PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Micky Ward (ranked 5631 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nnaemeka Iyagbor (ranked 6226 p4p, 0 weight class). Micky Ward has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ward
vs
Iyagbor

177 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Micky Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nnaemeka Iyagbor!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iyagbor connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Iyagbor moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ward shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Iyagbor sprawls well. Iyagbor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
Ward tries to clinch but Iyagbor is having none of it.
Iyagbor lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ward throws a head kick but Iyagbor moves out of range.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Iyagbor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Iyagbor looking to pass the guard.
Iyagbor controlling from the top position.
Ward wants to sweep here but Iyagbor controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward controls Iyagbor momentarily but Iyagbor frees himself.
Iyagbor slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iyagbor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Ward throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Iyagbor gets a takedown into half guard.
Ward trying to control here.
Ward moves into full guard.
Ward can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Iyagbor controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Iyagbor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ward is keeping the position for now.
Ward throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Iyagbor wants to stand but Ward has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Iyagbor stuffs the takedown attempt from Ward. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micky Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Iyagbor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ward, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four 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 tries for a takedown but Iyagbor manages to get underhooks.
Ward wants to get back to striking at distance but Iyagbor won't allow it.
Ward is trying to force a seperation but Iyagbor has the dominant position.

Ward has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Iyagbor uses from the top position.
Ward is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ward looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Iyagbor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Iyagbor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ward is keeping the position for now.

Ward has his foot on Iyagbor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Iyagbor works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nnaemeka Iyagbor dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Iyagbor blocks the body kick.
Iyagbor slaps away a takedown attempt from Ward, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Iyagbor dives in for a single leg takedown but Ward sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Iyagbor slaps away a takedown attempt from Ward, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ward is defended easily by Iyagbor.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micky Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Iyagbor.
Ward tries to clinch but Iyagbor is having none of it.
Ward stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ward wants it to stay on the feet.

Iyagbor looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ward is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ward works his way to full guard. Good work.
Iyagbor is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Iyagbor working some strikes from top position.
Ward can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Iyagbor controls the pace.
Iyagbor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Iyagbor is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Iyagbor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ward avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ward trying to keep a closed guard but Iyagbor is proving a slippery customer.
Iyagbor controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ward looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ward scores with a leg kick.

Iyagbor has Ward up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iyagbor tries for a takedown but Ward manages to get underhooks.

Ward gets control of Iyagbor's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ward will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Iyagbor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Iyagbor is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Iyagbor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Iyagbor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Iyagbor's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Iyagbor throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iyagbor won't allow Ward to sweep him here.
Iyagbor is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ward lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Iyagbor is pulling down on Ward's head. It's preventing any offense from Ward, at least for the moment.
Ward trying to control but Iyagbor is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Iyagbor wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nnaemeka Iyagbor will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Iyagbor shoots in for a double leg but Ward sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Iyagbor fails with a takedown attempt.
As Iyagbor tries to get set, Ward tries to push him back and clinch up but Iyagbor manages to avoid the attempt.

Iyagbor has managed to clinch.
Iyagbor stops a takedown attempt from Ward.
Iyagbor dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Iyagbor is struggling to control the position.

Iyagbor manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Iyagbor holds on and takes a little breather.
Ward slips nicely into half guard.
Iyagbor tries to get to full guard but Ward has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ward trying to control from half guard but Iyagbor is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Iyagbor trying to control from the bottom.
Ward trying to control the action but Iyagbor is working from the bottom.
Iyagbor is trying to stand back up but Ward is controlling him

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ward with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ward shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Iyagbor sprawls well. Iyagbor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micky Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ward tries to keep at a distance but Iyagbor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Iyagbor gets underhooks to prevent Ward's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ward tries to work over Iyagbor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Iyagbor breaks the clinch.
Iyagbor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ward.
Iyagbor misses with a head kick.

Iyagbor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iyagbor blocks a body shot from Ward.
Iyagbor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ward lands a nice knee to the body.
Ward wants to break free but Iyagbor has control.
Iyagbor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Iyagbor breaks from the clinch.
Ward tries to clinch there but Iyagbor circles away.
Iyagbor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ward is looking to counter the offense by Iyagbor and move into the clinch.
Iyagbor tries to bum rush Ward with a series of wild strikes but Ward uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ward fails to land with a series of punches.
Micky Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nnaemeka Iyagbor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ward fails in his attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nnaemeka Iyagbor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Iyagbor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nnaemeka Iyagbor!