PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Michael Ward (ranked 4482 p4p, 4476 weight class) and Mirko Basrutten (ranked 508 p4p, 507 weight class). Mirko Basrutten struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 208.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ward
vs
Basrutten

190 cm
18
220
0 - 1 - 0

222 cm
18
222
0 - 1 - 0

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent MT
Powerful

Senshi Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirko Basrutten!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Basrutten counter with a right hand.
Ward misses the shot to the body.
Ward scores with a jab to the body.
Ward blocks a jab.
Ward pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A swing and a miss from Ward.
Nice body punch from Basrutten.
Basrutten uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ward.
Basrutten takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ward is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Basrutten.
Ward throws the left hand but Basrutten avoids the punch easily.
A slow jab from Ward misses its intended target.
Ward missing with a left hand there. Basrutten was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Michael Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ward misses the shot to the body.
Ward is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Basrutten's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Ward throws a jab when Basrutten was well out of range.
Ward misses with a hook. Basrutten ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Basrutten on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Ward misses.
Basrutten misses the shot to the body.
Ward swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ward misses with a hook. Basrutten ducked under it nicely.
Basrutten bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ward's head.
Basrutten blocks a jab.
Ward lands the left hand.
Ward swings for the body but Basrutten moves out of range.
Basrutten scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice cross by Ward.
Basrutten looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Basrutten throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ward on the side of the head.
Ward misses with a hook.
Basrutten uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ward.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ward.
Ward misses with a jab to the body
enabling Basrutten to counter with a crisp jab.
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 jab when Basrutten was well out of range.
Ward pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ward looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basrutten ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
Ward misses with a looping left.
Basrutten was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Ward misses with an uppercut.
Basrutten swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Basrutten uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ward.
Basrutten takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A decent looking cross lands there for Basrutten.
Ward throws a jab when Basrutten was well out of range.
Ward has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ward there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ward throws a right hand that misses
and Basrutten counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Ward misses.
Basrutten uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ward.
Ward misses with a hook.
A nice side step and Basrutten releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Ward throws a hook to the side of Basrutten's head but Basrutten sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Basrutten is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Ward thuds his right hand into Basrutten's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ward stuns Basrutten with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Ward dominated that round.
That's time! Ward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ward looks to throw the jab but Basrutten is out of range.
Ward throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Basrutten is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Basrutten takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ward throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Basrutten sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ward loads up on a big right hand but Basrutten slips the punch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Basrutten! But no joy.
Ward throws a body shot but no joy.
Ward misses the shot to the body.
Basrutten pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ward is out of range and Basrutten settles back down.
Ward misses with a hook. Basrutten ducked under it nicely.
Ward moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ward takes a swing at Basrutten's ribcage but misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Basrutten misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basrutten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ward.
Basrutten throws a hook but Ward blocks it.
Ward jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ward tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Basrutten was well out of range. Poor timing from Ward.
Basrutten walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward lunges at Basrutten with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Basrutten's hand.
Basrutten throws a low kick but Ward avoids it.
Basrutten defending well as Ward loads up on a big left hand.
Basrutten drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ward misses with a looping left.
Basrutten looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ward walks into a straight right hand from Basrutten.
Ward walks into a straight right hand from Basrutten.
Ward waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Basrutten.
Ward misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Basrutten to counter with a crisp jab.
Ward throws a shot from downtown. Basrutten moves away and avoids it.
Basrutten avoids the body shot from Ward.
Ward throws a lazy right hand but Basrutten sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Basrutten steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ward.
It seemed like Basrutten was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice uppercut lands for Basrutten. That snapped Ward's head back.
Ward scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Ward misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward misses with a looping left.
Basrutten looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Basrutten slips under a jab.
Ward swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Michael Ward is winning the standup battle so far.
Basrutten takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Basrutten lands with a hook. Ward tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ward swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ward throws a body shot but no joy.
Ward throws a body shot but no joy.
Ward cracks Basrutten with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Basrutten has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ward looks to land a left hand but Basrutten moved out of range nicely.
Basrutten steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ward.
Ward cracks Basrutten with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Basrutten feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Wards jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ward misses with a hook
and Basrutten counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Basrutten slips under a jab.
Basrutten is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ward with a body shot.
Basrutten with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ward to score with a decent uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Ward dominated that second round.
That's time! Ward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ward misses with an uppercut
and Basrutten cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mirko Basrutten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ward misses with a jab to the body
and Basrutten connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Basrutten throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ward is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Basrutten can do to turn this around?
Basrutten defending well as Ward loads up on a big left hand.
Basrutten swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ward misses with a right hand
and Basrutten counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Basrutten ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
Nice defenses there by Basrutten.
Ward throws a lazy uppercut
and Basrutten counters with a right hand to the body.
Ward tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Basrutten was well out of range. Poor timing from Ward.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Basrutten moves away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward lands a really nice looking cross but Basrutten seems unphased.
Basrutten slips a straight right by Ward.
It seemed like Basrutten was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ward throws an off balance right hand
and Basrutten counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ward looks to land a right hand but Basrutten moved out of range.
Ward swings widly with a right hand
and Basrutten counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Basrutten.
Basrutten uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Ward is rocked!
Ward throws a big shot that misses.
Oh Ward is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Basrutten moves away.
Basrutten throws out a counter right but Ward avoids it with no problem.
Basrutten takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ward misses with a hook. Basrutten ducked under it nicely.
Ward throws a hook to the side of Basrutten's head but Basrutten sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A countering left hand to the body from Basrutten misses.
Ward throws a jab but it's blocked by Basrutten.
Ward is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ward misses with a hook. Basrutten ducked under it nicely.
Basrutten is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ward with a body shot.
Michael Ward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ward seems to have got his legs back now.
Ward uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Basrutten.
Nice defenses there by Basrutten.
Basrutten throws out a counter right but Ward avoids it with no problem.
Ward dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Basrutten keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ward.
Ward throws a shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Ward.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Basrutten moves away.
Ward ducks under a wild hook from Basrutten.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ward takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Basrutten takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ward checks a low kick from Basrutten.
Jab, jab by Ward - just one landing.
Basrutten moves away from the strike by Ward.
Ward slips under a jab from Basrutten.
Basrutten ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
Basrutten appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ward throws a predictable looking body shot
and Basrutten counters with a nice uppercut.
Ward misses with a body shot.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ward just misses with a punch to the body.
Basrutten moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ward fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Basrutten manages to avoid it.
Basrutten staying out of range there.
Ward missing with a left hand there. Basrutten was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Ward.
Well Ward has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Ward!