PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between James Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Shield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Shield is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ward
vs
Shield

180 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
165 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

World class boxer
Granite chin

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sam Shield!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward tries to bum rush Shield with a series of wild strikes but Shield uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ward fakes the leg kick and cracks Shield in the body.
Shield wants to clinch.
Shield misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shield moves out of range as Ward strikes.
Shield scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Shield shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ward.
Ward fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shield is out of range.
Ward walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Shield checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ward scores with a nice strike.
Ward lands a jab.
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!
Shield uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ward.
Ward connects with a leg kick. Shield looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ward jabs Shield to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ward scores with a kick to the midsection.
Ward misses with a low kick.
Ward tries to bum rush Shield with a series of wild strikes but Shield uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield moves out of range as Ward strikes.
Shield blocks the body kick.
Shield throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Ward.
Ward misses with a kick to the body.
Shield takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shield throws a head kick but Ward moves out of range.
Ward misses with a few strikes there.
Ward misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ward takes a kick to the side of the head.
Shield is looking to land body kicks.
Ward lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shield blocks the body kick.
Ward misses the shot to the body.
Shield tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shield connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ward avoids the head kick by Shield.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Shield on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ward digs a good body shot into Shield's ribs.
Ward misses with a low kick.
Shield tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ward pivots, looking for a leg kick but Shield is out of range and Ward settles back down.
Ward throws a combination that misses
and Shield counters with a nice body kick.
Shield throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shield moves away.
Shield takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Shield moves out of range of the body kick.
Ward jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shield uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ward.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shield takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ward throws a wild body kick that Shield sees coming a mile off.
James Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward fails to land with a series of punches.
Ward scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ward dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shield checks the leg kick.
No joy there for Ward, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ward avoids the head kick by Shield.

Shield has managed to clinch.
Shield blocking some punches.
Shield misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ward.
Still in the clinch, Ward scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ward swings wildly with an uppercut but Shield uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ward tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shield's elbow.
Ward lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ward misses with a punch to the body.
Ward on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shield tries to stall but Ward uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shield tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ward as Shield tries to tie him up.
Ward lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield looking to throw knees to the head but Ward is blocking nicely.
Ward tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ward misses with a hook from the clinch.

Ward breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shield slips a jab and a cross from Ward.
Ward scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shield rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ward moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ward. Shield does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ward lands with a good body shot.
Ward scores with a jab to the jaw.
Shield throws a head kick that misses.
Ward will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ward scores with a three punch combo!
Ward throws a push kick but Shield slaps the foot to one side.
Shield tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Ward.
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!
Ward keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ward has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Shield.
Shield throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Shield throws a head kick that misses
and Ward counters with a lovely straight right hand!
James Ward is winning the standup battle so far.
Ward waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shield.
Ward throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ward takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Shield throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward tests Shield's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ward pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shield misses with a head kick.
A big right from Ward misses.
Ward looks for the body kick but Shield saw that one coming.
Shield throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shield's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ward connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shield scrambles back to his feet.
No joy there for Ward, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A combination from Ward does no damage.
Shield pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ward misses with a straight left.

Shield clinches with his opponent.
Shield trying to stall but Ward improves his position.
Ward lands a shoulder strike.
Ward wants to stall.
Ward blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Shield misses with a body kick.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shield drives through and clinches with Ward against the ropes.
Ward tries to throw a body punch but Shield avoids it by throwing Ward back against the ropes.
Shield wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shield has Ward pressed against the ropes, preventing Ward from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ward.
Ward avoiding damage as Shield throws knees to the body.
Ward misses with some punches.
Ward swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ward keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shield's efforts to push away.
Ward throws a head punch that misses.
Ward pushes Shield back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Shield tries to land a knee to the head but Ward blocks with his arms.
Ward is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shield is defending well for now.
Ward tries a body shot but Shield blocks it.
Shield is looking to control Ward's arms but Ward gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shield has his back to the ropes.
Shield tries to land knees in the clinch but Ward avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Ward creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shield misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ward.
Nice body punch from Ward - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ward lands a body punch.
Shield tries to break free but Ward pushes him back against the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A body shot lands from Ward.
Shield takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ward throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shield.
Ward looking to stall.
Ward can't find room to land a body shot as Shield controls the action.
Ward tries to break the clinch but Shield is controlling the position.
Shield blocks an uppercut.
Shield blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward crunches a lovely knee into Shield's ribcage.
Ward works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ward stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ward makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ward clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ward blocks a head kick by Shield.
Shield takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Shield misses with a head kick.
Ward lands with an uppercut that bounces Shield off the ropes and back into range.
A combination from Ward does no damage.
Shield throws a body kick that misses.
Shield cracks Ward with a good jab.
Ward looks for the body kick but Shield saw that one coming.
Ward throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ward moves into range and connects with a jab.
Donk. Ward catches Shield right on the button with a cross.
Ward blocks a head kick by Shield.
Ward misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shield.
Ward looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A head kick misses from Shield.
Shield is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ward cracks a nice hook into Shield's ribs.
Shield throws a push kick but Ward slaps the foot to one side.
Shield takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Shield showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ward.
Ward lands a nice looking body shot.
Ward looks for the body kick but Shield saw that one coming.
Shield misses with a head kick.
James Ward is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shield avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shield throws a low kick but Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward blocks a head kick by Shield.
A nice combination there by Ward.
Ward lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Shield lands a front kick.
Ward throws a combination. Shield tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Shield is rocked!
Ward closes the distance and catches Shield with a lead hook that drops him to the canvas! Shield is clearly dazed and struggling here! 3,4,5,6,7 and Shield is up to his feet but the referee has called it off! Shield is still far too wobbly and he's not going to allow the fight to continue! Ward takes it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). James Ward!