PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Palmer Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thorin Odinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Odinson has chosen I will not bow (Breaking Benjamine) as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Ward
vs
Odinson

215 cm
28
309 lbs
8 - 13 - 0

225 cm
27
300 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Determined

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 8 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Palmer Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thorin Odinson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Odinson tries to clinch up but Ward circles away and keeps his distance.
Ward tries to clinch up but Odinson circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice shot by Ward.
Odinson tries to clinch up but Ward circles away and keeps his distance.
Odinson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ward avoids the head kick by Odinson.
Odinson throws a head kick that misses.
Ward misses with a two punch combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Odinson tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.
Odinson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Odinson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Odinson lands a high kick!

It looks like Palmer Ward has been cut.
Odinson tries to clinch but Ward moves out of range.
Odinson throws a hook to the side of Ward's head but Ward sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Odinson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Odinson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Odinson is looking to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Odinson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Palmer Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Odinson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Odinson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ward manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Odinson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Odinson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Odinson lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odinson is looking to break free of the clinch but Ward has double underhooks.
Odinson has had enough of the clinch but Ward keeps him there for the moment.
Ward wants a takedown but no success here.
Odinson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Odinson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Odinson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ward's brow.
Ward looking for a takedown.
Odinson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Odinson wants to get back to striking at distance but Ward won't allow it.
Odinson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ward avoids the elbow strike from Odinson, against the cage.
Ward has Odinson pressed against the cage, preventing Odinson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Odinson is trying to break the clinch but Ward has him pressed against the cage.

Odinson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Odinson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Odinson tries a head kick but it misses.

Ward gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odinson looking for a takedown.
Odinson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ward after a bit of a struggle.
Odinson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ward is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Palmer Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Odinson working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ward has picked Odinson up - he's going for a ride! Ward dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Ward postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Odinson to stand up.
Odinson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ward paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ward cracks Odinson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes from Ward. Those never looked like landing.
Odinson tries to clinch but Ward is having none of it.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Odinson wants to clinch.
Odinson lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ward takes a step back to recover.
Ward throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Odinson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odinson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Odinson throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ward connects with a crisp jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ward looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ward instigates a clinch.
Odinson is trying to break free.
Odinson prevents the takedown attempt.

Odinson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ward tries to clinch up.

Odinson tries to keep at a distance but Ward has taken the fight into the clinch.
Odinson is trying to break the clinch but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Odinson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Ward prevents the takedown attempt.
Odinson stops a takedown attempt from Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Odinson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Odinson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Odinson swings wildly with an uppercut but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.
Odinson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Ward has clasped his hands together around Odinson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Odinson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ward asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ward tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Ward tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ward stands up and beckons Odinson to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thorin Odinson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Palmer Ward's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Odinson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Odinson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ward takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The fighters circling - Ward throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Ward rushes Odinson and presses him up against the cage.
Thorin Odinson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ward is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Odinson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Odinson misses with an elbow over the top.
Odinson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Odinson tries to break the clinch but Ward is controlling the position.
Odinson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ward has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Odinson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Odinson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ward is defending well.
Odinson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Palmer Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch on the inside from Odinson fails to land.
Odinson wants to get back to striking at distance but Ward won't allow it.
Ward goes for a takedown in the clinch but Odinson prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Odinson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Odinson instigates a clinch.
Ward blocking some punches.
Ward changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Odinson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ward will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jab by Ward.
Odinson throws a push kick but Ward slaps the foot to one side.

Ward rushes Odinson and presses him up against the cage.

Odinson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Odinson swats away the attempt to clinch by Ward.
Odinson tries to clinch up.
Odinson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ward circles away from the clinch attempt.
Odinson tries to close the distance and clinch but Ward swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Odinson takes the fight into the clinch.
Ward changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Odinson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Odinson keeps the fight on the outside.

Odinson takes the fight into the clinch.
Ward is looking to take this one to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Odinson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Odinson working Ward over with knees to the body.
Odinson throws a knee to the head but misses.

