PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eno Hlaalu (ranked 2433 p4p, 143 weight class) and Andre Ward (ranked 2526 p4p, 147 weight class). Andre Ward has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hlaalu
vs
Ward

170 cm
20
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
27
135 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eno Hlaalu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andre Ward!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hlaalu misses with a straight right.
Ward cracks Hlaalu with a right hand to the side of the head.

Ward clinches.
Ward's coach down at 3Band MMA ($800/week) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ward's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hlaalu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Hlaalu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Ward shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hlaalu eats them both and turns towards Ward to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Ward finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ward is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ward lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hlaalu at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hlaalu gets tackled into the cage by Ward. Ward maintains the clinch.
Hlaalu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hlaalu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ward blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ward is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ward is trying to break free.
Ward wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hlaalu has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hlaalu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hlaalu being controlled against the cage.
Ward has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hlaalu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hlaalu scores with a shoulder strike.
Hlaalu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Ward trying to control the position but instead, Hlaalu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ward into the cage.

Hlaalu successfully pulls guard.

Hlaalu has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Ward should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Hlaalu has tightened it up now! Ward should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Eno Hlaalu!
An out of breath Eno Hlaalu thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.