throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Petersen's waist but Petersen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ward off to one side.
Petersen throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petersen lands a right hook to the body.
Petersen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ward shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Petersen lands an overhand right.
Petersen throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen scores with a sloppy right hand. Ward should have avoided that one.
Petersen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Petersen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Petersen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Ward shoots in and gets a takedown into Petersen's guard.

Petersen is looking to cinch up a triangle. Ward throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Petersen's body to avoid the submission. Petersen has instead reached around Ward's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Petersen arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Darrel Petersen!