PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jemichael Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Shklyarevskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Shklyarevskiy struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.7lbs 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. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ward
vs
Shklyarevskiy

165 cm
25
141 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jemichael Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivan Shklyarevskiy!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shklyarevskiy throws the left hand but Ward avoids the punch easily.

Ward drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ward is looking to work some ground and pound but Shklyarevskiy has wrist control.
Ward slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ward tries to score with some ground and pound. Shklyarevskiy controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Ward is trying to get an arm triangle but Shklyarevskiy is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shklyarevskiy defending against the ground and pound.

Ward looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward working away.
Shklyarevskiy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ward working away.

Ward wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shklyarevskiy, who protects the arm well.
Ward cracks Shklyarevskiy with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Shklyarevskiy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ward tries to score with some ground and pound. Shklyarevskiy controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ward working the ground and pound but Shklyarevskiy is defending the strikes.
An elbow from Ward crashes against the mat.

Ward wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shklyarevskiy, who protects the arm well.
Shklyarevskiy struggling a bit here.

Ward tries for a kimura but Shklyarevskiy is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shklyarevskiy has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ward is breathing heavily.

Ward is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shklyarevskiy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Ward tries for a kimura but Shklyarevskiy is defending well.

Ward wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shklyarevskiy, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shklyarevskiy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ward wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shklyarevskiy can't do much from the bottom here.
Shklyarevskiy is looking to regain half guard here but Ward keeps moving and retains side control.

Ward tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ward has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Ward thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jemichael Ward dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ward shoots in looking for a takedown. Shklyarevskiy tries to sprawl out of it but Ward keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shklyarevskiy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ward is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shklyarevskiy swats away the attempt to clinch by Ward.

Ward is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shklyarevskiy's half guard.
Shklyarevskiy tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ward thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Ward seems to be working for a kimura but Shklyarevskiy defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shklyarevskiy wants to control but Ward is keeping busy.
Jemichael Ward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ward is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shklyarevskiy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ward.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ward in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Shklyarevskiy tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Ward!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jemichael Ward!