PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Fochi (ranked 1291 p4p, 2108 weight class) and Maxim Ward (ranked 179 p4p, 281 weight class). Michael Fochi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fochi
vs
Ward

168 cm
23
182
8 - 4 - 1

185 cm
27
172
9 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Darvin Nutrition

Urban Fighter

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 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Fochi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maxim Ward!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fochi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ward lands with a shot to the body.
Ward looks to land a combination but Fochi avoids it well.
Ward smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The fighters circling - Fochi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No joy there for Ward, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fochi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maxim Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fochi drops his hands momentarily and Ward takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Jab by Ward.
Fochi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ward.
Ward misses the jab.
Fochi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ward fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fochi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ward throws a right hand that misses
and Fochi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ward thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fochi slips a jab from Ward.
A little feinted left hand from Fochi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've been hearing reports that Fochi has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Fochi shoots in and bounces Ward off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fochi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ward manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Fochi wants to sweep here but Ward controlling him for the moment.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ward passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Fochi is not content to let Ward control the position.
Fochi tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fochi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fochi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ward looking to control.
Fochi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ward looking for a guillotine here but Fochi defends easily.
Fochi won't allow Ward to sweep him here.
Ward has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Mentor Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fochi defends it easily.
Fochi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fochi stays in close to Ward's body and controls the position.
Fochi looking to pass the guard.
Fochi is working hard here to advance position.
Ward manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fochi manages to get himself to full guard.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ward's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward postures up in Fochi's guard and throws a big left but Fochi blocks it.
Ward is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ward postures up and lands a big shot to Fochi's brow.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ward's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ward stopping the sweep attempt from Fochi.
Fochi has momentary wrist control but Ward slips an elbow through the middle.

Ward drops back looking for a leg! Fochi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fochi manages to kick Ward off! Ward jumps back into Fochi's guard.
Fochi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ward puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Fochi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ward pulls his head out easily.
Fochi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Ward dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fochi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Ward drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fochi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fochi tries to bench press Ward off him but Ward keeps the position.
Fochi regains half guard.

Fochi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ward pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ward lands a nice short elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ward looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ward scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ward has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward wants to take a breather but Fochi is having none of it.
Ward winds up and cracks Fochi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ward lands a nice short elbow.
Fochi wants to get back to full guard.
Ward is keen to just control but Fochi is a slippery customer.
Fochi has hold of Ward's hands but Ward slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ward lands a nice short elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward trying to control from half guard but Fochi is working away.
Fochi is looking for a sweep. Ward is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ward lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fochi tries to get to full guard but Ward has control of the leg.
Ward scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ward has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ward seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fochi is not content to let Ward control the position.
Ward working over Fochi with some ground and pound. Fochi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ward works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ward is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fochi is looking to improve his position but Ward isn't that keen on the idea.
Ward is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Maxim Ward has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ward connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Ward with shots to the head and body - Fochi looks very uncomfortable down there.
Ward prevents Fochi from getting the reversal.
The referee warns Fochi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Fochi is rocked!
Ward raining down shots from the mount!
Oh Fochi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ward lands a big shot to the head and Fochi winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Maxim Ward!
Our winner, Maxim Ward, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.