PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harry Alonzo Longabaugh (ranked 1036 p4p, 622 weight class) and Maxim Ward (ranked 145 p4p, 85 weight class). Ward has chosen ERA - Ameno as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Longabaugh
vs
Ward

180 cm
26
175
12 - 7 - 0

185 cm
33
172
19 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
NARCOS

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harry Alonzo Longabaugh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Maxim Ward!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Damien Edna and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Longabaugh misses with a looping right.

Longabaugh closes the distance and clinches.
Ward doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Longabaugh prevents a body shot from Ward.
Ward working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ward tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Longabaugh smiles and moves away.
A punch combination from Ward misses.
Longabaugh is looking to clinch.
Ward connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Longabaugh momentarily.
Longabaugh looks to land a right hand but Ward moved out of range.
Ward fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Ward drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Longabaugh's coaches at New York Public Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ward working away.
Longabaugh is trying to improve his position.
Ward working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longabaugh is looking to regain half guard here but Ward keeps moving and retains side control.
Longabaugh is working hard here to advance position.
You can see the frustration on Longabaugh's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ward wants to control but Longabaugh is keeping him busy.
Ward has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Longabaugh!
Ward tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Longabaugh is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longabaugh holds on for dear life.
Longabaugh is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ward takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ward's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longabaugh is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ward can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Longabaugh is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward looking to control and managing it successfully.
Longabaugh wants to try and get back to his feet.
Ward controlling the position easily from mount.

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.
Longabaugh holds on to Ward around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Longabaugh is desperately trying to improve his position but Ward has a good base and remains in mount.
Ward wants to control the pace but Longabaugh is squirming around nicely.
Longabaugh is looking to improve his position but Ward isn't that keen on the idea.
Longabaugh regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward is taking a breather. Longabaugh says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Longabaugh won't allow Ward to pass to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Ward dominated that round.
That's time! Longabaugh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ward wants to land a leg kick but Longabaugh is out of range.
Longabaugh throws the left hand but Ward avoids the punch easily.
Longabaugh misses the shot to the body.
Longabaugh cracks Ward with a right hand to the side of the head.
Longabaugh tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ward was well out of range. Poor timing from Longabaugh.
Ward waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Longabaugh.
Longabaugh misses the shot to the body.
Ward fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A clash of legs there as Longabaugh blocks the low kick.
A big right from Ward misses.
Ward on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ward closes the distance and clinches.
Longabaugh lands a right hand.
Longabaugh struggles to land a body shot inside as Ward controls his hands.
Longabaugh lands with a short shot to the head.
Ward lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Longabaugh swings wildly with an uppercut but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Longabaugh lands a left hand.
Ward is trying to pull guard but Longabaugh turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ward.
Ward tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Longabaugh - that landed with a thud.
Longabaugh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Longabaugh has a couple of punches blocked by Ward.
Ward fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Harry Alonzo Longabaugh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Ward.
Longabaugh struggles to land a body shot inside as Ward controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Longabaugh fails to land.
A nice right hand lands inside from Longabaugh.
Longabaugh lands with a short shot to the head.
Longabaugh tries a body shot but Ward blocks it.
Ward tries for a takedown but Longabaugh manages to get underhooks.
Ward blocking some punches.
Ward fails to pull guard.
A head punch on the inside from Longabaugh fails to land.
Ward is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Longabaugh to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward blocks a body shot from Longabaugh.
Ward is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Longabaugh gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Longabaugh fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ward prevents a body shot from Longabaugh.
Ward misses with a punch to the body.
A hook to the body from Ward.
Longabaugh tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ward's elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ward tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Longabaugh smiles and moves away.
Ward misses the shot to the body.
Maxim Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Longabaugh with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ward cracks Longabaugh with an open hand slap.
Harry Alonzo Longabaugh is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Longabaugh connects with a body shot that sends Ward's belly button to the back.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Longabaugh connects with a single shot there.

It looks like Maxim Ward has been cut.
Ward uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Longabaugh.
Ward lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ward misses with a takedown attempt
and Longabaugh counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longabaugh cracks Ward with a right hand to the side of the head.
Longabaugh uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ward.
Ward keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Longabaugh pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ward tries a quick counter leg kick but Longabaugh is wise to it.

Ward shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Longabaugh is looking to escape.
Longabaugh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Longabaugh wants to get back to his feet.
Ward trying to mount his opponent but Longabaugh defends it.
Longabaugh tries to get to full guard but Ward has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longabaugh is looking to control Ward's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Longabaugh avoid being mounted?
Ward with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Longabaugh trying to control but Ward postures up.
Ward trying to control from half guard but Longabaugh is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ward lands with a thumping leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Longabaugh misses the target.
Ward bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Longabaugh stuffs the takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Alonzo Longabaugh dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Maxim Ward's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Ward takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Longabaugh misses with a hook. Ward ducked under it nicely.
Ward slips a jab from Longabaugh.
Longabaugh scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ward connects with a good right hand that stumbles Longabaugh. Longabaugh circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A swing and a miss from Longabaugh.

Ward drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Longabaugh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Longabaugh is keeping the position.
Longabaugh has Ward pulled in close to control his posture.
Longabaugh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ward controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Longabaugh is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longabaugh wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Longabaugh keeping full guard, as Ward tries to pass.
Ward looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ward thuds his right hand into Longabaugh's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Longabaugh connects with a right hand. Ward shakes it off.
Longabaugh lands with a nice body punch.
Longabaugh looks to land a left hand but Ward moved out of range nicely.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward has his takedown stuffed
and Longabaugh counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longabaugh misses with a shot to the body
enabling Ward to counter with a crisp jab.
Longabaugh throws a looping overhand right but Ward ducks down to avoid it.
Longabaugh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ward paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ward is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Longabaugh lands a jab.
Ward throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Longabaugh sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Ward shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ward was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Longabaugh manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Longabaugh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.
Longabaugh seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Longabaugh is looking to advance position but Ward won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longabaugh is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
Longabaugh is trying to control. Ward wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Longabaugh trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Longabaugh continues to stall.
Longabaugh is keen to just control but Ward is a slippery customer.
Ward trying to control from the bottom.
Longabaugh is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Longabaugh displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Longabaugh throws a hook but Ward avoids it easily.
Longabaugh gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ward.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harry Alonzo Longabaugh showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Longabaugh has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harry Alonzo Longabaugh!
An out of breath Harry Alonzo Longabaugh thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.