PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Wall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zezim Ferdinand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wall
vs
Ferdinand

185 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Wall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zezim Ferdinand!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wall tries to close the distance and clinch but Ferdinand swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ferdinand is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wall sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wall tries to clinch up.

Wall shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ferdinand manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ferdinand seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ferdinand avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ferdinand is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Wall trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferdinand is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ferdinand tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wall will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ferdinand wants to stand up but Wall is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wall leaves Ferdinand with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wall misses with a double jab.
Wall moves in looking to clinch but Ferdinand pushes him off.
Wall tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ferdinand manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Wall throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ferdinand tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Wall is in Ferdinand's guard.
Wall would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ferdinand has his hands on Wall's head, controlling the position.
Ferdinand preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ferdinand uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wall wants to clinch

and Ferdinand counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wall is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferdinand content to stall in guard here.
Ferdinand stops Wall from standing up.
Wall keeping moving, preventing Ferdinand from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Wall can't keep his opponent in guard - Ferdinand advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferdinand performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Ferdinand decides to stand and escape the position.

Ferdinand bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ferdinand takes a little break here. Wall wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
You can see the frustration on Wall's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ferdinand decides to stand back up. Ferdinand steps back and let's Wall get back to his feet.
Wall tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ferdinand paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wall throws a head kick but Ferdinand moves out of range.
Ferdinand shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wall as he avoids it easily.
John Wall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zezim Ferdinand.
Ferdinand avoids a kick to the body.
Wall keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
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.
Ferdinand misses with a body kick.
Wall tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ferdinand throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Wall tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ferdinand is in Wall's guard.
Ferdinand is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ferdinand stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wall swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wall controls Ferdinand momentarily but Ferdinand frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wall is working an open guard so Ferdinand takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ferdinand takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ferdinand closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zezim Ferdinand has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ferdinand cracks Wall with a big right hand but Wall just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wall is pushing Ferdinand's head away, looking to escape. Ferdinand manages to hold on to the position though.
Wall is trying to improve his position.
Ferdinand trying to control the position but Wall is working away.
You can see the frustration on Wall's face as Ferdinand controls the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zezim Ferdinand.

Wall looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ferdinand not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ferdinand trying to control the position here.
Ferdinand striking off his back.
Wall trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferdinand is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wall stopping the sweep attempt from Ferdinand.
Ferdinand controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wall is looking to clinch but Ferdinand is avoiding it.

Ferdinand closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ferdinand lands in his opponent's guard.
Ferdinand trying to control the position from guard on top but Wall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ferdinand looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferdinand pushes down on Wall's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Wall wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferdinand controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zezim Ferdinand showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ferdinand is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Wall's half guard.
Wall pushes Ferdinand off looking to stand but Ferdinand dives back in and keeps control.
Ferdinand thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wall's head.

Wall kicks off Ferdinand and gets to his feet.
Ferdinand looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Wall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ferdinand is looking to clinch.
Wall darts in trying to clinch

and Ferdinand counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferdinand throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ferdinand showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ferdinand content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Wall working a defensive guard here.
Ferdinand controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

John Wall has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ferdinand shoots in but Wall avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ferdinand changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wall tries to avoid it but Ferdinand manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wall to the ground. Wall escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
John Wall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zezim Ferdinand.

Ferdinand closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ferdinand trying to control from half guard but Wall is working away.
Ferdinand is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zezim Ferdinand was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Ferdinand scores with a takedown into Wall's guard.
Ferdinand slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wall preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ferdinand content to stall in guard here.
John Wall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ferdinand trying to control the position from guard on top but Wall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zezim Ferdinand is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zezim Ferdinand has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Wall tries to bum rush Ferdinand with a series of wild strikes but Ferdinand uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zezim Ferdinand comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ferdinand 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zezim Ferdinand!