PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darrel Petersen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ward's entrance music is Spazz - Crush Kill Destroy. A fine choice. Max Ward has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ward
vs
Petersen

180 cm
22
193 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

182 cm
22
190 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Darrel Petersen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petersen looks to score with a jab to the body but Ward is just out of range.
Petersen looks to land a right hand but Ward moved out of range.
Good shot there by Petersen.

Ward shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Petersen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Petersen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ward's guard.

Petersen tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.
Petersen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petersen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ward wants to stand up but Petersen is controlling him.
Petersen is looking to work some ground and pound but Ward has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward wants to stand up but Petersen is controlling him.
Petersen stays in close to Ward's body and controls the position.
Petersen throwing strikes but missing.
We've been hearing good reports from Ward's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Petersen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Petersen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Petersen sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Petersen trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Petersen looking to sit in guard and control but Ward gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Petersen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ward defends it easily.

Ward drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Petersen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ward has Petersen in his guard.

Petersen stops Ward from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen stays in close to Ward's body and controls the position.
Petersen throwing strikes but missing.
Petersen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ward keeping full guard, as Petersen tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Petersen throwing strikes but missing.

Ward has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Petersen is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Ward has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Petersen regains guard immediately.
Petersen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Petersen works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward really wants to buck Petersen off and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darrel Petersen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ward takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ward takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Petersen lands with a right hand.
Ward uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Petersen.
Petersen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Ward scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Petersen is trying to improve his position.
Petersen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ward's best efforts.
Ward working over Petersen with some ground and pound. Petersen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Petersen has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ward not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ward is nestled in close to Petersen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Petersen is pressing down on Ward's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Petersen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Petersen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Max Ward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ward postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward cracks Petersen with a solid left hand.
Ward lands a couple of digs.
Ward throws a big right hand that misses.
Petersen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ward works over Petersen with some ground and pound from guard.
Ward postures up.
Ward throwing strikes but missing.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ward trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ward won't allow Petersen to sweep him here.
Petersen keeps trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petersen seems keen to control Ward's posture.
Ward is working Petersen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ward chips away with some ground and pound.
Petersen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ward.

Petersen is looking for a triangle but Ward pushes his legs off easily.
Petersen is controlling Ward's posture.
Petersen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.
Ward has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ward throws an elbow that misses. Petersen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ward's guard. Nice move by Petersen!

Ward keeping moving, preventing Petersen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen looking to sit in guard and control but Ward gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ward working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Petersen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ward looking to pass the guard.
Ward throws an elbow that misses. Petersen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ward's guard. Nice move by Petersen!

Petersen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Petersen from controlling successfully.
Petersen content to stall in guard here.
Ward keeping full guard, as Petersen tries to pass.
Petersen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Petersen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ward manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Petersen has Ward in his guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Ward dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Petersen throws a jab but it's blocked by Ward.
Ward takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Petersen throws a shot to the body.
Petersen connects with a nice looking jab.
Darrel Petersen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body punch from Petersen.
Petersen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Petersen jabs Ward right on the nose. Ward blinks but takes it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petersen. Ward does a little dance to reset his feet.
Petersen misses with an uppercut.
Ward feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Petersen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Ward shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ward was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Petersen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ward off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petersen is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Ward defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but Petersen has full control of the position and if anything, Ward has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Even with his hooks in, Petersen manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Petersen really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Ward.
Ward staying busy and making it hard for Petersen to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ward is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Petersen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Ward has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Petersen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Petersen looking to break Ward's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Ward remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Petersen will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Ward trying to get back to his feet but Petersen is in full control for now.

Petersen looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petersen working for the choke.

Petersen is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Ward defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Petersen throwing sloppy strikes.

Petersen patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
What can Ward do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Petersen is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Ward defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Ward showing good submission defense here.

Petersen looking for the RNC.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darrel Petersen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Petersen 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Darrel Petersen!