|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Ward (ranked 1780 p4p, 22706 weight class) and Roman Francis (ranked 219 p4p, 470 weight class). Ward kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is ERA - Ameno. Roman Francis struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. 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.
 |
|
 |
| 185 cm
39
172
24 - 15 - 1 |
|
182 cm
31
188
6 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick |
|
Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
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 24 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maxim Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roman Francis!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francis shoots in for a double leg but Ward sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Francis gets caught flat footed, as Ward shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ward landing with the ground and pound.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Francis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Francis is keeping the position for now.
Ward postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Ward working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ward controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ward jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ward is stalling in the full guard.
Ward has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ward trying to control but Francis is working from the bottom.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Francis.
Francis shoots in but Ward avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Maxim Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Francis.
Francis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ward tries to avoid it but Francis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ward to the ground. Ward escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Francis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ward circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Ward on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ward throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Francis shoots in looking for a takedown. Ward tries to sprawl out of it but Francis 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.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward throws a sloppy head kick and Francis moves out of range easily.
Francis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Francis shoots in for a takedown but Ward shows good takedown defense.
Francis looks winded!
Francis takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ward's corner calls for a 1-2. Ward obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Francis moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ward misses with a jab, cross combination.
Francis shoots for a takedown but Ward saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ward throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Francis stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Francis shoots in for a takedown but Ward shows good takedown defense.
Ward gets the takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Ward seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Francis for as long as he can get away with.
Ward has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Francis!
Ward controlling his opponent.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward breaks from Francis's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ward controlling the position easily from mount.
Ward misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Francis is in a horrible position here. Ward smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ward working Francis over with strikes here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis is in a horrible position here. Ward smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ward wants to control the pace but Francis is squirming around nicely.
Ward landing punches.
Ward wants to control the pace but Francis is squirming around nicely.
Ward thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Francis felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Francis is desperately trying to improve his position but Ward has a good base and remains in mount.
Francis is bucking up trying to escape but Ward cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ward content just to control the position here.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Ward.
Francis is in a horrible position here. Ward smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
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.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ward throwing strikes here but Francis is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ward sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ward trying to control but Francis is having none of it.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
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 tries to control but Francis wriggling away.
Ward misses with a head shot.
Ward lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ward looking to control and managing it successfully.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ward landing punches.
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 Francis's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The referee warns Francis that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ward content just to control the position here.
Ward has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ward can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Francis is looking to escape.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Ward moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Francis has worked his arm free - good work by Francis!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward working the ground and pound but Francis is defending the strikes.
Ward is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Francis looks calm but he's in trouble here. Ward gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Francis is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Ward lets go of the hold and Francis can pop his arm back in it's socket.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
27% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
