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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Whitehead (ranked 4408 p4p, 24712 weight class) and DeAndre Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DeAndre Ward told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!
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| 170 cm
18
155
1 - 0 - 0 |
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172 cm
26
151
1 - 3 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily |
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Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Whitehead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, DeAndre Ward!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and James Glass.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitehead misses the body punch
and Ward counters with a head kick that drops Whitehead to the mat! Whitehead scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
Whitehead throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As Whitehead backs off Ward throws a huge counter combo but Whitehead manages to avoid it all.
Whitehead throws a sloppy body shot
and Ward counters with a nice double leg into side control. Whitehead won't be happy with that.
Whitehead is rocked!
Ward tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Oh Whitehead is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ward working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitehead manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ward's best efforts.
Ward is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ward prevents Whitehead from improving his position.
Whitehead holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Whitehead seems to have got his legs back now.
Whitehead avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ward.
Whitehead wants to get back to full guard.
Whitehead is working hard here to advance position.
Ward is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead trying to control here.
Whitehead wants to improve his position but Ward is controlling well.
Ward is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Whitehead tries to get to full guard but Ward has control of the leg.
Whitehead moves into full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Whitehead looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.
Whitehead keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.
Whitehead looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Whitehead on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Whitehead tries to get out of the position.
Whitehead keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.
Whitehead looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.
Ward drops back, looking for a kneebar! Whitehead looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Whitehead looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Whitehead!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead scoring with punches from side control.
Ward tries to improve position but can't.
Whitehead lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Whitehead creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ward tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ward takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Whitehead lands a few punches from side control.
Ward is trying to control Whitehead's posture but Whitehead avoids it.
Ward takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Whitehead lands a nice forearm strike.
Whitehead is chipping away with strikes.
We've been informed that Ward has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Whitehead cracks Ward with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ward takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward taking a bit of punishment here - Whitehead scoring with strikes.
Whitehead working away.
Whitehead connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ward some visible discomfort.
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!
Ward is trying to improve his position.
Whitehead controls the position.
Ward struggling a bit here.
Whitehead working the body and head with strikes.
Whitehead lands a decent elbow from side control.
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Whitehead landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ward manages to get back to half guard.
Whitehead seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Whitehead drops an elbow to the side of Ward's head.
Whitehead slips a nice elbow through Ward's hands, connecting with Ward's forehead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Paul Whitehead dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Whitehead shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ward napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ward is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Paul Whitehead overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Whitehead wants to pass to mount but Ward is defending the position.
Ward looking for submissions off his back.
Ward on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Whitehead.
Whitehead is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
Whitehead drops an elbow to the side of Ward's head.
Ward looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ward looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehead takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ward is trying to stand.
Whitehead stalling.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Whitehead is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ward is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Whitehead working the head and body with strikes.
Whitehead prevents Ward from improving his position.
Whitehead is looking to take a break and control but Ward is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Whitehead connects with a nice short shot to Ward's temple.
Whitehead seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Whitehead working the head and body with strikes.
Ward on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Whitehead looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Whitehead lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead wants to pass to mount but Ward is defending the position.
Ward on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ward is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Whitehead pulls his head out easily.
Ward moves into full guard.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Whitehead from controlling successfully.
Whitehead stands up over Ward, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Whitehead lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Whitehead from controlling successfully.
Ward working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Whitehead doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Whitehead manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Whitehead makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Whitehead makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Whitehead content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Whitehead is working Ward over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Whitehead lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ward looking to control.
Whitehead trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitehead is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ward is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whitehead's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Whitehead lands a couple of digs.
Whitehead avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Whitehead trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead landing some decent shots from guard.
Whitehead stands up over Ward, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Whitehead trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Whitehead lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Whitehead trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Whitehead's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whitehead wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Whitehead connects with a couple of short punches.
Whitehead working some strikes from top position.
Whitehead trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Paul Whitehead dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Whitehead tries for a takedown but Ward circles away easily
and Ward counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ward.
Whitehead keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.
Whitehead looking to control.
Whitehead lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Whitehead wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Whitehead with a nice head shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehead got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ward has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Whitehead has managed to get both his arms back between Ward's legs - danger averted.
Whitehead stands up over Ward, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Whitehead content to stall in guard here.
Whitehead connects with a couple of short punches.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward working for a triangle but Whitehead defends it easily.
Whitehead keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ward's head.
Whitehead with a nice head shot there.
Whitehead got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ward has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Whitehead has managed to get both his arms back between Ward's legs - danger averted.
Whitehead postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Whitehead scoring with punches to the head and body.
Whitehead wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Whitehead distracts Ward with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Whitehead scoring with some ground and pound.
Ward looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward has momentary wrist control but Whitehead slips an elbow through the middle.
Ward manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Whitehead manages to get himself to full guard.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Whitehead seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Whitehead wants to sweep but no luck.
Whitehead bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ward's guard.
Whitehead content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whitehead's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Whitehead tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.
Whitehead stands up over Ward, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Whitehead trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Whitehead is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ward looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Whitehead passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Check out the look on Whitehead's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Whitehead lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ward down.
Ward taking punishment in the form of punches.
Whitehead is putting a hurting on Ward here, landing some big shots from side control.
Whitehead is working Ward over with some ground and pound from side control.
Whitehead working the head and body with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Ward's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Whitehead working the head with strikes.
Ward gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ward looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward taking some punishment here, with Whitehead in his half guard.
Ward trying to control but Whitehead postures up.
Whitehead scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ward is looking for a sweep. Whitehead is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ward is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Whitehead scores with a couple of nice shots.
Whitehead lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ward is trying to get back to full guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Whitehead showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Whitehead, 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Whitehead!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
43% |
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