PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Israel Adasanya (ranked 4620 p4p, 433 weight class) and Todd Wad (ranked 6174 p4p, 491 weight class). Adasanya comes to the cage accompanied by Walkout. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Adasanya
vs
Wad

193 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Israel Adasanya !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Todd Wad!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Roberts and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wad closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Adasanya wants to break free but Wad has control.

Wad breaks from the clinch.
Adasanya swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Wad.

Wad gets a clinch.
Adasanya is looking to break free of the clinch but Wad has double underhooks.
Adasanya is working for takedown but Wad is calmly controlling the position for now.

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

Wad scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Adasanya keeps working.
Adasanya wants to get back to his feet.
Wad is chipping away with strikes.
Adasanya pushes Wad away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Wad gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wad trying to control the action but Adasanya is working from the bottom.
Adasanya is letting Wad control him for a moment.
Wad is looking to take a break and control but Adasanya is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wad is staying tight to Adasanya 's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Wad wants to control but Adasanya is keeping him busy.
Adasanya knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wad on the ground.
Adasanya is trying to improve his position.
Wad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Adasanya keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wad might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Adasanya haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Adasanya tries to buck Wad off but Wad is having none of it.
Wad wants to control but Adasanya is keeping him busy.
Adasanya is looking to regain half guard here but Wad keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wad controlling the position from side mount.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Adasanya scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wad takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A left and a right from Adasanya both land. Nice combination.
Adasanya throws a body kick that misses.
Wad throws a head kick that Adasanya semi-blocks.
A left and a right from Adasanya both land. Nice combination.
Adasanya stuffs the takedown attempt from Wad. Wad gets slowly back to his feet.
Adasanya looks to land a body kick but Wad moved away.
Adasanya takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wad works Adasanya 's body with a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Adasanya misses with a leg kick

and Wad counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Adasanya !
Wad trying to control the position but Adasanya is working away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wad tries to score with some ground and pound. Adasanya controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Adasanya is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Wad is controlling him well.

Wad decides to stand up, so the ref orders Adasanya to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Todd Wad will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Adasanya moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Adasanya avoids the head kick by Wad.

Wad moves into the clinch successfully.
Adasanya is trying to drag Wad to the mat but Wad just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Adasanya is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Adasanya is trying to push Wad away but Wad has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adasanya looking for a takedown.

Wad breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wad shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Adasanya pinned against the cage. Adasanya gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adasanya displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wad.
Adasanya lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Adasanya wants to clinch

and Wad counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Adasanya tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Wad manages to move to mount!
Adasanya wants to hold on but Wad pushes him away.
Todd Wad has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wad looking to control but Adasanya is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adasanya tries to hold on but Wad postures up.
Adasanya wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Wad can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Adasanya is looking to escape.
Adasanya is looking to improve his position but Wad isn't that keen on the idea.
Wad can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Adasanya is looking to escape.
Adasanya in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adasanya really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wad trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Adasanya is looking to improve his position but Wad isn't that keen on the idea.
Wad looking to control but Adasanya is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Adasanya tries to hold on but Wad pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wad lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wad tries to control but Adasanya wriggling away.
Adasanya is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Adasanya swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Adasanya tries to reverse the position but Wad maintains control.
Wad wants to control the pace but Adasanya is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Wad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Adasanya darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Wad takes the fight into the clinch.

Wad has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Adasanya uses from the top position.
Adasanya is looking to stand up but Wad won't let him.
Adasanya has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Wad working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Adasanya doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Adasanya manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wad is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wad trying to control but Adasanya is working from the bottom.
Adasanya striking off his back but it's not causing Wad any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wad is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wad stops Adasanya from standing up.
Adasanya keeping moving, preventing Wad from controlling successfully.
Adasanya wants to stand but Wad is controlling the position.
Wad trying to control but Adasanya is working from the bottom.

Adasanya is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wad defends well.
Adasanya wants to get back to his feet but Wad passes into half guard.

That's two 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.
Wad moves into full mount! Adasanya won't be happy about that!
Wad tries to control but Adasanya wriggling away.
Wad has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Adasanya wants to get back to his feet.
Wad content just to control the position here.
Wad wants to control the pace but Adasanya is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adasanya is desperately trying to improve his position but Wad has a good base and remains in mount.
Wad working the ground and pound effectively.
Wad controlling from mount.
Wad breaks from Adasanya 's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Adasanya is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Wad trying to control but Adasanya is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adasanya is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Adasanya is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Wad is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Wad raining down shots from the mount!
Wad sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wad tries to control but Adasanya wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Todd Wad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wad 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Todd Wad!