PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Ward (ranked 1436 p4p, 809 weight class) and Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau (ranked 185 p4p, 112 weight class). Ward's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, ERA - Ameno. Maxim Ward had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ward
vs
Costeau

185 cm
35
172
20 - 11 - 1

181 cm
33
175
24 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Fast

Conviction

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 20 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maxim Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costeau throws a hook but Ward avoids it easily.
Costeau stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Costeau wants it to stay on the feet.
Costeau avoids a punch combination nicely.
A lazy left from Costeau finds it's target.
Costeau throws a lazy right hand but Ward sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It looked like Ward wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Costeau looks to score with a jab to the body but Ward is just out of range.
Good exchange - Ward coming out on top.

Ward shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Costeau manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ward keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Costeau is pressed up against the cage. Ward has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Costeau down to the mat. Costeau avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Costeau tries to move into range but Ward moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A swing and a miss from Costeau.
Ward looks to throw the jab but Costeau is out of range.
Ward connects with a jab.
Costeau goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Costeau has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Ward will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward throws a big shot that misses.
Costeau steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ward.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Costeau is trying to defend but Ward finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ward prevents Costeau from standing back up.
Ward wants to take a breather but Costeau is having none of it.
Costeau punching from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costeau tries to kick Ward off but Ward keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ward passes to full mount!
Ward controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costeau is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Costeau tries to buck Ward off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costeau wants to control but Ward is having none of it.
Ward with the ground and pound from mount.
Costeau is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Costeau tries to reverse the position but Ward maintains control.
Ward controlling from mount.
Costeau trying desperately to get to his feet.
Costeau tries to hold on but Ward postures up.
Ward wants to control the pace but Costeau is squirming around nicely.
Ward controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costeau is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Costeau regains half guard.
Ward stops Costeau from getting back to his feet.
Costeau is trying to maintain the position but Ward is very close to passing his half guard.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but Costeau is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Costeau has one foot on Ward's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Costeau.
Ward goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Costeau ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
Ward throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Costeau sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward blocks a head kick by Costeau.
No luck for Ward with that takedown attempt.
Costeau slips a straight right by Ward.
Ward throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Costeau counters with a low kick, right behind Ward 's knee.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Costeau jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Costeau swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ward jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Costeau.
Ward throws a right and a left that both miss.

Costeau gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Costeau wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ward manages to pass to side control.

Costeau tries to kick Ward off but Ward keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ward is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maxim Ward will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Costeau throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ward looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Costeau is looking to score with low kicks.
Ward lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A combination from Ward does no damage.
Ward shoots in and drives through. Costeau sprawls well.
Ward fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costeau manages to avoid it.
Ward looks to land a right hand but Costeau moved out of range.
Costeau throws a hook but Ward avoids it easily.
Donk. Ward catches Costeau right on the button with a cross.
Costeau looks to land a left hand but Ward moved out of range nicely.
Ward walks into a stiff left hand from Costeau.
Costeau ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
Ward takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Danga de danga de dang - Costeau scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Maxim Ward has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Costeau scores with a sloppy right hand. Ward should have avoided that one.
Ward throws a head kick but Costeau moves out of range.
Costeau misses with an uppercut. Ward saw that one coming.
Ward throws a series of punches but Costeau moves out of range.
Costeau throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward feinted with a counter takedown.
Ward misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward throws a lazy head kick
letting Costeau counter with a right hand.

Costeau gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Costeau pushes Ward off and scrambles back to his feet.
Costeau misses with a head kick.
Nice shot by Ward.
Ward scores with a nice head shot.
Costeau uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ward.
Nice uppercut lands for Costeau. That snapped Ward's head back.
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!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Costeau gets through Ward's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ward lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Costeau tries to stall but Ward uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ward lands a left hand that snaps the head of Costeau backwards.
A short left from Costeau.
Ward tries a body shot but Costeau blocks it.
Costeau dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants a takedown.
Costeau digs a right hand into Ward's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ward's gas tank.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ward creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Costeau swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Costeau manages to break the clinch.
Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ward connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Costeau misses with a wild body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ward.
Ward working away.
Ward slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costeau wants to control but Ward postures up.
Costeau misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Costeau is not content to let Ward control the position.
Costeau can't do much from the bottom here.
Maxim Ward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Costeau tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Costeau is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
What can Costeau do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Costeau wants to get back to his feet.
Ward trying to control.
Costeau is trying to get back to his feet but Ward has full control of the position and if anything, Costeau has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Ward biding his time, controlling Costeau.
Costeau trying to control the position but Ward manages to sink in the hooks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maxim Ward will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maxim Ward's cut.
That's time! Ward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ward shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Costeau sprawls well. Costeau wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
Ward looks to land a combination but Costeau avoids it well.

Costeau gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Costeau wants to stand and escape but Ward is having none of it.
Ward is in close to Costeau's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Costeau can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ward controls the pace.
Costeau tries to strike from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Costeau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Costeau is looking to stand up but Ward isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Costeau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ward misses with a straight left.
Ward throws a head kick but Costeau moves out of range.
Costeau throws a body punch but Ward moves out of range.
Maxim Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costeau throws a leg kick but Ward sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ward misses with a two punch combination.
Ward throws a lazy uppercut
and Costeau counters with a nice uppercut.
Ward throws a body shot but no joy.
Costeau lands with a right hand.

Ward throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Costeau tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ward is in Costeau's guard.
Ward sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ward's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Costeau throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Costeau is not content to let Ward control the position.
Costeau is looking for a sweep.
Costeau trying to remain calm as Ward controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but Costeau is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ward avoids the strikes from the bottom by Costeau.
Costeau is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ward controlling the position.
Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Costeau pushes Ward away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ward gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Costeau is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ward connects with a decent elbow.
Ward advances to mount.
Costeau wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ward takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ward breaks from Costeau's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Maxim Ward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Costeau is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Costeau really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Costeau is squirming around, avoiding Ward's attempts to control the action.
Costeau takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Costeau can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Costeau is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Maxim Ward!
Maxim Ward decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.