PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Baron Welch (ranked 4484 p4p, 4802 weight class) and DeAndre Ward (ranked 277 p4p, 288 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Welch
vs
Ward

165 cm
25
142
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
24
143
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Baron Welch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, DeAndre Ward!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Welch with a poor takedown
and Ward counters with a nice low kick that buckles Welch's knee momentarily.

Ward closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Welch's guard.

Welch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Welch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Welch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Welch seems keen to control Ward's posture.

Welch is looking for a triangle but Ward pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welch keeping full guard, as Ward tries to pass.
Welch is trying to keep Ward in close.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Welch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Welch looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ward passes into side control.
Ward trying to control the position but Welch is working away.
Welch gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Welch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Welch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ward is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Ward is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welch moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ward trying to control but Welch is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Welch looking for a triangle here. Ward is fighting it but it looks tight! Welch pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Ward is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Baron Welch!
Baron Welch took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.