PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vince Topper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Topper
vs
Ward

189 cm
18
164 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Vince Topper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Ward!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Topper stuffs the takedown attempt from Ward. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
Topper misses with a takedown attempt

and Ward decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Topper's guard.
Ward advances to half guard.
Ward is stalling here. Topper is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ward seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Topper has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ward wants to control but Topper postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Topper working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ward manages to get back to half guard.
Topper is keen to just control but Ward is a slippery customer.
Topper really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Topper wants to pass to mount but Ward is defending the position.
Topper not doing much here.
Ward is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Topper is trying to control. Ward wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topper is taking a breather. Ward says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ward moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ward is on top in guard.
Ward looking to pass the guard.

Ward avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Topper has momentary wrist control but Ward slips an elbow through the middle.
Ward looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Topper is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ward pushing down on Topper's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ward blocks the strikes from Topper.
Ward is taking a breather. Topper says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Topper is looking to improve his position.
Ward trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is pressing down on Topper's thigh, looking to free his foot. Topper is holding on for now.
Ward moves into full mount! Topper won't be happy about that!
Ward looks gassed!
Ward sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Topper is working to get back to half guard.
Ward trying to control but Topper is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Topper really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ward punishing his opponent with strikes.
Topper wants to control but Ward is having none of it.
Topper is squirming around, avoiding Ward's attempts to control the action.
Topper is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ward controlling the pace for now.
Ward landing strikes from the mount and Topper is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ward dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Topper slips a jab and a cross from Ward.
A combination from Ward does no damage.
Ward throws a series of punches but Topper moves out of range.

Ward gets a clinch.

Topper pulls guard successfully.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.

Topper working for a triangle but Ward defends it easily.
Topper looking for a sweep. Not yet Topper, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Topper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is pushing down on Topper's leg trying to pass to half guard. Topper is fighting to maintain full guard but Ward has managed to sneak the leg through.
Topper is looking to control Ward's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Topper avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ward wants to control but Topper is keeping him busy.
Topper is trying to control but can't.
Ward throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Topper with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ward counters with a single leg into guard. Topper didn't expect that.
Topper being controlled here, momentarily.
Ward stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Topper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Topper keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Topper has his foot on Ward's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ward works his way back into a safe position though.
Ward not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Topper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Topper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ward controls the pace.
Topper is trying to keep Ward in close.
Ward trying to control but Topper is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Ward shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topper is refusing to be controlled, as Ward sits in half guard.
Ward is looking to stall here but Topper recovers full guard.
James Ward has got the better of the ground game so far.
Topper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Topper keeping full guard, as Ward tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Topper wants to sweep but no luck.
Topper wants to stand and escape but Ward is having none of it.
Ward looking to pass the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ward throws a series of punches but Topper avoids them all with ease.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Topper, right into the meat.
Topper tries for a takedown but Ward circles away easily

and Ward counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ward.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Topper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ward gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Topper is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ward manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ward is landing with some decent strikes but Topper is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Topper wants to hold on but Ward pushes him away.
Ward trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Topper is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward has control of Topper's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Topper regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ward looking to control but Topper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ward putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Ward trying to control but Topper is having none of it.
Ward tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Topper gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ward is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Topper doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ward.
Topper trying to control but Ward postures up.
Ward wants to lay and pray for a moment but Topper keeps working.
Ward tries to pass the half guard into mount. Topper knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Topper works his way to full guard. Good work.
Topper wants to stand and escape but Ward is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Topper is keeping the position for now.
James Ward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Topper wants to clinch up but Ward keeps it at a distance.

Ward closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ward controls the position from side control.
Topper is not content to let Ward control the position.
Ward working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Topper's face as Ward controls the position.
Let's hope that Ward has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Ward scoring with punches and elbows.
Vince Topper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ward trying to control the position but Topper is working away.
Topper wants to control but Ward postures up.
Ward blocks the strikes from Topper.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Ward decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ward frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Ward comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ward 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Ward!