PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Sebastien Veron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sebastien Veron
vs
Ward

186 cm
21
211 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Sebastien Veron!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Ward!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veron throws out a powerful jab.
Veron shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ward pinned against the cage. Ward gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jab from Veron.
Veron lands a body shot.
Veron on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ward. Ward obviously looking to wear him down.
Veron misses with a body shot
and Ward counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ward fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Veron manages to avoid it.
Ward pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Veron fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ward takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ward.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Veron connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ward displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Veron throws out the jab.
Veron looks to score with a jab to the body but Ward is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veron lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Veron misses with a lunging right hand
and Ward counters with a slapping leg kick.
Veron misses with a hook. Ward ducked under it nicely.
Veron lands with an overhand left.
A good leg kick by Ward.
Ward swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A head kick from Ward lands but Veron takes it in his stride.

It looks like Juan Sebastien Veron has been cut.
Ward lands a leg kick that knocks Veron off balance momentarily.
Ward lands with a cross.
Juan Sebastien Veron seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed right hand from Ward misses the target.
Veron works Ward's body with a nice hook.
Veron takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ward throws a looping overhand right but Veron ducks down to avoid it.
Veron staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veron connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Veron fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Sebastien Veron. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward misses with a low kick.
Ward tries a head kick but it misses.
Ward does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ward connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ward throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Veron sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ward throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ward connects with a right hand. Veron shakes it off.
Ward scoring well with a low kick there.
Veron misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ward.
Veron is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
An inside leg kick from Ward misses.
Veron blocks a low kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward avoids the body shot from Veron.
Veron scores with a jab to the body.
Ward staying out of range there.
Ward looks to throw the jab but Veron is out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nice body punch from Veron.
Veron lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ward is looking to break free of the clinch but Veron has double underhooks.
Veron softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ward wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Veron has him pressed against the cage.
Veron lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veron can't get the takedown.
Veron stalling the fight.
Veron is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ward gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short uppercut from Veron.
Veron scores with a hook to the body.
Veron lands with a light punch inside.
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 wants to break free but Veron has control.
Veron lands a right hand.
Veron has Ward pressed against the cage, preventing Ward from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Veron lands a shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Juan Sebastien Veron will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Juan Sebastien Veron's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters circle momentarily. Veron darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Veron lands with an overhand left.
Ward throws a leg kick which misses Veron's front leg but catches the back leg as Veron tries to avoid it.
That kick from Ward tenderised Veron's leg. Veron is trying to keep his angry face on.
Veron takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Veron throws a hook but Ward blocks it.
Nice shot by Veron.
Ward connects with a solid leg kick.
Ward gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Veron ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
Veron checks a leg kick.
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 will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Veron scores with a hook to the body. Ward takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ward jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Veron closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ward circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veron has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Veron there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ward misses with an uppercut. Veron saw that one coming.
Good leg kick by Ward there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ward will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Veron throws out a loose jab but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.
Veron scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ward doesn't seem bothered though.
A good leg kick by Ward.
Veron bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ward's head.
Mr Ward seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Veron ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ward throws a lazy right hand but Veron sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Veron tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.
Ward digs a good body shot into Veron's ribs.

Veron looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Veron is looking for a kimura here.
Veron wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.
Veron works his way into side control.
Veron is looking to take a break and control but Ward is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is looking to get back to his feet here but Veron is keeping cool and he's managed to take Ward's back.
Ward grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Veron cracks Ward with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Ward from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Veron controlling from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veron is looking to control Ward but Ward is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Veron has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Ward's body.
Ward avoids the strikes from Veron.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Veron controlling from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Sebastien Veron dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Juan Sebastien Veron's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Veron connects with a right hand. Ward shakes it off.
Veron checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Veron keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ward rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Veron counters with a stiff right hand.
No joy there for Ward, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ward throws a leg kick but Veron moved away.
Veron misses with a straight left.
Ward tries to land a leg kick but Veron saw it coming and moves away.
Veron avoids the head kick by Ward.
Ward throws a body kick that misses.
Veron throws an overhand right that lands on Ward's shoulder, as Ward tries to avoid the shot.
Ward takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ward enables Veron to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ward manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veron controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ward is looking to stand up but Veron isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veron passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Veron moves into full mount!
Veron misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veron throws some wild stikes that Ward manages to avoid easily.
Ward tries to buck Veron off but he can't manage it.
Veron content just to control the position here.
Veron misses with a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veron landing punches.
Veron throwing strikes but Ward uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Veron controlling the pace.
Mr Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Veron trying to control from half guard but Ward is working away.
Veron not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juan Sebastien Veron is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

We're going to have a standup here because Juan Sebastien Veron wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ward takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ward gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Veron shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Veron blocks a jab.
Ward connects with a leg kick. Veron looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Veron checks a leg kick nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Sebastien Veron showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Veron, 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Sebastien Veron!
An out of breath and clearly excited Juan Sebastien Veron thanked 5th Round Clothing for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).