PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buck Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Minard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watson has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Buck Watson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Watson
vs
Minard

200 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

MMA Elite Nutrition

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Buck Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Liam Minard!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Minard closes the distance and clinches.
Watson has had enough of the clinch but Minard keeps him there for the moment.
Minard stalling against the cage.

Minard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watson looks to clinch

and Minard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Minard misses with a body punch.
Minard taking a breather.
Watson is trying to break free.
Watson wants to stall.

Minard manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Watson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Minard is proving hard to escape from.
Minard wants to sweep here but Watson controlling him for the moment.
Minard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Watson manages to get himself to full guard.
Watson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Minard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Watson's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minard is in close to Watson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Watson is breathing heavily.

Minard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Watson wants to clinch

and Minard counters by clinching up.
Minard is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Minard tries for a takedown but Watson manages to get underhooks.
Minard has Watson pushed against the cage.
Minard keeps control of Watson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Minard.

Minard drags the fight down to the ground.
Minard trying to keep a closed guard but Watson is proving a slippery customer.
Minard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Watson!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Minard.
Watson tries to buck Minard off but Minard takes his back!
Minard is working the ground and pound. Can Watson escape?

Watson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Minard gets his way!
Minard should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watson staying busy and making it hard for Minard to control.

Minard working for a choke but Watson is defending well.
Watson trying to get back to his feet but Minard is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Watson staying busy and making it hard for Minard to control.

Minard has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Minard's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Watson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minard just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Watson covers up after that shot from Minard.
Watson is keeping busy.
Watson is trying to stand back up.
A lull in the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watson is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Minard dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Watson scores with a jab. Minard acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Watson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Minard counters with a left to the body.
Watson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Minard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A head kick misses from Minard.
Watson misses with a combination

and Minard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The referee calls for Minard to work.

Minard breaks the clinch.
Watson throws a hook to the side of Minard's head but Minard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Watson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Buck Watson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watson tries to clinch up
and Minard counters with a head kick.

Minard drives through and clinches with Watson against the cage.
Watson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Minard has him pressed against the cage.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Minard. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minard decides to pull guard.
Watson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Minard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Minard is breathing heavily.
Minard has a closed guard, preventing Watson from standing up.
Watson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Minard manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Watson really wants to buck Minard off and get back to his feet.
BOOM! Minard connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Minard with good strikes from the mount here!

Minard looking for a guillotine from mount but Watson is having none of it.
Watson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Watson tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Minard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Minard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Watson trying desperately to get to his feet.

Minard is working for a guillotine from mount but Watson frees his head quite easily.
Watson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minard controlling from mount.
Watson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Minard on the ground.

Minard is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Minard.
Watson misses with a two punch combination.
Watson misses with a wild combination.
Watson throws a body punch but Minard moves out of range.
Watson throws a hook but Minard blocks it.

Minard pushes Watson up against the cage in a clinch.

Minard drags the fight down to the ground.
Minard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Watson is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minard is trying to control the position but Watson postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Minard holds on and takes a little breather.
Minard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Watson manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minard throws a big right hand that misses.

Watson is working an open guard so Minard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Minard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Watson cracks Minard with a good jab.

Minard pushes Watson up against the cage in a clinch.
Minard tries to pull guard but Watson won't allow it.
Watson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Buck Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Minard.
Minard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Minard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Watson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Minard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Watson wants to get back to his feet.
Minard is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Watson is in a horrible position here. Minard smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Minard has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Watson's face.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson wants to try and get back to his feet.

Minard wants to finish this one by submission but Watson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Minard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minard scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Watson?
Minard controlling from mount.
Minard with a couple of short strikes.
Minard throwing strikes here but Watson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Minard has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Watson's face.
Minard with a couple of short strikes.

Minard is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Watson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Watson tries to buck Minard off but he can't manage it.

That's two 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.
Minard cracks Watson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Minard landing shots from mount.

Watson is rocked!
Minard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Minard trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Minard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Watson is surviving well by controlling Minard's body position as best he can.
Minard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Minard get's back to his feet.
Watson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Minard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Watson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Minard.
Watson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Minard counters with a right hand to the body.
Watson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Minard moves away.
Watson darts in trying to clinch
and Minard counters with a nice leg kick.
Minard throws a quick inside leg kick.
Minard looks for a takedown but Watson sprawls well.

Minard clinches up against the cage.
Watson takes a knee right on the jaw!

Minard breaks the clinch.
Watson closes the distance but Minard moves to the side

and Minard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Minard trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Minard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Minard gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Buck Watson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Watson throws a series of punches but Minard avoids them all with ease.
Watson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Minard can pounce on him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Minard moves into range and clinches up with Watson.

Minard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watson thows a body shot but no joy.
Watson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Minard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Watson's guard now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Minard trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Buck Watson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Minard chips away with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam Minard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Minard 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 25:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 25:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam Minard!