PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aron Ward (ranked 6540 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Long (ranked 2974 p4p, 0 weight class). Justin Long is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ward
vs
Long

180 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
250 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aron Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Long!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward stuns Long with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ward tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Long counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ward is trying to control but can't.
Ward is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Ward is trying to control but can't.
Ward wants to control but Long passes into side.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward struggling a bit here.
Ward looking for a sweep but Long has passed into full mount! Oh no!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ward could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward tries to hold on but Long postures up.
Ward is desperately trying to improve his position but Long has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Ward wants to control but Long is having none of it.
Long controlling from the full mount.
Ward tries to hold on but Long pushes him away.
Long takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ward tries to hold on but Long pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ward tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ward wants to control but Long is having none of it.
Long takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ward might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Long's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Ward is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ward wants to hold on but Long pushes him away.
Long controlling from the full mount.
Ward is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Long controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Long dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ward throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ward misses with a kick to the body

and Long counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ward is holding on to half guard well.
Ward's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Long performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
More stalling from Long.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Long. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Ward trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long avoids the attempt from Ward to control.
Ward is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Long is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Long tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Long looking to control but Ward is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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 is desperately trying to improve his position but Long has a good base and remains in mount.
Long avoids the attempt from Ward to control.
Long content just to control the position here.
Ward tries to hold on but Long postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Long looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is working to get back to half guard.
Long controlling from the full mount.
Ward tries to hold on but Long postures up.
Ward is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Ward is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four 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.
Long controlling the pace for now.
Ward is looking to improve his position but Long isn't that keen on the idea.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Long content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Long showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Ward throws a head kick that misses

and Long counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ward!
Long is looking to take a break and control but Ward is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ward tries to buck Long off but Long is having none of it.
Justin Long has got the better of the ground game so far.
Long working away.
Ward is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Long has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Ward's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Long is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ward's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward wants to control but Long postures up.
Ward tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Long is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ward's shoulder. That is not cool.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ward wants to clinch but Long slips to the side

and Long counters with a single leg into guard. Ward didn't expect that.
Ward looking for a sweep. Not yet Ward, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long is fighting to break Ward's control of his arms but Ward is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ward is trying to keep Long in close.
Long wants to pass the guard but Ward is keeping the position.
Ward is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ward tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Long slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but Long shows good takedown defense.
Ward misses with a combination

so Long counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Long controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Long tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.
Ward looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Long pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ward is keeping the position for now.
Long controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ward controls Long momentarily but Long frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Long stopping the sweep attempt from Ward.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Long comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Long winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Long!