PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eusebio Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Dempsey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ward
vs
Dempsey

164 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

201 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Eusebio Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Henry Dempsey!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ward throws a head kick that misses.

Ward gets caught napping as Dempsey dives in and scores a takedown. Ward manages to retain guard.
Ward preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dempsey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ward is keeping the position for now.
Dempsey wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Dempsey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dempsey seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ward knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dempsey on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Dempsey manages to pass to side control.
Dempsey slows the pace down in half guard.
Dempsey has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Dempsey stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Ward cracks the inside of Dempsey's front leg.
Dempsey throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dempsey closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ward quickly recovers to half guard.

Dempsey is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ward is just riding it out for now. Dempsey eventually gives up the hold.
Dempsey trying to control the action but Ward is working from the bottom.
Ward trying to control but Dempsey postures up.
Ward is looking to improve his position.
Ward has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dempsey is working away from the top position though.
Dempsey wants to stand but Ward has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ward keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Still in half guard, Dempsey seems content to control.
Ward wants to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dempsey connects with a nice short shot to Ward's temple.
Dempsey prevents Ward from improving his position.
Ward wants to get back to his feet.

Dempsey 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.

Ward kicks Dempsey off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dempsey fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ward sprawls well initially but Dempsey persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ward wants to get back to his feet.
Dempsey passes to side control.
Dempsey moves into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dempsey avoids the attempt from Ward to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dempsey takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ward could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Dempsey dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eusebio Ward's cut.
That's time! Ward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ward fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dempsey to the ground. Ward is now in Dempsey's guard.
Ward trying to control but Dempsey is working from the bottom.
Ward wants to stand but Dempsey is controlling his posture from full guard.
Dempsey trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dempsey seems keen to control Ward's posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ward wants to control from the top but Dempsey keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Dempsey closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ward quickly recovers to half guard.

Ward has one foot on Dempsey's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Ward gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dempsey pushes down on Ward's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ward might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dempsey is looking for a kimura here.
Dempsey wants to free his trapped foot but Ward is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Dempsey is breathing heavily.
Ward wants to get back to his feet.
Dempsey is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ward is looking to improve his position.
Ward tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Dempsey has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Dempsey scoring with strikes but Ward is staying in there.
Ward tries to reverse the position but Dempsey maintains control.
Dempsey working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ward is wriggling around trying to escape.
Dempsey working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Dempsey controlling his opponent.
Ward reaches up to try and control the position but Dempsey seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Ward rolls and tries to escape and now Dempsey has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dempsey is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Ward taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Dempsey.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Henry Dempsey!
A relieved looking Henry Dempsey thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.