PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Ward (ranked 1531 p4p, 1559 weight class) and Black Lives Jackson (ranked 206 p4p, 213 weight class). Maxim Ward had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ward
vs
Jackson

185 cm
28
172
11 - 5 - 1

190 cm
27
183
9 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter

Un-Kaged Nutrition

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 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maxim Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Black Lives Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ward throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jackson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ward is in Jackson's 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.
Jackson trying to control the position.

Jackson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ward defends it easily.
Jackson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ward.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ward showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ward with a nice head shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson looking to control.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ward chips away with some ground and pound.
Ward trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Ward has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ward lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ward scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jackson keeping full guard, as Ward tries to pass.

Ward got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jackson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ward has managed to get both his arms back between Jackson's legs - danger averted.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.

Jackson is looking for a triangle but Ward pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward scoring with some ground and pound.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Jackson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ward has passed into half guard!
Ward looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ward wants to take a breather but Jackson is having none of it.

Ward is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jackson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ward wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Ward is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jackson trying to keep a closed guard but Ward is proving a slippery customer.
Ward postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jackson working a defensive guard here.
Ward stops Jackson from standing up.
Ward chips away with some ground and pound.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Jackson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ward gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ward with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ward wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Jackson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ward cracks Jackson with a solid left hand.
Ward has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ward working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward looking to pass the guard.
Jackson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jackson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jackson pushes Ward away with a front kick.
Ward uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jackson swinging wildly here.
Ward throws a jab when Jackson was well out of range.
Jackson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jackson just misses with a punch to the body.

Ward scores with a takedown into Jackson's guard.

Jackson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ward off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jackson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ward.
Jackson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ward throws out the jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Jackson! But no joy.
Ward changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ward throws a hook to the side of Jackson's head but Jackson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ward lands an overhand right.
Ward clobbers Jackson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jackson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Jackson is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jackson is still in real trouble! Can Ward finish him?
Ward wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Jackson seems to have recovered his senses.
Ward content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ward working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jackson's head.
Jackson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ward wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Ward keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jackson's head.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Ward is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Jackson is looking for a triangle but Ward pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward content to stall in guard here.
Jackson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ward works over Jackson with some ground and pound from guard.
Ward content to stall in guard here.
Ward working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jackson's head.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jackson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ward's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Jackson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ward works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ward working over Jackson with some ground and pound. Jackson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jackson wants to get back to full guard.
Jackson trying to control here.
Ward lands strikes from half guard.
Ward landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ward winds up and cracks Jackson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ward lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Jackson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jackson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Jackson is not content to let Ward control the position.
Ward winds up and cracks Jackson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ward scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ward lands with a punch from half guard.
Ground and pound from Ward.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ward prevents Jackson from standing back up.
Ward slows the pace down in half guard.
Jackson trying to hold on to Ward's head to control him but Ward postures up.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but Jackson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Ward dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Jackson throws a body punch but Ward moves out of range.
Jackson walks into a left hand.

Jackson moves into range and clinches up with Ward.
A shot in the inside from Ward.
Jackson misses with a knee to the head.
Ward is looking for a takedown.
Jackson tries a knee to the head but Ward blocks it.

Ward breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ward fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Jackson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ward misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jackson.

Ward shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ward showed some decent athleticism there.
Ward is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jackson can do to turn this around?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson wants to control but Ward is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ward takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ward performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ward looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jackson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is thwarting Jackson's attempts to control the position.
Ward seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Ward wants to work for an arm triangle but Jackson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Jackson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ward working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back.
Ward working the head and body with strikes.
Black Lives Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maxim Ward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson trying to control but Ward postures up.
Ward with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Jackson is looking to escape.
Ward content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ward throws a hook but Jackson blocks it.
Ward fails with the takedown.
Ward tests Jackson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jackson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ward misses with a hook. Jackson ducked under it nicely.
Jackson tries to clinch up but Ward circles away and keeps his distance.
Ward lands a nice hook to Jackson's body. Jackson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward scores with the left hand. Jackson knows he should have avoided that one.
Jackson throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Jackson throws a low kick but Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ward connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ward lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ward lands with a slapping head kick.
Maxim Ward is winning the standup battle so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ward throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ward connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jackson's hands.
Ward looks to land a left hand but Jackson moved out of range nicely.
Ward throws a quick inside leg kick.
Jackson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Jackson wants to clinch.
Maxim Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxim Ward showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ward, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxim Ward!
Maxim Ward seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.