PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Ward (ranked 509 p4p, 244 weight class) and Roland Weudke (ranked 61 p4p, 32 weight class). Ward comes to the cage accompanied by ERA - Ameno. 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.

Ward
vs
Weudke

185 cm
31
172
16 - 5 - 1

180 cm
39
185
35 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Maxim Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roland Weudke!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward throws a good cross that connects.
Decent striking displayed by Ward there.
The crowd cheers as Weudke lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ward doesn't seem phased though.

Ward feints and as Weudke raises his hands in defense, Ward changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Weudke wants to sweep here but Ward controlling him for the moment.
Ward content to stall in guard here.
Weudke not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weudke is pulling down on Ward's head to control his posture.
Weudke is trying to keep Ward in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward wants to control from the top but Weudke keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Weudke tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ward throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Weudke appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ward fails to land with a series of punches.
Ward tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Weudke has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Weudke there as he acknowledges the shot.
Weudke displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ward throws out the jab.
Weudke throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
It looked like Ward wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ward throws a body punch but Weudke moves out of range.
Ward looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Weudke is fending him off so far but Ward persists. Nope, Weudke circles away and we're back to standing.
Weudke unleashes a big counter combination but Ward bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants to clinch up but Weudke keeps it at a distance.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Weudke keeps the fight on the outside.
Weudke walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ward fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Weudke avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ward throws a sloppy body shot
and Weudke counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Maxim Ward has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ward cracks Weudke with a good jab.
Ward uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Weudke has time to react.
Weudke pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward feints and then cracks Weudke's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Weudke down.
Ward looks to land a right hand but Weudke moved out of range.
Weudke tries a quick counter leg kick but Ward is wise to it.
A telegraphed right hand from Ward misses the target.
Weudke looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

Ward looking to score a takedown here. Weudke is defending well but Ward drives through and ends up in Weudke's guard.
Weudke wants to get back to his feet but Ward passes into half guard.

Ward is looking to advance position but Weudke won't allow it.
Ward prevents Weudke from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Ward seems content to control.
Weudke trying to control but Ward postures up.
Weudke has a hand on Ward's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Ward takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Ward controlling from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Ward dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maxim Ward's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ward.
Ward with a jab.

Weudke gets caught napping as Ward dives in and scores a takedown. Weudke manages to retain guard.
Ward slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but Weudke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Weudke tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ward wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weudke is not content to let Ward control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weudke tries to improve position but can't.
Weudke struggling a bit here.
Weudke is looking to regain half guard here but Ward keeps moving and retains side control.
Ward wants to control but Weudke is keeping him busy.
Ward looking to control but instead Weudke has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ward wants to lay and pray for a moment but Weudke keeps working.
Ward tries to pass to full mount but Weudke defends it.
Weudke preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Weudke wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ward shoots in looking for a takedown but Weudke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ward's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ward closes this distance looking for a takedown but Weudke circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weudke keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ward tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Weudke defends well and Ward ends up having to push Weudke into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Weudke pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ward tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Weudke just stands there and leans against the cage.
Weudke lands with a left to the head.
I was talking to Ward's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Weudke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Weudke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Weudke keeps the fight on the outside.
A countering left hand to the body from Weudke misses.
Weudke gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ward.
Weudke looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A swing and a miss from Weudke.
Ward tries for a takedown but Weudke circles away easily
and Weudke connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice defenses there by Weudke.
Ward is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Weudke can do to turn this around?
Nice takedown defense from Weudke. No joy for Ward on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Weudke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ward was well out of range. Poor timing from Weudke.
Ward has his takedown stuffed
and Weudke counters with a left to the body.
Ward tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ward looks to land a combination but Weudke avoids it well.
Weudke scores with a sloppy right hand. Ward should have avoided that one.
Roland Weudke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Weudke swings for the body but Ward moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Ward.
Weudke takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ward moves into range and connects with a jab.
Weudke defending well as Ward loads up on a big left hand.
Weudke let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Ward shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Weudke but Weudke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Weudke raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roland Weudke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Maxim Ward's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ward shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ward is controlling the pace.
Weudke is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ward's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ward's back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weudke has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Ward's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Weudke controls the position.
Let's hope that Weudke 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.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Weudke controlling the position well here. Ward rolled but Weudke kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Weudke has the hooks in. Ward is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Maxim Ward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weudke is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Weudke is continuing to stall.
Ward rolls, trying to escape but Weudke keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Weudke keeps control of the position easily here as Ward tries to buck him off.
Ward trying to control the action but Weudke just sinks the hooks in.
Weudke is riding his opponent, not letting Ward buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roland Weudke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Weudke has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roland Weudke!
Roland Weudke very nearly forgot to thank HELLBENT amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.