PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jayson Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jayson Ward has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ward
vs
Rodriguez

170 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jayson Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martin Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Rodriguez slams his shin into Ward's torso.
Rodriguez dodges the punch combination from Ward.
Ward tries for a takedown but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rodriguez has his takedown stuffed
and Ward counters with a series of strikes. Rodriguez will be more careful next time no doubt.
A combination from Ward does no damage.
Ward misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rodriguez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward counters with a series of strikes. Rodriguez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a good low kick that Rodriguez was not able to check.
Jayson Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Rodriguez.
Rodriguez slips a jab and a cross from Ward.
Rodriguez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez fails with the takedown
and Ward counters with a nice body kick.
A combination from Ward does no damage.
Rodriguez with a poor takedown

and Ward counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ward wants to pass to mount but Rodriguez is defending the position.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Ward has control of the leg.
Rodriguez trying to hold on to Ward's head to control him but Ward postures up.
Ward seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Ward decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Ward.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ward counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rodriguez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ward counters with a good, hard body kick but Rodriguez shrugs it off.

Ward shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Ward working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Ward is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Rodriguez looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ward counters with a shoot takedown. Rodriguez fights it but they end up in guard.
Ward tries to stand but Rodriguez is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Ward drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rodriguez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rodriguez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rodriguez!

Rodriguez decides to stand back up. Rodriguez steps back and let's Ward get back to his feet.
Ward throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Ward clinches.
Rodriguez looking for a takedown.

Rodriguez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Ward is trying to keep an underhook but Rodriguez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez is looking to stall here but Ward recovers full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rodriguez stands up from Ward's guard - Rodriguez perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Ward.
Rodriguez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ward counters with a body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Ward as Rodriguez shoots in.
Rodriguez has his takedown stuffed

and Ward counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ward is pressed up against the cage. Rodriguez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ward down to the mat. Ward avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rodriguez.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodriguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayson Ward dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rodriguez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Ward has closed the distance and engaged Rodriguez in a clinch.
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Ward controls his hands.
Rodriguez prevents Ward from breaking the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to score a body lock takedown but Ward shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Rodriguez has Ward pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rodriguez pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ward tumbling to the mat - Rodriguez dives into Ward's guard.
Ward wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rodriguez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ward is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ward has escaped and now he's on top!
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodriguez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ward is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ward pushing down on Rodriguez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rodriguez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward is pushing down on Rodriguez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rodriguez is fighting to maintain full guard but Ward has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ward looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.
It looks like Ward is going to stand back up.
Rodriguez flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Rodriguez is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Ward has latched onto it... Big trouble! Ward pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Rodriguez is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Ward!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jayson Ward!