PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rico Milka (ranked 2044 p4p, 2829 weight class) and William Ward (ranked 242 p4p, 317 weight class). 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.

Milka
vs
Ward

171 cm
21
158
2 - 2 - 0

173 cm
19
162
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rico Milka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, William Ward!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Milka misses with a wild body shot.
Ward takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like William Ward has been cut.
Milka scores with a kick to the body.
Milka tries to close the distance and clinch but Ward swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Milka swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ward counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Milka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward throws an elbow that misses. Milka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ward's guard. Nice move by Milka!

Ward trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Milka stands and steps away. Ward gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've been told by Milka's head coaches at IMMA Gym of Elite ASS that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A head kick from Milka lands but Ward takes it in his stride.
Rico Milka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ward shoots in looking for a takedown but Milka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ward's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Milka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Milka is looking to clinch.
Ward circles away from the clinch attempt.
Milka wants to clinch up but Ward keeps it at a distance.
Milka punishes Ward's body with a nice straight punch.
Ward uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Milka.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Milka.
Milka lands a front kick.
Ward misses with a looping right.
Ward shoots in looking for a takedown. Milka tries to sprawl out of it but Ward keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Milka manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ward just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Milka connects with a looping right hand.
Ward moves out of range of the strikes.
Milka lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Milka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ward.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Milka throws a head kick but Ward moves out of range.
Milka doesn't manage to clinch there - Ward circles away.
Ward with the counter takedown but Milka avoids it easily.
Milka scores with a nice strike.
The fighters circle momentarily. Milka darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Milka has managed to clinch.
Milka scores with a shot to the side of Ward's head.

Milka breaks from the clinch.
Ward takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ward swats away the attempt to clinch by Milka.
And Ward tries to counter it with a takedown but Milka pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward with a lazy takedown attempt

and Milka counters by clinching up.
Rico Milka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Ward.
Milka pushes Ward back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A nice left hand lands by Milka.
Milka lands with a short shot to the head.
Ward looking to slow down the pace here.
Ward wants to break free but Milka has control.
Milka content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Milka.
Milka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward taking a breather.
Milka scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Milka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
We've been informed that Ward has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Ward trying to stall but Milka improves his position.
Milka is pressed up against the cage. Ward has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Milka down to the mat. Milka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ward takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Milka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ward! But no joy.
Ward moves away from the strike by Milka.
Milka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rico Milka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ward shoots in but no luck this time.
Milka lands a nice shot that snaps Ward's head back.

That has opened up William Ward's cut even more.
Milka tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.
Ward moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Milka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on William Ward's cut.
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.

Milka takes the fight into the clinch.
Milka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Milka lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ward or not.
Milka lands with a short shot to the head.
Milka letting Ward take a breather here.
Ward doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ward has had enough of the clinch but Milka keeps him there for the moment.
Ward wants a takedown.
Ward can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Milka.
Ward is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Milka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Milka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Milka manages to break the clinch.
Milka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ward paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Milka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Milka.
Milka lands a shot to the body.

Milka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Milka throws a looping overhand right but Ward ducks down to avoid it.
Milka is looking to clinch.
Milka wants to clinch up but Ward keeps it at a distance.
Ward fails with the takedown.
Rico Milka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Ward.
Milka lands with a good body shot.
Milka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Milka has closed the distance and engaged Ward in a clinch.
Ward being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Milka stalling against the cage.
Milka lands with a light punch inside.
Milka stalls.
Milka digs a right hand underneath Ward's ribcage. Ward let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ward changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Milka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ward takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Milka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Milka lands a big head kick that sends Ward tumbling to the mat! Milka takes a step backwards and waves Ward back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Ward is rocked!

Milka moves into the clinch successfully.
Ward is still on wobbly legs! Can Milka finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milka leaning against his opponent.
Ward wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Milka has him pressed against the cage.

Milka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ward gets tackled into the cage by Milka. Milka maintains the clinch.
Milka pushes Ward back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Milka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Milka breaks the clinch.

Milka clinches with his opponent.
Ward seems to have recovered his senses.
Milka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Milka scores with a shot to the side of Ward's head.

Milka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Milka scores with a spinning back kick!
Ward is breathing heavily.

Milka closes the distance and pushes Ward back into the cage.

Milka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ward ducks under a wild hook from Milka.
Ward looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Milka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ward paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward just misses with a punch to the body.

Milka moves into range and clinches up with Ward.
A right hand to the body from Milka.
Milka scores with a shot to the side of Ward's head.

Milka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ward closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ward.

Milka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ward is trying to maintain a safe position but Milka gets an underhook and turns Ward into the cage.

Milka breaks from the clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Milka there.

The cut above William Ward's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Milka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ward swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ward. Milka does a little dance to reset his feet.

Milka moves into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Milka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on William Ward's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ward missing with a left hand there. Milka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Milka has Ward up against the cage in a clinch.
Ward wants a takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Milka lands with a light punch inside.
Ward has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Milka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Milka lands with a light punch inside.

Milka breaks from the clinch.
Milka throws out a loose jab but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ward looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Milka is fending him off so far but Ward persists. Nope, Milka circles away and we're back to standing.
Rico Milka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Ward.

Milka closes the distance and clinches.
Milka displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ward up against the cage.
Milka stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ward controlling the action here for a moment.

Milka breaks the clinch.
Milka is looking to clinch but Ward is avoiding it.
Ward changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Milka tries to avoid it but Ward manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Milka to the ground. Milka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Milka throwing a counter right hand but Ward manages to avoid it.
Milka throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Ward counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ward loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Milka wants to stand and escape but Ward is having none of it.
Rico Milka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward trying to control but Milka is working from the bottom.
Ward throws a strike but Milka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ward is working an open guard so Milka takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Milka has Ward up against the cage in a clinch.
Ward is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Milka is defending well.
William Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ward wants to stall.
Ward drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Milka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Milka gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ward.
Ward wants a takedown but no success here.
Ward drops down looking for an ankle pick but Milka pulls his leg out and moves away.
Milka moves out of range of the body kick.
Milka tries to close the distance and clinch but Ward swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ward tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ward chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Milka can pounce on him.
Milka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ward paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ward feints the counter takedown.
Rico Milka is winning the standup battle so far.
Ward tries to move into range but Milka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Milka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Milka 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Milka!
Rico Milka decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.