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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Hardman (ranked 173 p4p, 557 weight class) and William Ward (ranked 23 p4p, 65 weight class). Bruce Hardman has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
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| 186 cm
29
152
18 - 10 - 0 |
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173 cm
28
158
14 - 10 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bruce Hardman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, William Ward!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardman tests Ward's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hardman throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hardman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ward changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hardman throws a right and a left that Ward avoids nicely.
Ward takes a swing at Hardman's ribcage but misses.
Hardman fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hardman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hardman throws a leg kick
and Ward counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hardman lands the left hand.
A combination from Hardman does no damage.
Ward with the counter takedown but Hardman avoids it easily.
Hardman falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ward counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hardman scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is trying to improve his position.
Ward is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hardman's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hardman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ward doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hardman.
Ward actively working from the bottom here.
Ward slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hardman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hardman stopping the sweep attempt from Ward.
Hardman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hardman advances to half guard.
Ward is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hardman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ward sees it coming and defends easily.
Hardman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hardman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ward wants to improve his position but Hardman is controlling well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardman seems to be working for a kimura but Ward defends the submission attempt.
Ward gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Hardman from controlling successfully.
Hardman passes into half guard.
Hardman is keen to just control but Ward is a slippery customer.
Hardman trying to mount his opponent but Ward defends it.
Hardman trying to control the pace.
That's four 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.
Hardman trying to control the action but Ward is working from the bottom.
Hardman seems to be working for a kimura but Ward defends the submission attempt.
Hardman trying to control from half guard but Ward is working away.
Hardman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward is looking for a sweep. Hardman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Bruce Hardman dominated that round.
That's time! Hardman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Ward lands with a nice body punch.
Hardman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ward pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ward keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hardman looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice shot by Hardman.
Ward looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hardman isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ward stacks Hardman on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ward!
Ward cracks Hardman with a big right hand but Hardman just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ward tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Hardman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hardman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ward's best efforts.
Hardman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ward lands with a punch from half guard.
Hardman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ward trying to pass the guard but Hardman defending well.
Hardman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
Ward prevents Hardman from improving his position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardman is working hard here to advance position.
Hardman taking some punishment here, with Ward in his half guard.
Ward working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ward is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ward winds up and cracks Hardman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ward is nestled in close to Hardman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ward seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Hardman is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). William Ward!
William Ward is the new featherweight champion!
A victorious William Ward thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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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
31% |
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