PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jim Lingfield (ranked 1170 p4p, 932 weight class) and Maxim Ward (ranked 161 p4p, 130 weight class). Ward has chosen ERA - Ameno as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lingfield
vs
Ward

178 cm
28
175
13 - 7 - 0

185 cm
36
172
21 - 11 - 1

Great wrestler
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Conviction
FUClothing

Conviction

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Lingfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maxim Ward!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward lands with a hook. Lingfield tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Good exchange - Lingfield coming out on top.
Ward tried to score with a low kick but Lingfield checks it.
Lingfield defending well as Ward loads up on a big left hand.
Lingfield tries to counter with a takedown but Ward is quick to defend against it.
A low kick from Ward is predictable there
and Lingfield connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lingfield shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ward as he avoids it easily.

Ward throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lingfield tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ward is in Lingfield's guard.
Lingfield pulls Ward in close to his closed guard and prevents Ward from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ward controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lingfield is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ward stopping the sweep attempt from Lingfield.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lingfield keeping full guard, as Ward tries to pass.
Ward wants to control from the top but Lingfield keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lingfield controlling the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Lingfield is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ward scores with a one two! Lingfield had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Lingfield goes for a double leg but Ward avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ward continues to drive forward.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ward! But no joy.
Lingfield can't get the takedown.
We've been informed that Ward has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Lingfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ward.
Lingfield drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ward gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lingfield drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ward pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ward cracks Lingfield with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lingfield tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lingfield stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ward.
Ward fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ward cracks Lingfield with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ward blocks a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lingfield. Ward does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ward misses with a takedown attempt - Lingfield sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lingfield uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ward.
Ward scores with a three punch combo!
Ward misses with a body shot.
Lingfield fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ward uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lingfield has time to react.
Ward misses with a takedown

and Lingfield counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ward has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Lingfield off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward lands with an uppercut that bounces Lingfield off the cage and back into range.

Ward shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Lingfield is defending well.
Lingfield is controlling Ward's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Ward is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lingfield sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lingfield wants to control but Ward is keeping busy.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but Lingfield is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lingfield has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ward is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lingfield has his hands clasped together around Ward's back. He's all about the action.
Ward trying to control from half guard but Lingfield is working away.

Lingfield looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lingfield is trying to control but can't.
Ward prevents Lingfield from improving his position.
Ward stalling.
Lingfield is trying to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Ward dominated that 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.

Lingfield closes the distance and clinches.
I was talking to Lingfield's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ward swings wildly with an uppercut but Lingfield uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ward tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ward tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ward drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lingfield gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ward tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ward gets underhooks to prevent Lingfield's takedown attempt.
Lingfield blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lingfield looking for a takedown.
Ward lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ward has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Lingfield clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward trying to control.
Lingfield tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lingfield tries to hold on but Ward postures up.
Lingfield is working to get back to half guard.
Ward trying to control but Lingfield is having none of it.
Ward content just to control the position here.
Lingfield really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ward avoids the attempt from Lingfield to control.
Ward has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lingfield is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ward wants to control the pace but Lingfield is squirming around nicely.
Lingfield is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lingfield tries to hold on but Ward postures up.
Lingfield is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lingfield sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ward controlling the action here.
Lingfield is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but Lingfield is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ward trying to control the pace.
Lingfield is not content to let Ward control the position.
Lingfield is trying to maintain the position but Ward is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lingfield is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ward scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ward is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lingfield is trying to maintain the position but Ward is very close to passing his half guard.
Ward is nestled in close to Lingfield, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lingfield trying to control from the bottom.
Lingfield is not content to let Ward control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ward controlling the action here.
Ward wants to take a breather but Lingfield is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lingfield'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 throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ward looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lingfield changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lingfield shoots in looking for a takedown. Ward tries to sprawl out of it but Lingfield keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ward manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As Lingfield backs off Ward throws a huge counter combo but Lingfield manages to avoid it all.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lingfield looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ward pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lingfield tries to clinch but Ward is having none of it.
Lingfield ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Lingfield tries to sprawl but Ward drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Lingfield is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ward's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ward's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lingfield is landing with strikes from the back.
Ward is trying to stand back up.
Lingfield trying to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lingfield is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Ward is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Lingfield off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Ward is trying to stand back up.
Lingfield tries to keep control of the position but Ward is staying busy.
Lingfield throwing damaging strikes from the back! Ward could be in trouble here!
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
I really don't envy Ward right now.
Lingfield connects with a big shot to the side of Ward's head.
Ward covers up after that shot from Lingfield.
Ward covers up after that shot from Lingfield.
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but Lingfield has full control of the position and if anything, Ward has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Lingfield working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Jim Lingfield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lingfield looking for the choke but no joy.
Lingfield lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Ward trying to get back to his feet but Lingfield is in full control for now.
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!

Lingfield tightening his grip on Ward, looking for the choke.
Ward trying to get back to his feet but Lingfield is in full control for now.
Maxim Ward has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lingfield looking for the choke from the back.

Lingfield is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Ward has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Lingfield connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Ward to escape the position.
Ward tries to escape the position.
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but Lingfield has full control of the position and if anything, Ward has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Lingfield.
Ward trying to control but not successfully.
Lingfield loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Ward hold on?
Maxim Ward is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lingfield is landing with strikes. Ward can't take much more of this.
Lingfield has Ward flattened out and is raining down punches.

Ward is rocked!
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Lingfield is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Ward with him. Ward is trying to defend but Lingfield has an arm under the chin now! Ward grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jim Lingfield!
A very excited looking Jim Lingfield rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.