PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Ward (ranked 712 p4p, 858 weight class) and Albert Sojka (ranked 94 p4p, 110 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ward might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to ERA - Ameno. Albert Sojka has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Maxim Ward's chin.

Ward
vs
Sojka

185 cm
32
172
16 - 6 - 1

183 cm
26
176
11 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

Fantasy Threads

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 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Maxim Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albert Sojka!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sojka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ward.
Sojka throws a lazy right hand but Ward sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sojka loads up on a big right hand but Ward slips the punch.
Sojka misses with a looping left.
Ward walks into a stiff left hand from Sojka.
Ward lands with a shot to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sojka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ward circles away quickly and effectively.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sojka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sojka throws a series of punches but Ward moves out of range.
Sojka takes a swing at Ward's ribcage but misses.
Ward lands a right hook to the body.
Ward connects with a crisp jab.
Ward slips a straight right by Sojka.
Ward throws a body punch but Sojka moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ward is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sojka's half guard.
Sojka wants to get back to his feet.
Ward performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sojka wants to get back to his feet.
Sojka pushes Ward off but Ward dives into side control.
Ward prevents Sojka from escaping the position.
Ward is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sojka's shoulder. That is not cool.
Ward prevents Sojka from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ward doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sojka throws a series of punches but Ward moves out of range.
Sojka throws a hook but Ward avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Ward.
Sojka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ward.
Sojka throws a series of punches but Ward avoids them all with ease.
Sojka slips a jab and a cross from Ward.
Sojka listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

It looks like Maxim Ward has been cut.
Sojka loads up on a big right hand but Ward slips the punch.

Sojka tries to sprawl but Ward drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sojka felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Ward stops Sojka from getting back to his feet.
Ward wants to free his trapped foot but Sojka is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ward frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sojka is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Ward content just to control the position here.
Sojka's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Ward sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four 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.
Sojka really wants to buck Ward off and get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maxim Ward will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maxim Ward's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ward scores with a nice strike.
Sojka scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ward.
Ward with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ward ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ward appears to be looking for a big counter.
Albert Sojka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ward slips a jab and a cross from Sojka.
Sojka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ward moves away.
Sojka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sojka throws a right and a left that both miss.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sojka. Ward does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ward fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sojka just manages to avoid it.
Ward lands a nice hook to Sojka's body. Sojka takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sojka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sojka throws a series of punches but Ward moves out of range.
Ward takes a jab right on the kisser.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ward shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sojka is trying to stand up here but Ward is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward tries to pass to full mount but Sojka defends it.
Sojka is looking to escape.
Maxim Ward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ward moves nicely into side control.
Ward works to advance to full mount. Sojka defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Sojka wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sojka really wants to buck Ward off and get back to his feet.

Sojka somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Ward's corner calls for a 1-2. Ward obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sojka throws a body shot but no joy.
Albert Sojka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Sojka misses.
Sojka missing with a left hand there. Ward was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sojka throws a shot from downtown. Ward moves away and avoids it.
Sojka leaves Ward with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sojka throws out a counter right but Ward avoids it with no problem.
Sojka tries to bum rush Ward with a series of wild strikes but Ward uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward misses with a double jab.
Sojka misses with a body shot.
Ward blocks a jab.
Ward with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ward ducks under a wild hook from Sojka.
Sojka walks into a straight right hand from Ward.
Ward tries for a takedown but Sojka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ward scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A big right from Sojka misses.

Ward looking to score a takedown here. Sojka is defending well but Ward drives through and ends up in Sojka's guard.
Ward controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ward trying to control but Sojka is working from the bottom.
Ward stops Sojka from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward tries to free his leg and advance position but Sojka is retaining full guard.
Sojka wants to stand up but Ward is controlling him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sojka moves away.
Sojka scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sojka looks to score with a jab to the body but Ward is just out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Albert Sojka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Maxim Ward's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ward throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sojka tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ward is in Sojka's guard.
Ward is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ward stops Sojka from standing up.
Ward wants to control from the top but Sojka keeps moving.
Sojka wants to get back to his feet but Ward passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward prevents Sojka from standing back up.
Sojka scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Ward manages to mount him!
Sojka is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward controlling the pace for now.
Sojka is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Ward can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sojka is looking to escape.
Ward takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two 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.
Sojka is trying to stand up.
Ward can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sojka is looking to escape.
Ward controlling from the full mount.
Sojka really wants to buck Ward off and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sojka is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ward tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sojka is trying to stand up.
Ward takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sojka wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxim Ward showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ward has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxim Ward!
Maxim Ward tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.