PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamie Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Faolan Lynch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lynch has chosen Foggy Dew as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Jamie Ward has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ward
vs
Lynch

217 cm
24
279 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

194 cm
25
254 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jamie Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Faolan Lynch!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lynch shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lynch with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ward counters by clinching up.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ward is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ward is struggling to control the position.
Ward is trying to maintain a safe position but Lynch gets an underhook and turns Ward into the cage.
Ward trying to control the position but instead, Lynch has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ward into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jamie Ward.
Lynch looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ward is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward misses with a wild body shot.
Jab, jab by Lynch - just one landing.
Lynch misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lynch throws the kick towards the body but Ward avoids it.
Ward was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lynch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ward avoids it really well and circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Ward misses its target.
Jamie Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Faolan Lynch.
Ward throws a head kick but Lynch moves out of range.

Lynch rushes Ward and presses him up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Lynch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ward misses with a hook to the body
enabling Lynch to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Jamie Ward has been cut.

Ward gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lynch is pushing Ward's head away, looking to escape. Ward manages to hold on to the position though.
Ward working away.
Lynch is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ward working the head with strikes.
Ward working the head with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ward tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ward has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lynch is trying to control Ward's posture but Ward avoids it.
Ward tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Ward controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ward has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ward cracks Lynch with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lynch tries to improve position but can't.
Lynch manages to get back to half guard.
Lynch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lynch is looking for a sweep. Ward is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lynch is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ward takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Ward postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Lynch to stand up.
Ward doesn't manage to clinch there - Lynch circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward gets tackled into the cage by Lynch. Lynch maintains the clinch.
Lynch taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Ward's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lynch tries a head kick but it misses.
Lynch doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ward counters with a solid body kick.
Lynch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ward tries to clinch but Lynch moves out of range.
Faolan Lynch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lynch misses with a takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a left to the body.
Lynch looks winded!
Ward goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Ward dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jamie Ward's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lynch shoots in for a takedown but Ward shows good takedown defense.
Lynch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ward's waist but Ward gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lynch off to one side.
Lynch looks for a takedown but Ward sprawls well.
Jamie Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Faolan Lynch.

Lynch gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lynch can't get the takedown.
Ward content to slow the pace in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lynch tries a knee to the head but Ward blocks it.
Ward trying to stall but Lynch improves his position.
Lynch jumps guard but Ward stands there with Lynch around his waist. Lynch gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Lynch's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lynch goes for a takedown attempt but Ward pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lynch is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward works the jab nicely.

Ward clinches up with Lynch and pushes him back against the cage.
Ward content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Lynch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lynch is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ward to keep the fight standing.
Ward tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ward lands with a left to the head.
Ward pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ward swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ward will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lynch up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ward throws an elbow but misses.
Lynch drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ward gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ward slows down the pace here.
Ward scores with a shot to the side of Lynch's head.
Lynch drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ward gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lynch is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ward pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lynch is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lynch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ward is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lynch can do to turn this around?
Lynch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ward fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ward has Lynch pushed against the cage.
Ward misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ward working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lynch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Lynch blocking some punches.
Lynch can't get the takedown.
Ward throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lynch blocks it with crossed arms.
Lynch avoiding damage.

Ward breaks from the clinch.
Ward takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lynch avoids the head kick by Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lynch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ward as he jumps to the side.

Ward looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ward missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lynch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ward looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lynch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward is thwarting Lynch's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Ward dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jamie Ward's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ward darts in and clinches Lynch up against the cage.
Lynch tries to pull guard but Ward holds him up against the cage and eventually Lynch drops back down to his feet.
Ward has Lynch pushed against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ward - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Lynch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ward gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lynch.
Jamie Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Faolan Lynch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The referee calls for Ward to work.
Ward is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Ward fails to land.
Ward taking a breather.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lynch - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Lynch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ward dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Lynch drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ward pulls his leg out and moves away.
Lynch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lynch doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ward counters with a stiff right hand.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ward lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lynch has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lynch and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Lynch closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lynch wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward stalling.
Ward tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Ward pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lynch looks for the body kick but Ward saw that one coming.
Ward just misses with a punch to the body.

Lynch clinches.

Ward breaks from the clinch.

Lynch has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lynch being controlled against the cage.
Ward has Lynch pressed against the cage.
Lynch jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ward walks away with a smile on his face. Lynch gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lynch shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ward defends it nicely.

Ward clinches up with Lynch and pushes him back against the cage.
Jamie Ward has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lynch blocking some punches.
Ward makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Lynch jumps guard.
Jamie Ward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lynch is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ward is looking to work some ground and pound but Lynch has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lynch changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ward tries to avoid it but Lynch manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ward to the ground. Ward escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lynch moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lynch slips under a jab from Ward.
Lynch misses with a hook
and Ward counters with a two punch combo.
Ward throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ward leaves Lynch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward closes the distance and clinches up with Lynch, looking for a takedown. Ward pushes Lynch against the cage but Lynch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamie Ward showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ward has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

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