PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johnson Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson Thomas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thomas
vs
Ward

225 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnson Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Ward!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas has a takedown stuffed.
Ward throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ward misses with the combination.
A combination from Thomas does no damage.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Ward rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas 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 swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Ward pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ward counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a thumping low kick.
Ward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ward lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Thomas slips a jab from Ward.
No joy there for Ward, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thomas wants to clinch but Ward slips to the side
and Ward counters with a stiff right hand.
Thomas closes the distance but Ward moves to the side
and Ward cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnson Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a head kick. That will keep Thomas thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ward.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed
and Ward makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
James Ward is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ward!
Thomas darts in trying to clinch
and Ward counters with a good low kick that Thomas was not able to check.
A low kick from Thomas misses
and Ward counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a nice leg kick.
Thomas throws a push kick but Ward slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Ward.
Thomas shoots and misses
and Ward connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ward throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.
Johnson Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas fails with the takedown
and Ward counters with a body kick.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ward.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ward lands a head kick. Thomas smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Thomas shoots and misses
and Ward counters with a big head kick but Thomas shrugs it off.
Ward misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Ward misses.
Ward throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Ward scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ward chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ward lands a jab-cross combination.
Ward throws a lazy right hand but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thomas is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Thomas fails with the takedown
and Ward counters with a two punch combo.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ward.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas misses with a takedown
and Ward counters with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ward dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ward throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward counters with a nice body kick.
Ward goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ward tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ward throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a big head kick but Thomas shrugs it off.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ward counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnson Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Thomas's head.
Ward misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a good low kick that Thomas was not able to check.
Ward blocks the body kick.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Ward.
Ward swinging wildly here.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ward.
Ward cracks Thomas with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ward throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thomas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ward lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ward lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Thomas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ward counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Ward to acknowledge the strikes.
Thomas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ward counters with a thumping low kick.
Thomas with a poor takedown
and Ward makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ward throws a body kick that misses.
Ward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ward turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward lands with a good body shot.
Ward throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Ward.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Thomas. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
A low kick from Thomas misses
and Ward counters with a low kick, right behind Thomas 's knee.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ward feints and then cracks Thomas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thomas down.
Ward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Ward.
Ward is working the combinations to good effect here.
Ward ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Ward gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thomas to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ward had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thomas defends it easily.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ward is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thomas is aware though and is defending well.
Ward is striking off his back. Thomas thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thomas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ward moves away.
Thomas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ward counters with a left and a right that stings Thomas.
Thomas sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Ward.
A combination from Ward does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ward throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A head kick by Thomas misses
and Ward counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ward.
Thomas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ward counters with a straight right hand.
Thomas closes the distance but Ward moves to the side
and Ward counters with a good low kick that Thomas was not able to check.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Ward circles away easily
and Ward counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Thomas is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Thomas shoots and misses
and Ward counters with a flying knee. Nice.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnson Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Ward tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Ward circles away easily
and Ward counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Ward circles away easily
and Ward counters with a head kick.
James Ward seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ward lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ward has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ward throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ward.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into guard.

Ward throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws and elbow that misses. Ward uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thomas's guard. Nice move by Ward!
Thomas is trying to keep Ward in close.

Ward postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thomas is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ward, into his guard.
Thomas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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.
Thomas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.
Thomas stops Ward from standing up.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Ward comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ward winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Ward!