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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rick Drew (ranked 2235 p4p, 1396 weight class) and William Ward (ranked 226 p4p, 149 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!
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| 175 cm
26
157
17 - 13 - 0 |
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173 cm
27
158
11 - 10 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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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 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rick Drew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, William Ward!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward takes one to the side of the head.
Ward throws a nice looking combination but Drew bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Drew appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sloppy strikes from Ward. Those never looked like landing.
Drew swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A head kick misses from Drew.
Ward takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Drew throws a head kick but Ward moves out of range.
We've been told by Drew's head coaches at Soul Supremacy Rio that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward has his takedown stuffed
and Drew counters with a straight right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Drew on the wrong end of a nice jab.
William Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drew throws a jab but it's blocked by Ward.
A swing and a miss from Drew.
Drew takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ward is defended easily by Drew.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drew tries a head kick but it misses.
Ward misses with an uppercut.
Drew throwing a counter right hand but Ward manages to avoid it.
Drew ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ward moves away.
Ward tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ward throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ward takes one to the chin there.
Jab, jab by Drew - just one landing.
It looks like William Ward has been cut.
Drew misses with a looping left.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward misses with a hook
and Drew counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ward thinking.
Drew misses with a hook.
Ward drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Drew defends it well.
Drew misses with a looping left.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Drew enables Ward to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Drew manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ward wants to control from the top but Drew keeps moving.
Ward controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Drew keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Drew dives on top into guard.
Our spies down at at Vancouver Island Fight Club inform us that Ward has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Drew landing with the ground and pound.
Ward working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Drew.
Ward manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Drew manages to get himself to full guard.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Drew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ward trying to move into half guard but instead Drew has managed to sweep!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Rick Drew dominated that round.
The cut man is working on William Ward's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.
Ward avoids the head kick by Drew.
Ward looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Drew pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ward misses with a series of wild punches.
Ward shoots in and bounces Drew off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 Drew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward throwing strikes from guard but Drew blocks nicely.
Ward lands a couple of elbows.
Ward with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drew is keeping the position for now.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Drew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
William Ward has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ward being controlled here momentarily.
Ward stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drew swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Drew looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.
Ward pushing down on Drew's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ward content to control rather than advance.
Ward is looking for a kimura but Drew is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ward to get the leverage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward stalling.
Ward is looking for a kimura here.
Ward is trying to control the action in half guard but Drew is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ward might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Drew haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ward is thwarting Drew's attempts to control the position.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Drew throws a looping overhand right but Ward ducks down to avoid it.
Ward closes the distance and clinches up with Drew, looking for a takedown. Ward pushes Drew against the cage but Drew circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ward shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Drew is trying to defend but Ward finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Drew is trying to maintain the position but Ward is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ward looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Drew is looking to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
William Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on William Ward's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Ward misses with a hook. Drew ducked under it nicely.
Drew looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ward fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Drew sprawls well initially but Ward persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Drew kicks off Ward and gets to his feet.
Drew throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ward shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Drew napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ward looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ward is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Drew has escaped the position, nice work there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Drew is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Drew knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ward on the ground.
Ward lands a few punches from side control.
Ward trying to control the action but Drew is working from the bottom.
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That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Drew is not content to let Ward control the position.
Drew takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Drew is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ward passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Drew!
Ward goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Drew turns into him and now he's in Ward's guard.
Drew is stalling in the full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Drew has passed into half guard!
Ward regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ward working for a triangle but Drew defends it easily.
Drew missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Drew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ward lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ward wants to control from the top but Drew keeps moving.
Drew lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Drew manages to get himself to full guard.
Drew keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to William Ward.
I think Ward 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Ward!
After winning the bout, William Ward thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
33% |
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