PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mr Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Corey Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Corey Jr's choice of entrance music: La La La Girl by Paffendorf. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Ward
vs
Corey Jr

165 cm
19
143 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
36
148 lbs
22 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Soul Supremacy Nutrition (90% laundry)
Beaver Jooce!

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Corey Jr!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Corey Jr connects with a high kick.

Corey Jr scores with a takedown into Ward's guard.

Ward throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Corey Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Corey Jr scoring with some ground and pound.
Corey Jr stands up over Ward, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Ward working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Corey Jr doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Corey Jr manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Corey Jr from controlling successfully.
We've been hearing good reports from Ward's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Ward not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Corey Jr trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.

Ward is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ward looking to hit a scissor sweep but Corey Jr is one step ahead there.
Corey Jr wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

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.

Ward looking for subs off his back but Corey Jr has passed one foot through into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ward is defending against the submission attempts here by Corey Jr.
Ward is trying to get back to full guard.
Corey Jr is keen to just control but Ward is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is looking to control Corey Jr's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ward avoid being mounted?
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ward tries to get to full guard but Corey Jr has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward gets back to full guard.
Corey Jr wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Corey Jr is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Corey Jr scoring with punches to the head and body.
Corey Jr passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Corey Jr advances nicely into full mount.
Ward tries to reverse the position but Corey Jr maintains control.
Corey Jr tries to control but Ward wriggling away.

Corey Jr is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ward has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Corey Jr cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Corey Jr can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ward is looking to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Corey Jr dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ward shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Corey Jr is staying active underneath Ward, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Corey Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Corey Jr is looking to improve his position.

Ward is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Corey Jr has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ward is working away from the top position though.
Corey Jr is looking to get back to full guard here but Ward has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corey Jr tries to improve position but can't.
Corey Jr takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Corey Jr stops Ward from passing to mount.
Corey Jr tries to buck Ward off but Ward is having none of it.

Ward tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Corey Jr tries to buck Ward off but Ward is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corey Jr is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Corey Jr makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Corey Jr.
Ward preventing the sweep.
Corey Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Corey Jr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ward.
Ward trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Corey Jr trying to keep a closed guard but Ward is proving a slippery customer.

Corey Jr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ward is aware though and is defending well.
Ward postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corey Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Corey Jr, not yet.

Corey Jr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ward gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Corey Jr has his foot on Ward's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ward works his way back into a safe position though.
Ward trying to move into half guard but instead Corey Jr has managed to sweep!

Ward is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Corey Jr looking to pass the guard.
Ward lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Corey Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Corey Jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Corey Jr is keeping the position for now.

Corey Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ward doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ward manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Corey Jr looking for a guillotine here but Ward defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Corey Jr looking for a guillotine here but Ward defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Ward dominated that second round.
That's time! Ward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ward dives in and scores a takedown into Corey Jr's guard.

Corey Jr working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ward has passed into half guard!
Corey Jr on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Corey Jr is looking for a sweep. Ward is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ward is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ward looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mr Ward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Corey Jr actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ward not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Corey Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ward not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Ward is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Corey Jr has managed to free his arm - good work.
Corey Jr gets back to full guard.
Our spies down at at Bruize Brothers inform us that Corey Jr has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Ward throws a strike but Corey Jr rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Corey Jr is sitting in close to Ward's body. Ward has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Corey Jr is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Corey Jr is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Ward.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Mr Ward!