PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between DeAndre Ward (ranked 4202 p4p, 2923 weight class) and Nathan Lee (ranked 271 p4p, 201 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ward
vs
Lee

172 cm
24
143
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, DeAndre Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Lee!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ward with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lee to score with a decent uppercut.
Lee rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Ward counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Ward thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lee is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ward controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Ward stands up and waves to Lee to follow him.
Jab by Lee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lee 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.
Lee tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Ward thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Lee really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ward. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ward looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Ward is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lee can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Ward looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ward can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lee is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ward is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Lee tries to keep at a distance but Ward has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ward manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Lee trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Ward trying to control the position.

Ward is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lee defends well.

Ward is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Lee has his hands clasped together but Ward extends and breaks Lee's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Ward.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). DeAndre Ward!