PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tim Ireland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ireland comes to the cage accompanied by Down By The Water-PJ Harvey. Tim Ireland had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Tim Ireland looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Ireland
vs
Ward

182 cm
19
183 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tim Ireland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Ward!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ward misses with a head kick.
Ward is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ward will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ireland shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ward as he avoids it easily.
Ireland checks a low kick from Ward.
Ward misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ireland tries to land a body kick
and Ward counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ireland closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ward counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ireland slips a jab and a cross from Ward.
Ward tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ireland misses with a takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a big head kick but Ireland shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward connects with a high kick.
Ward throws a nice head kick!
Ireland shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ireland is lucky that one didn't land flush.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Ireland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ireland closes the distance but Ward moves to the side
and Ward counters with a straight right hand.
Ireland blocks a leg kick.
Ireland wants to clinch but Ward slips to the side
and Ward counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ireland is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ward's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Ward duly obliges.
Ward lands a jab to the nose.
James Ward is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ward throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ireland.
A big right from Ireland misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ward moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ireland wants to clinch
and Ward counters with a head kick. That will keep Ireland thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ireland is breathing heavily.
Ireland drops his hands momentarily and Ward takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ward throws a sloppy head kick and Ireland moves out of range easily.
Ward misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ireland tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ward counters with a head kick. That will keep Ireland thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ireland tries to clinch but Ward moves away
and Ward counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ireland shoots and misses
and Ward counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ward throws a series of punches but Ireland moves out of range.
Ireland tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ward connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ward throws a sloppy head kick and Ireland moves out of range easily.
Ward scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ireland on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ward. Ward obviously looking to wear him down.
Ireland misses with a double jab
and Ward counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ward misses with a series of wild punches.
Ireland misses with a takedown
and Ward counters with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward throws a head kick that Ireland semi-blocks.
Ward tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ireland darts in trying to clinch
and Ireland takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ireland clinches but Ward breaks the clinch
and Ward counters with a head kick.
Ireland darts in trying to clinch
and Ward counters with a thumping low kick.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ireland shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward counters with a slapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ward lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ward misses with a low kick as Ireland jumps back.
Ward throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ireland.
Ireland closes the distance but Ward moves to the side
letting Ward counter with a right hand.
Ward works over Ireland's head and body with a nice combination.
Ward buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Ireland might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Ward tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ireland avoids the head kick by Ward.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ireland tries for a takedown but Ward circles away easily
and Ward counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ireland is out of range.
Ward throws a push kick but Ireland slaps the foot to one side.
Ireland tries to clinch
and Ward counters with a big head kick but Ireland shrugs it off.
Ireland has his takedown stuffed
and Ward counters with a two punch combo.
Ireland misses with a takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Ireland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Ireland is rocked!
Ward misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ward misses with a head kick.
Ward lands with a hook. Ireland tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ireland wants to clinch
and Ward counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ward misses with a series of wild punches.
Ireland tries to clinch up
and Ward counters with a left and a right that stings Ireland.
Ward displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ward connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ward lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ireland's sensitive parts.
Ward scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ireland wants to clinch but Ward slips to the side
and Ward counters with a head kick.
A punch combination from Ward misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ireland throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ward counters with a one-two to the body.
Ireland is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ward misses with a head kick.
Ward plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Ireland. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Ireland blocks a head kick by Ward.
Ward fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ireland.
Ward swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ireland blocks a head kick by Ward.
Ireland wants to clinch
and Ward counters with a head kick.
Ireland blocks a head kick by Ward.
Ward fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ireland.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward misses with a double jab.
Ireland fails with the takedown
and Ward counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ireland is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ireland uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ward.
Ireland chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ward can pounce on him.
Ireland takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ward dips to his left and cracks Ireland with an uppercut!
Ireland with a poor takedown
and Ward counters with a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward misses with a few strikes there.
Ward lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ireland circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ireland tries to clinch
and Ward counters with an outside leg kick.
James Ward seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ward scores with a three punch combo!
Tim Ireland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ireland avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ireland closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ward counters with a good low kick that Ireland was not able to check.
Ward misses with a double jab.
Ward misses with a head kick.
Ward tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ireland looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ward throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ireland counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ward!
Ward is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ward is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Ireland trying to control but Ward is having none of it.
Ward is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ireland can't control as he wanted to and Ward manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ireland stops Ward from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ireland tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ward counters with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ireland wants to clinch
and Ward counters with a big head kick but Ireland shrugs it off.
Ward looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ireland shoots and misses
and Ward counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ireland shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward counters with an inside leg kick.
Ward throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ireland doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ward counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Ireland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ward. That's going to slow Ireland down.
An inside leg kick lands from Ward.
Ward tries a head kick but it misses.
Ward misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ireland has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ward scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ward throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward misses with a low kick.
Ireland clinches but Ward breaks the clinch
and Ward counters with a head kick.
Ireland with a poor takedown
and Ward counters with a head kick.
Ireland gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ward counters with a left and a right that stings Ireland.
Ward fails to land with a series of punches.
Ireland with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a nice leg kick.
Ward throws a series of punches but Ireland avoids them all with ease.
Tim Ireland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Ward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ward fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Ward comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ward winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Peck scores the fight 25:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 25:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 25:30

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