PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yeyo Molero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yeyo Molero has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Molero
vs
Ward

180 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yeyo Molero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Andre Ward!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Molero.
Ward shoots in looking for a takedown but Molero manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ward's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ward.
A head kick by Ward misses

and Molero counters with a takedown into side control.
Ward keeps Molero under control for a moment.
Molero wants to control but Ward is keeping him busy.
Molero taking a breather here.

Molero goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ward rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Molero's guard! Nice work there by Ward!
Molero pulls Ward in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Yeyo Molero.
Molero looks for a takedown but Ward sprawls well.
Molero slaps away a takedown attempt from Ward, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yeyo Molero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Ward.

Molero clinches with his opponent.
Ward fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward fails to pull guard.
Molero jumps guard but Ward stands there with Molero around his waist. Molero gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ward wants to break the clinch but can't.

Molero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ward misses with a head kick.
Ward looks gassed!
Molero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ward throws a head kick that misses

and Molero counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ward won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Molero wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ward, who protects the arm well.
The referee asks Molero politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Molero prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Molero advances to mount.
Molero looking to control but Ward is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Molero content just to control the position here.
Molero scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ward?
Ward is squirming around, avoiding Molero's attempts to control the action.
Molero controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Molero. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Molero lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Molero takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Molero landing strikes, looking to finish!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward is squirming around, avoiding Molero's attempts to control the action.
Ward is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yeyo Molero dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Molero tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.
Ward keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Molero.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward digs a good hook to Molero's body.
Molero fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yeyo Molero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ward dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Andre Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molero fails with a takedown attempt.

Molero tries to sprawl but Ward drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ward looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Molero makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ward leaves Molero with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ward is trying hard to land a takedown here. Molero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward shoots in looking for a takedown. Molero tries to sprawl out of it but Ward keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Molero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ward throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Molero throws a right and a left that both miss.

Molero gets the takedown into side control.
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!

Molero tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Molero has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Yeyo Molero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Molero tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Molero has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is looking for a sweep.

Molero tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Molero has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ward can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward prevents Molero from improving position.
Molero advances to mount.
Ward is desperately trying to improve his position but Molero has a good base and remains in mount.
Molero controlling from mount.

Molero is working for a guillotine from mount but Ward frees his head quite easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Molero is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ward can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yeyo Molero dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ward.

Molero closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Molero lands in his opponent's guard.
Ward looking to control.
Molero trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Molero wants to pass the guard but Ward is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Molero stands and steps away. Ward gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ward connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Molero momentarily.
Molero is looking to clinch but Ward is avoiding it.
Molero shoots in but Ward avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Molero avoids a kick to the body.
Molero tries to clinch but Ward moves out of range.
Molero shoots in looking for a takedown but Ward manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Molero's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Ward closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Molero did well to prevent Ward getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Molero pushes Ward off looking to stand but Ward dives back in and keeps control.

Ward is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Molero is pressing down on Ward's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Molero is wriggling around but Ward manages to pass to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward slips a nice elbow through Molero's hands, connecting with Molero's forehead.
Ward prevents Molero from improving his position.
Molero wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Molero tries to roll over but Ward keeps him under control.
Ward prevents Molero from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ward thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Molero is defending well.
Molero is looking for a sweep. Ward is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ward is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ward fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yeyo Molero.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Molero, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yeyo Molero!