PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerald Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Weppin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aaron Weppin will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Watson
vs
Weppin

174 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gerald Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Weppin!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weppin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Watson was well out of range. Poor timing from Weppin.
Weppin tries to close the distance and clinch but Watson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Watson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Watson moves into range and clinches up with Weppin.
Weppin looking to slow down the pace here.
Watson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Weppin's elbow.

Watson drags the fight down to the ground.
Weppin trying to control but Watson is working from the bottom.
Watson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Watson wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Weppin's guard.
Watson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Watson throwing strikes but missing.
Watson is in close to Weppin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson trying to control but Weppin is working from the bottom.
Watson scoring with some ground and pound.
Watson trying to control but Weppin is working from the bottom.
Watson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Weppin is keeping the position for now.
Watson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Watson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Watson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Watson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Weppin manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Weppin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two 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.
Weppin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Weppin stopping the sweep attempt from Watson.
Watson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Watson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Weppin is one step ahead there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Weppin lands a nice looking body shot.
Watson is breathing heavily.
Weppin clinches but Watson breaks the clinch

and Watson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weppin wants to control but Watson postures up.
Weppin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Watson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Weppin is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Watson is controlling him well.
Watson trying to control the position but Weppin is working away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Weppin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Weppin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Watson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Weppin tries to escape but Watson is in control.
Watson in the domination position with Weppin hanging on.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Watson throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Watson moves out of range as Weppin throws a body kick.
Watson misses with a takedown attempt - Weppin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Weppin closes the distance but Watson moves to the side

and Watson counters by clinching up.
Weppin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Watson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Weppin can't break the clinch.
Weppin tries for a takedown. No joy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watson.
Weppin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Weppin jumps guard and drags Watson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Weppin looking to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Weppin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Watson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Weppin is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Watson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Weppin tries to close the distance and clinch but Watson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Weppin tries to close the distance and clinch but Watson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Weppin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Watson defends it nicely.

Watson moves into the clinch.
Weppin is trying to force a seperation but Watson has the dominant position.
Weppin working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weppin is looking to control Watson's arms but Watson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Weppin has his back to the cage.
Weppin fails to pull guard.
Weppin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Watson is keeping busy.
Weppin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is leaning against Weppin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Weppin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Watson has Weppin pressed against the cage.
Weppin fails to pull guard.
Gerald Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Weppin.
Watson stalling.
Watson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Weppin.

Watson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Weppin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Weppin is trying to stand up here but Watson is controlling him well.
Watson trying to control from half guard but Weppin is working away.
Weppin taking some punishment here, with Watson in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weppin is looking to improve his position.
Weppin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Watson thows a huge punch but Weppin dodges it nicely.
Watson thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Weppin to regain full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Weppin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Watson swivels and escapes.

Weppin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Weppin connects with a nice short shot to Watson's temple.
Weppin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Weppin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson keeping control of the position.
Weppin is thwarting Watson's attempts to control the position.
Weppin wants to stand up but Watson is controlling the position.
Weppin wants to free his trapped foot but Watson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Watson is trying to maintain the position but Weppin is very close to passing his half guard.
Watson 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Weppin has his takedown stuffed

and Watson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weppin struggling a bit here.
Watson trying to control the action but Weppin is working from the bottom.
Watson working the ground and pound from side control.
Watson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Watson throwing strikes but Weppin manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Watson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Weppin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The strikes coming from Weppin are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Watson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Weppin clinches up with Watson and pushes him back against the cage.
Watson wants a takedown.
Watson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Watson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Weppin regains guard.
Watson trying to control but Weppin is working from the bottom.
Gerald Watson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Weppin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Watson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Weppin is looking to stand up but Watson isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson slips nicely into half guard.
Watson thows a huge punch but Weppin dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weppin wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Watson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Weppin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Watson counters by moving into the clinch.
Weppin is pressed up against the cage. Watson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Weppin down to the mat. Weppin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerald Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson is looking to clinch but Weppin is avoiding it.
Weppin clinches but Watson breaks the clinch

and Watson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Weppin won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Watson lands an elbow.
Weppin regains half guard, as Watson was trying to land strikes.
Gerald Watson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Weppin manages to get to full guard.
Weppin is looking to stand up but Watson isn't so interested in that idea.
Watson trying to control but Weppin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson throws a big right hand that misses.
Weppin keeping moving, preventing Watson from controlling successfully.
Watson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Weppin with a poor takedown

and Watson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Watson.
Watson postures up and lands a big shot to Weppin's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson throws a strike but Weppin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Watson wants to sweep but no luck.
Weppin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Watson wants to sweep here but Weppin controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerald Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Watson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerald Watson!