Odinson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Odinson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Odinson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thorin Odinson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Odinson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Odinson looks to land a right hand but Ward moved out of range.
Odinson is looking to clinch but Ward is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odinson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ward manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Odinson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Odinson throws a head kick but Ward moves out of range.
Ward tries to clinch there but Odinson circles away.
Odinson wants to clinch up but Ward keeps it at a distance.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch but Odinson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ward lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Odinson tries to clinch up but Ward circles away and keeps his distance.
Odinson tries to clinch but Ward is having none of it.
Ward lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Odinson tries to clinch up.
Odinson throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Odinson moves in looking to clinch but Ward pushes him off.
Odinson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ward tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ward fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ward misses the jab.

Ward closes the distance and clinches.
Odinson is trying to break the clinch but Ward has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Odinson misses with an elbow strike.
Odinson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Odinson manages to break the clinch.
Odinson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Odinson scores with a head kick.
Odinson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ward swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Odinson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ward throws a series of strikes that have Odinson backpedaling.
A cross from Odinson lands.
Ward tries to clinch there but Odinson circles away.
Ward misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ward wants to clinch up but Odinson keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Odinson.
Ward cracks Odinson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Odinson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ward blocks a head kick by Odinson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorin Odinson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Palmer Ward's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Odinson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Odinson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Odinson lands with a slapping head kick.
Odinson is looking to clinch.
Odinson connects with a high kick.
Ward swats away the attempt to clinch by Odinson.

Ward fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Odinson, pushing him back against the cage.
Odinson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Odinson lands an elbow that stopped Ward in his tracks for a moment.
Ward managing to block the knees to the body from Odinson.
Odinson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Odinson misses with a body punch.
Ward managing to block the knees to the body from Odinson.
Odinson stops a takedown attempt from Ward.
Ward is working for takedown but Odinson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ward drops down looking for an ankle pick but Odinson pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Palmer Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward misses with the combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Odinson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Odinson throws a head kick that misses.
Ward avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Odinson wants to clinch.
Ward lands a jab-cross combination.
Ward is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Ward takes the fight into the clinch.
Ward blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Odinson lands an elbow inside.
Odinson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ward avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ward is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odinson misses with an elbow strike.
Odinson tries to circle away but Ward has him pinned against the cage.

Odinson breaks the clinch.
Ward circles away from the clinch attempt.
Odinson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ward swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Odinson.
Ward tries to clinch but Odinson is having none of it.
Odinson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Odinson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ward paws at him with a jab and circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Odinson throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
A combination from Ward does no damage.
Odinson tries to clinch but Ward is having none of it.
Odinson scores with a nice body kick.

Ward moves into range and clinches up with Odinson.
Odinson has a couple of punches blocked by Ward.
Odinson throws an elbow but it misses.
Ward blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Odinson tries a knee to the head but Ward blocks it.
Odinson wants to break free but Ward has control.
Odinson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ward.
Odinson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Odinson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ward clinches up against the cage.
Odinson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Odinson is looking for a takedown.
Odinson stops a takedown attempt from Ward.
Odinson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ward has him pressed against the cage.
Odinson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ward drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odinson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Odinson prevents a takedown attempt there.

Odinson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ward pushes Odinson up against the cage in a clinch.
Odinson tries to break free but Ward pushes him back against the cage.
Odinson misses with a knee to the head.
Ward wants a takedown.
Odinson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward is working for takedown but Odinson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Palmer Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Odinson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ward is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Odinson is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thorin Odinson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Odinson 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thorin Odinson!
An intense looking Thorin Odinson took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'What! What! Mr. Hawk am I not good enough for a title fight? Are you going to screw me just like everyone else. I put in work, Give me a shot and see who comes up a winner. I'm the best in the world and what I do and thats punish people. Mr. Hawk if you want proof step in here with me and find out.'.