PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jayson Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Okinawan kobudo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ward
vs
kobudo

178 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 Hilo, Jayson Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Okinawan kobudo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward looks to land a left hand but kobudo moved out of range nicely.
Ward throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ward will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ward pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ward throws a body punch but kobudo moves out of range.

Ward has kobudo up against the cage in a clinch.
Ward really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Ward pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ward throws the kick towards the body but kobudo avoids it.
Nice sprawl there from kobudo as Ward shoots in.

Ward drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
kobudo is trying to control Ward's posture but Ward avoids it.
Ward trying to control the action but kobudo is working from the bottom.

Ward working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kobudo tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Ward easily slips into full mount!
Ward with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
kobudo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ward. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ward lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ward can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as kobudo is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
kobudo tries to improve his position but instead Ward has taken his back!

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 thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
kobudo tries to roll but Ward sticks to his back.
kobudo trying to control the hands but Ward won't let him.
kobudo is in bad spot here.
I would not like to be kobudo right now.
kobudo trying to control the action but Ward just sinks the hooks in.
Ward biding his time, controlling kobudo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward throwing sloppy strikes.
kobudo controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
kobudo prevents Ward from getting a body triangle.

Ward looking to break kobudo's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. kobudo remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Ward will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Ward controlling well, preventing kobudo from escaping the position.
Ward throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
kobudo prevents Ward from getting a body triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
kobudo wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Good control from Ward.
Ward seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down kobudo for as long as he can get away with.
kobudo wants to control his opponent's hands but Ward gets his hands free.
kobudo is keeping busy.
Ward is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because kobudo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ward is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Ward.
kobudo is trapped and Ward is scoring with shots to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayson Ward dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

kobudo shoots and misses

so Ward counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ward trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but kobudo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward passes kobudo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ward controlling the pace.
Ward is keen to just control but kobudo is a slippery customer.
kobudo is trying to get back to full guard.
kobudo is looking to control Ward's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can kobudo avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward controlling the action here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jayson Ward just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
kobudo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ward.
Ward tries to clinch but kobudo moves out of range.
Ward avoids a punch combination nicely.
kobudo doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Ward counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
kobudo keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.
Ward stays in close to kobudo's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ward stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nice takedown defense from kobudo. No joy for Ward on that attempt.
kobudo closes the distance but Ward moves to the side
and Ward counters with a series of strikes. kobudo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ward tries to clinch there but kobudo circles away.
Ward will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
kobudo clinches but Ward breaks the clinch

and Ward counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
kobudo is looking to reverse the position.

Ward is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. kobudo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kobudo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Ward is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, kobudo has escaped the position, nice work there.

Ward tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ward has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
kobudo is trying to control Ward's posture but Ward avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ward decides to take the fight back to the feet.
kobudo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ward counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ward.
kobudo has had enough of the clinch but Ward keeps him there for the moment.
kobudo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ward has kobudo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. kobudo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jayson Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ward gets control of kobudo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ward will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
kobudo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayson Ward dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

kobudo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ward counters with a single leg into guard. kobudo didn't expect that.
Ward wants to control from the top but kobudo keeps moving.
kobudo is trying to keep Ward in close.
Ward trying to control but kobudo is working from the bottom.

Ward drops back looking for a leg! kobudo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and kobudo manages to kick Ward off! Ward jumps back into kobudo's guard.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. kobudo is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward preventing the sweep.
Ward wants to stand but kobudo is controlling his posture from full guard.
kobudo is trying to control the position but Ward postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
kobudo shoots in for a takedown but Ward shows good takedown defense.
No luck for kobudo with that takedown attempt.
Ward stuffs the takedown.
Jayson Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Okinawan kobudo.
kobudo throws a combination. Ward tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ward looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Ward looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
kobudo trying to hold on to Ward's head to control him but Ward postures up.
kobudo wants to get back to his feet.
kobudo is not content to let Ward control the position.
kobudo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ward is keen to just control but kobudo is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is thwarting kobudo's attempts to control the position.
kobudo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ward scores with a couple of nice shots.
kobudo wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
kobudo throws a head kick but Ward moves out of range.
kobudo with a poor takedown
and Ward counters with a one-two to the body.
kobudo misses with a head kick.
kobudo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ward is fending him off so far but kobudo persists. Nope, Ward circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from kobudo.
Ward falls off balance throwing a combination
and kobudo counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
kobudo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ward.
kobudo shoots in looking for a takedown. Ward tries to sprawl out of it but kobudo 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.

Ward feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
kobudo pulls Ward in to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ward's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
kobudo looking to control.
Ward wants to control from the top but kobudo keeps moving.
Jayson Ward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jayson Ward showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ward has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jayson Ward!