PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dan Murray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zachary Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Murray
vs
Watson

179 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
150 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Murray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Zachary Watson!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Watson.

Murray gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The crowd are getting on Watson's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Murray drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Watson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Murray drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Watson is working Murray over against the cage.
Murray tries to stall but Watson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Watson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Watson tightens his grip and picks Murray up, before dumping him to the ground. Murray manages to land in guard.
Watson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murray has his foot on Watson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Watson works his way back into a safe position though.
Watson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Watson wanted to stand there but Murray had control of the position.
Watson preventing the sweep.
Watson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Watson won't allow Murray to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Watson is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zachary Watson.
Murray shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Watson as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Murray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murray avoids the body shot from Watson.
Murray staying out of range there.
Zachary Watson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Watson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Watson has Murray up against the cage in a clinch.
Murray is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Watson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Murray drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Watson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Murray is trying to keep an underhook but Watson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Watson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Watson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murray's head.
Watson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Murray trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zachary Watson.
Watson wants to clinch up but Murray keeps it at a distance.

Watson has managed to clinch.

Watson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Watson is taking a breather. Murray says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Murray is trying to control but can't.
Watson wants to stand but Murray has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Well, if Watson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Watson dominated that round.
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.

Watson moves into the clinch successfully.

Watson jumps into guard, dragging Murray to the mat.
Murray prevents Watson from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Watson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murray is aware though and is defending well.
Murray is looking to advance position but Watson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Watson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Watson controlling his opponent.
Murray sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Watson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Watson is looking to take a break and control but Murray is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Watson is working away from the top position though.
Watson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Murray defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watson controlling the action here.
Watson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Murray makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Murray.
Watson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Watson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Watson trying to control but Murray is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zachary Watson.
Watson avoids the body shot from Murray.
Murray avoids the body shot from Watson.
Watson digs a good hook to Murray's body.
Watson lands a jab to Murray's midsection.

Murray tries to keep at a distance but Watson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Watson gets through Murray's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Watson gets control of Murray's arms and successfully pulls guard. Watson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Watson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Watson content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watson content just to control the position here.

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.
Murray can't escape the position.
Watson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Watson working the ground and pound effectively.
Murray is wriggling around trying to escape.
Watson landing punches.
Watson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Watson lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Watson has closed the distance and engaged Murray in a clinch.

Watson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Watson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zachary Watson.

Watson drives through and clinches with Murray against the cage.
Murray jumps guard but Watson stands there with Murray around his waist. Murray gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Watson pulls guard.

Watson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Murray defends it easily.

Watson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Murray trying to control but Watson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murray is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Watson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Watson has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson 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 preventing the sweep.
Watson is pushing down on Murray's leg trying to pass to half guard. Murray is fighting to maintain full guard but Watson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Watson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Murray is trying to maintain the position but Watson is very close to passing his half guard.
Watson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Watson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Murray controls his leg.
Watson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zachary Watson.

Watson moves into the clinch successfully.
Watson lands a left hand.
Murray tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Watson jumps guard.
Murray with a flurry of punches that miss.
Murray wants to control from the top but Watson keeps moving.
Watson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Watson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Watson lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Zachary Watson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zachary Watson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Watson content just to control the position here.
Murray is working to get back to half guard.
Watson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Watson content just to control the position here.
Dan Murray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Let's hope that Watson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zachary Watson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Watson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 26:30

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