PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Jordan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andre Ward has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jordan
vs
Ward

189 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Jordan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andre Ward!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jordan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Jordan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ward throws a sloppy body shot
and Jordan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jordan with a poor takedown
and Ward counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jordan tries for a takedown but Ward circles away easily
and Ward counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jordan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ward scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Michael Jordan has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ward blocks the body kick.
Jordan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ward.
Ward throws an off balance right hand

and Jordan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ward looking for a takedown.
Jordan tries to work over Ward's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Ward manages to pull guard.
Ward manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Jordan is breathing heavily.

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

Ward looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward goes for an armbar but Jordan turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Jordan.

Ward has his foot on Jordan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jordan works his way back into a safe position though.
Jordan won't allow Ward to sweep him here.

Ward throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jordan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ward throws a lazy uppercut

and Jordan counters with a shoot takedown. Ward fights it but they end up in guard.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Jordan from controlling successfully.
Jordan looking to sit in guard and control but Ward gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ward won't allow Jordan to get back to his feet.
Ward advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jordan is controlling Ward's position as best he can from this difficult position.

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

Ward is looking for a kimura but Jordan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ward to get the leverage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ward prevents Jordan from improving his position.

Ward is working for a submission of some sort.

Ward is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ward is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jordan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ward.

Ward looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Ward dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Jordan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ward scores with a jab to the head.
Ward lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jordan fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Jordan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jordan.
Jordan wants to get back to striking at distance but Ward won't allow it.
Ward lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jordan backwards.
Jordan is working for takedown but Ward is calmly controlling the position for now.
A short right from Ward.
Ward drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Jordan breaks from the clinch.
Ward scores with a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jordan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Jordan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ward scores with a shot to the side of Jordan's head.

Jordan is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jordan is looking to control Ward's arms but Ward gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jordan has his back to the ropes.

Jordan is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ward is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Jordan to the mat. Jordan regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Ward drops back looking for a leg! Jordan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jordan manages to kick Ward off! Ward jumps back into Jordan's guard.

Ward postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jordan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ward, into his guard.

Ward throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Jordan escapes and throws Ward's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jordan trying to control the action but Ward is working from the bottom.
Ward is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Jordan's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Jordan is keen to just control but Ward is a slippery customer.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jordan in particular looking to stall.

Ward is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jordan pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is trying to get back to full guard.
Ward moves into full guard.
Jordan wanted to stand there but Ward had control of the position.

Ward is looking for a triangle here but Jordan uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ward tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

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

Ward is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ward works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ward wants to pass to mount but Jordan is defending the position.

Ward is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jordan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Jordan's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Ward gets a clinch.

Ward drags the fight down to the ground.

Ward is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jordan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ward keeping full guard, as Jordan tries to pass.

Jordan stands up and waves to Ward to follow him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward blocks a head kick by Jordan.

Ward closes the distance and clinches.
Ward drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jordan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jordan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ward smiles and moves away.
Jordan slips under a jab.
Jordan is looking to land body kicks.
Jordan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward counters with a left to the body.
Ward keeps the fight on the outside.
Jordan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ward pinned against the cage. Ward gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Jordan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward feints a jab promting Jordan to slip. Ward then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Jordan slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Jordan takes one to the side of the head.
Ward waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jordan.
Jordan on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ward tries to clinch up.
Jordan fails with the takedown

and Ward counters by moving into the clinch.

Ward is trying to trip Jordan. He has hold of a leg but Jordan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ward persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jordan is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jordan's guard.
Ward passes to side control.

Ward has an Americana. Jordan didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Ward is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Ward hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Andre Ward!