PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gian Volonte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Palmer Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Volonte
vs
Ward

225 cm
23
300 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

215 cm
22
309 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gian Volonte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Palmer Ward!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volonte's corner calls for a 1-2. Volonte obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Volonte looks for the body kick but Ward saw that one coming.
Ward swings for the body but Volonte moves out of range.
Ward avoids the head kick by Volonte.
Ward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No joy there for Volonte, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ward keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ward avoids the head kick by Volonte.
Ward is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Volonte with a nice cross.

Ward has Volonte up against the cage in a clinch.

Ward manages to break the clinch.
Ward looks gassed!
Volonte throws a shot to the body.
Volonte punishes Ward's body with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Volonte lands with a straight right. Ward didn't see that one coming.

It looks like Palmer Ward has been cut.
Volonte misses with a wild body shot.
Volonte pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Volonte tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.
Volonte misses with a few strikes there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ward looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Volonte throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volonte throws a head kick but Ward moves out of range.
Volonte catches Ward with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nice cross by Volonte.
Volonte throws a head kick that misses.
Volonte looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ward takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Volonte throws and low kick but Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Volonte tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd cheers as Volonte lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ward doesn't seem phased though.
Palmer Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Volonte just misses with a punch to the body.
Volonte wants to clinch.
Volonte pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ward looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ward throws a solid leg kick but Volonte takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ward.
Volonte 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward tries to clinch but Volonte moves out of range.
Ward wants to clinch.
Ward tries to clinch up but Volonte circles away and keeps his distance.
Volonte throws a right hand that Ward ducks under and follows up with a left that Ward also avoids with ease.
Ward tries to clinch there but Volonte circles away.
Volonte moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Volonte moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ward fails with an attempt to clinch.
Volonte lands a two punch combo.
Volonte misses with a looping left.
Ward misses with a double jab
and Volonte cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ward is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Volonte.
Volonte misses with a leg kick.
Ward takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volonte looks for the body kick but Ward saw that one coming.
Ward takes one to the side of the head.
Ward with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Volonte to score with a decent uppercut.
Ward tries to clinch up but Volonte circles away and keeps his distance.
Volonte with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Volonte is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Volonte scores with a jab to the head.
Volonte slips a jab and a cross from Ward.
Volonte throws a half hearted mid kick.
Volonte lands a nice shot that snaps Ward's head back.

Ward forces Volonte back against the cage and clinches.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Volonte avoids a punch combination nicely.
Volonte throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Volonte misses with a hook. Ward ducked under it nicely.
Volonte swinging wildly here.
Ward fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Volonte.
A shot to the body from Ward misses
and Volonte counters with a one-two to the body.
Volonte misses with a series of wild punches.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Volonte is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Volonte managing to block the knees to the body from Ward.

Ward breaks from the clinch.
Volonte dodges the punch combination from Ward.
Volonte pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Volonte lands a nice shot that snaps Ward's head back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward moves in looking to clinch but Volonte pushes him off.
Volonte is working the combinations to good effect here.

Ward pushes Volonte up against the cage in a clinch.

Ward breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Volonte tries to bum rush Ward with a series of wild strikes but Ward uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ward fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Volonte, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gian Volonte dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Palmer Ward's cut.
That's time! Volonte's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Volonte throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward looks to clinch
and Volonte counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Volonte does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Volonte tries to keep at a distance but Ward has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Volonte's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ward prevents Volonte from breaking the clinch.
Volonte wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ward has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Ward keeps control of Volonte as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ward keeps control of Volonte as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Ward is looking to clinch.
Ward takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ward tries to clinch but Volonte is having none of it.
Volonte misses with a low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ward attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Volonte listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Some bone on bone action there as Ward checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Volonte throws a right and a left that Ward avoids nicely.
Volonte circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward throws a low kick but Volonte avoids it.
Volonte tries a head kick but it misses.
Volonte misses with a head kick.
Ward does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ward on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Volonte tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Volonte throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ward sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ward swinging wildly here.
Volonte tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ward tries to clinch up.
Volonte swats away the attempt to clinch by Ward.
Volonte misses with a head kick.

Ward clinches up against the cage.
Volonte tries to break free but Ward pushes him back against the cage.
Ward tries a knee to the head but Volonte blocks it.
Ward keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Volonte's efforts to push away.

