PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Himbo Bobaluss (ranked 5411 p4p, 5810 weight class) and DeAndre Ward (ranked 299 p4p, 305 weight class). DeAndre Ward struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 137.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Himbo Bobaluss could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to DeAndre Ward's chin.

Bobaluss
vs
Ward

155 cm
25
130
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
24
145
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Himbo Bobaluss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, DeAndre Ward!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bobaluss shoots in and drives through. Ward sprawls well.

Bobaluss gets the takedown into side control.
Check out the look on Bobaluss's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Bobaluss has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ward is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward is trying to work for a sweep but Bobaluss has mounted him!
Bobaluss controlling the position easily from mount.
Bobaluss could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ward is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bobaluss controlling the position easily from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bobaluss in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Bobaluss pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bobaluss lands a big elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ward tries to reverse the position but Bobaluss maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bobaluss controlling from the full mount.
Bobaluss lands with some strikes.
Bobaluss looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ward is trying desperately to improve position.
Bobaluss tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ward looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bobaluss is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ward can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ward can't escape the position.
Bobaluss content just to control the position here.
Ward tries to hold on but Bobaluss postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bobaluss lands a heavy elbow.
Bobaluss looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ward is trying desperately to improve position.
Bobaluss lands a heavy elbow.
Ward is working to get back to half guard.
Bobaluss controlling the pace for now.
Bobaluss landing punches.
Bobaluss controlling his opponent.
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!
Bobaluss's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bobaluss lands a heavy elbow.
Bobaluss controlling from the full mount.
Bobaluss cracks Ward with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ward working to try and regain half guard.
Bobaluss lands a couple of good shots and Ward has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Bobaluss gets his hands free as Ward looks to control.
Ward is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward turns into Bobaluss and is now in his guard.
Ward looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ward would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bobaluss tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ward throws a strike but Bobaluss rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bobaluss might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bobaluss looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Ward is looking for a triangle but Bobaluss pushes his legs off easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bobaluss darts in trying to clinch
and Ward counters with a slapping leg kick.
Bobaluss fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Himbo Bobaluss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bobaluss fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ward throws out a counter right but Bobaluss avoids it with no problem.
Bobaluss fails to land the takedown.
Ward follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Himbo Bobaluss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bobaluss feints and as Ward raises his hands in defense, Bobaluss changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Ward has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bobaluss can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward is looking for a triangle here but Bobaluss uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Bobaluss wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ward, who protects the arm well.
Bobaluss wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.
Bobaluss controlling the position from side mount.
Bobaluss advances to full mount.
Bobaluss is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bobaluss with shots to the head and body - Ward looks very uncomfortable down there.
Ward sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bobaluss looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ward is looking for a sweep. Bobaluss is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bobaluss content to control rather than advance.
Ward tries to roll over but Bobaluss keeps him under control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ward can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Bobaluss keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bobaluss is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bobaluss content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ward tries to get to full guard but Bobaluss has control of the leg.
Bobaluss performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ward on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bobaluss tries to pass to full mount but Ward defends it.
Bobaluss working over Ward with some ground and pound. Ward looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bobaluss performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Further stalling from Bobaluss.

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.
Bobaluss looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bobaluss lands strikes from half guard.
Bobaluss is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bobaluss lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bobaluss takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bobaluss working Ward over with strikes.
Ward is staying active underneath Bobaluss, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bobaluss not doing much here.
Ward wants to control but Bobaluss is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Himbo Bobaluss dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bobaluss moves to clinch but Ward breaks away
and Ward counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ward dodges the punch combination from Bobaluss.
Despite the aggression on Ward's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Himbo Bobaluss is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ward drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Bobaluss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward won't allow Bobaluss to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bobaluss pulls Ward in to control the position.
Ward forces his way into half guard.
Ward trying to control from Bobaluss's half guard. Bobaluss has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bobaluss is on top in guard.

Bobaluss scoring with some ground and pound.
Bobaluss scoring with some ground and pound.
Bobaluss looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ward is pulling down on Bobaluss's head. It's preventing any offense from Bobaluss, at least for the moment.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bobaluss passes into half guard.

Ward looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bobaluss is controlling the pace.
Himbo Bobaluss overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bobaluss seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ward for as long as he can get away with.
Bobaluss working over Ward with some ground and pound. Ward looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Bobaluss seems content to control.
Bobaluss is thwarting Ward's attempts to control the position.

Ward looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bobaluss is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Bobaluss is stinking the place up with his stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ward leaves Bobaluss with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Bobaluss looking to score a takedown here. Ward is defending well but Bobaluss drives through and ends up in Ward's guard.
Himbo Bobaluss is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ward is looking for a triangle but Bobaluss pushes his legs off easily.
Ward can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bobaluss controls the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bobaluss is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bobaluss slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
DeAndre Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Himbo Bobaluss showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bobaluss, 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Himbo Bobaluss!