PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Action Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gavin Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Jackson
vs
Ward

195 cm
22
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Action Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gavin Ward!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Skip Squint and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jackson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice shot by Ward.
Ward scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Jackson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Jackson uses his free foot to push down on Ward's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ward.

Jackson looking to secure an arm triangle but Ward defends it well.

Jackson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ward is surviving well by controlling Jackson's body position as best he can.
Jackson is breathing heavily.

Jackson has control of Ward's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ward regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Jackson goes for an armbar but Ward turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ward.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ward controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ward wanted to stand there but Jackson had control of the position.

That's two 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.

Ward stands and steps away. Jackson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ward misses with a wild combination.
Ward scoring well with a low kick there.
A right-left combo lands from Ward.
Ward misses with a few strikes there.
Ward fails to land with a series of punches.
Ward throws a one two combo.
Jackson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gavin Ward is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ward lands with an overhand left.
Ward stuffs the takedown.
Ward lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward fails to land with a series of punches.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Ward tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson 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.

Jackson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ward!

Jackson working for a guillotine from mount but Ward is in no mood to give up.

Jackson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ward is on top in guard.

Jackson looking for a guillotine here but Ward defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward tries to stand but Jackson is controlling from the bottom.

Jackson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Jackson looking for a guillotine here but Ward defends easily.
Ward must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Ward dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Ward rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jackson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A lazy left from Ward finds it's target.
Ward throws a series of punches but Jackson avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Ward.
Ward throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ward misses with a wild combination.
Action Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ward throws a series of punches but Jackson avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson shoots in for a double leg but Ward sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jackson slips a jab and a cross from Ward.
Ward is breathing heavily.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.
Ward really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jackson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jackson advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward prevents Jackson from improving position.

Jackson swings around for an armbar but Ward sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jackson's guard.

Jackson has an active guard here but Ward has managed to pass into half guard.
Jackson is pressing down on Ward's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jackson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jackson is looking to advance position but Ward won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson works his way into side control.

Jackson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jackson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Action Jackson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ward has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ward tries to buck Jackson off but Jackson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to advance to mount but Ward denies him.

Jackson swings around for an armbar but Ward sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jackson's guard.

Ward decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Jackson, up you get!
Jackson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ward circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Action Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ward as he avoids it easily.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jackson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Jackson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ward pushes Jackson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Jackson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ward is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

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

Jackson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ward has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Jackson but great work by Ward.

Ward stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Action Jackson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ward lands with a nice combination. Jackson backs away looking to recover.
Ward misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ward, right into the meat.
Jackson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ward throws a combination. Jackson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ward looks to land a combination but Jackson avoids it well.
Ward rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jackson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gavin Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ward.
A nice combination there by Ward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ward stalks Jackson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jackson's face. Jackson staggers backwards, shaken.
Ward stalks Jackson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jackson's face. Jackson staggers backwards, shaken.
Ward cracks the inside of Jackson's front leg.
Gavin Ward seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward misses with a two punch combination.
Jackson fails with the takedown.
Jackson closes the distance and clinches up with Ward, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes Ward against the cage but Ward circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Action Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward throws a right and a left that Jackson avoids nicely.
Ward throws a one two combo.
Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ward misses with a wild combination.
Ward misses with a series of wild punches.
Ward rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jackson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Jackson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ward's guard.
Jackson stopping the sweep attempt from Ward.

Jackson has gone for a leg lock! Ward slips out almost immediately though and dives into Jackson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is looking for a triangle but Ward pushes his legs off easily.

Jackson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Jackson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ward is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Jackson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ward's back instead.
Ward biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is looking for the choke from the back position but Ward is controlling his hands well.

Jackson is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Jackson controlling well, preventing Ward from escaping the position.
Ward controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Jackson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Jackson looking for the choke but no joy.

Jackson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ward knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ward for a finish.

Jackson working for the choke.

Jackson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gavin Ward.
I think Ward has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

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