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 breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ward ducks right into an uppercut from Volonte.
Volonte throws a nice looking combination but Ward bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ward is looking to clinch.
Volonte swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ward finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Volonte throws a looping overhand right but Ward ducks down to avoid it.

Ward rushes Volonte and presses him up against the cage.

Ward manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ward looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gian Volonte is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab by Volonte.
Ward slips under a jab.
Ward fails in his attempt to clinch.
Volonte throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Volonte stuns Ward with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ward ducks right into an uppercut from Volonte.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
No joy there for Volonte, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Ward has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ward breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Volonte throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Volonte moves in looking to clinch but Ward pushes him off.
Ward tries to clinch up but Volonte circles away and keeps his distance.
Ward fails with an attempt to clinch.
Volonte bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ward's head.
Volonte throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ward.
Gian Volonte is winning the standup battle so far.
Volonte misses with a low kick.
Ward is looking to clinch.
Volonte waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ward.

Ward takes the fight into the clinch.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Volonte scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Volonte falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ward counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward manages to break the clinch.
Ward on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Volonte swats away the attempt to clinch by Ward.
Ward rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Volonte moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ward fails in his attempt to clinch.
Volonte throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ward wants to clinch up but Volonte keeps it at a distance.
A cross from Volonte lands.
Volonte lands a slapping body shot.
Good exchange - Volonte coming out on top.

Ward moves into the clinch successfully.
Volonte on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Volonte tries to break the clinch but Ward is controlling the position.
Ward misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Volonte.
Volonte wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Volonte has had enough of the clinch but Ward keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gian Volonte will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Palmer Ward's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Volonte throws a right hand that Ward ducks under and follows up with a left that Ward also avoids with ease.
Ward misses with a body kick.
Volonte scores with a nice strike.
Volonte misses with a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Volonte.

Ward closes the distance and clinches.
Volonte wants to get back to striking at distance but Ward won't allow it.
Ward prevents Volonte from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Volonte's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Ward manages to break the clinch.
Volonte throws a big shot that misses.
Ward misses with a low kick as Volonte jumps back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Volonte misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volonte lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Volonte paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ward clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volonte managing to block the knees to the body from Ward.
Volonte is trying to force a seperation but Ward has the dominant position.
Volonte can't break the clinch.
Volonte blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Volonte tries to circle away but Ward has him pinned against the cage.
Volonte working hard to break the clinch.
Ward tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Volonte is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Volonte wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Volonte takes a knee to the side of the body.

Ward breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Volonte looks to land a combination but Ward avoids it well.
Ward misses with a double jab
and Volonte counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Volonte throws a looping overhand right but Ward ducks down to avoid it.

Ward moves into the clinch.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Ward steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Volonte.
Volonte misses with an attempted mid kick.
Volonte uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ward wants to clinch.
Volonte looks to score with a jab to the body but Ward is just out of range.

Ward clinches with his opponent.

Ward manages to break the clinch.
Volonte pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Volonte paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ward throws a sloppy head kick
and Volonte counters with a right hand to the body.

Ward clinches up against the cage.
Volonte tries to circle away but Ward has him pinned against the cage.

Ward escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ward throws a front kick aimed at Volonte's knee but Volonte avoids it well.
Volonte looks to land a left hand but Ward moved out of range nicely.
Ward avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ward looks to clinch
and Volonte counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ward throws a shot to the body.
Volonte with a nice cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up but Volonte swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ward lands a nice hook to Volonte's body. Volonte takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Volonte misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ward throws a right and a left that Volonte avoids nicely.
Volonte fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ward wants to clinch.
Ward thows a body shot but no joy.
Some wild striking there from Volonte.

Ward gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Volonte's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Volonte managing to block the knees to the body from Ward.
Volonte wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Ward working Volonte over with knees to the body.
Ward trying to land knees to the body.

Ward manages to break the clinch.

That's four 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 lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Volonte misses with a low kick.
Gian Volonte is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ward moves into the clinch.

Ward breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up but Volonte swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ward is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Volonte cracks Ward with a good jab.
Volonte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ward moves in looking to clinch but Volonte pushes him off.
Volonte digs a good body shot into Ward's ribs.
Palmer Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Volonte swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volonte lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ward is looking to score with low kicks.

Ward instigates a clinch.
Ward missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Palmer Ward comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Volonte 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gian Volonte!