PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Duran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tom Watson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Roberto Duran's chin.

Duran
vs
Watson

189 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Roberto Duran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Watson!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duran defending well as Watson loads up on a big left hand.

Duran scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Duran throwing shots but Watson is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Duran is stalling here. Watson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Duran seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Watson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Duran on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Duran tries to get out of the position.
Duran struggling a bit here.
Duran is trying to work for a sweep but Watson has mounted him!

Watson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Watson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Duran to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Duran wants to pass the guard but Watson is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran throws and elbow that misses. Watson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Duran's guard. Nice move by Watson!
Duran wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duran pulls Watson in to control the position.
Duran is looking to sweep but instead, Watson has passed into half guard.
Duran tries to get to full guard but Watson has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Watson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Duran drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Duran working the body and head with strikes.
Watson looks gassed!
Duran tries to move to full mount but Watson actually manages to regain half guard.
Duran trying to mount his opponent but Watson defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran is looking to stall here but Watson recovers full guard.
Duran pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watson is keeping the position for now.

Watson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Duran dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Duran finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Duran dives in and scores a takedown into Watson's guard.
Duran throws and elbow that misses. Watson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Duran's guard. Nice move by Watson!
Duran wants to sweep but no luck.
Duran seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Duran looking to hit a scissor sweep but Watson is one step ahead there.
Watson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Duran ducks under a wild hook from Watson.

That's two 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.
Nice defenses there by Duran.

Duran closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Duran lands in his opponent's guard.
Duran stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Watson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Duran lands a couple of digs.
Duran in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Duran wants to pass the guard but Watson is keeping the position.
Duranis looking to pass into half guard but Watson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Watson is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran managing to control the position.
Duran's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Duran 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.

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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Duran is pulling down on Watson's head to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Roberto Duran just wasn't active enough.
Duran slips under a jab.

Duran shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Watson's guard.
Watson keeping full guard, as Duran tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Duran dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Duran darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Duran is looking to pass Watson's guard but actually Watson recovers to full guard.
Duran wants to pass the guard but Watson is keeping the position.
Duran postures up and lands a big shot to Watson's brow.
Watson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Duran is looking to work some ground and pound but Watson has wrist control.
Duran with a flurry of punches that miss.
Duran has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Duran trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Watson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Duran postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tom Watson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Duran wants to pass the guard but Watson is keeping the position.
Duran is in close to Watson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Duranis looking to pass into half guard but Watson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Watson is in guard.
Watson preventing the sweep.
Duran pulls Watson in close to prevent any damage.
Duran tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran is working hard here to advance position.

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

Duran shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Duran was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Duran postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Watson looks a forlorn figure.

It looks like Tom Watson has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran landing shots from mount.
Duran in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Duran with a couple of short strikes.
Duran lands a nice shot to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Watson taking shots to the head.
Roberto Duran is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That has opened up Tom Watson's cut even more.
Duran takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roberto Duran showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Duran 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roberto Duran!