PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Emilaninko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludovic Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Emilaninko
vs
Watson

225 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
24
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Fedor Emilaninko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ludovic Watson!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Phil Schofield and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emilaninko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Emilaninko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Watson forces Emilaninko back against the cage and clinches.

Watson manages to break the clinch.
Emilaninko shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Emilaninko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson misses with a body kick.
Watson shoots in looking for a takedown. Emilaninko tries to sprawl out of it but Watson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Emilaninko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Emilaninko throws a solid leg kick but Watson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Emilaninko.
Watson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Emilaninko defends it nicely.
Emilaninko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Watson defends it nicely.
Emilaninko tries to bum rush Watson with a series of wild strikes but Watson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emilaninko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Watson slaps away a takedown attempt from Emilaninko, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Emilaninko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Watson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Watson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Emilaninko is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Emilaninko really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Watson is keen to just control but Emilaninko is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ludovic Watson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Watson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Watson looking to score a takedown here. Emilaninko is defending well but Watson drives through and ends up in Emilaninko's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emilaninko is trying to keep Watson in close.
Emilaninko is breathing heavily.
Watson advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Watson is nestled in close to Emilaninko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Still in half guard, Watson seems content to control.
Watson works his way into side control.
Watson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Watson is trying to get an arm triangle but Emilaninko is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson trying to control the action but Emilaninko is working from the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watson trying to control the action but Emilaninko is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludovic Watson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Emilaninko tries to clinch

and Watson counters with a shoot takedown. Emilaninko fights it but they end up in guard.
Emilaninko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Emilaninko is looking for a triangle but Watson pushes his legs off easily.

Watson gets to his feet. Emilaninko looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Watson darts in and clinches Emilaninko up against the cage.

Watson breaks the clinch.
Watson stuffs the takedown attempt from Emilaninko. Emilaninko gets slowly back to his feet.
Watson throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Watson is defended easily by Emilaninko.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Watson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson working away.
Emilaninko is not content to let Watson control the position.
Watson takes a little break here. Emilaninko wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Watson decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Watson.
Ludovic Watson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Emilaninko can't do much from the bottom here.

Watson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Watson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Emilaninko looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emilaninko doesn't manage to clinch there - Watson circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emilaninko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watson shoots in looking for a takedown but Emilaninko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Watson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Emilaninko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Emilaninko wants it to stay on the feet.
Fedor Emilaninko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludovic Watson.
Nice sprawl there from Watson as Emilaninko shoots in.
Emilaninko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Watson tries to avoid it but Emilaninko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Watson to the ground. Watson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Watson drives through with a takedown into guard.

Watson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Watson shoots in for a takedown but Emilaninko shows good takedown defense.
Emilaninko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Watson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Emilaninko tries to avoid it but Watson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Emilaninko to the ground. Emilaninko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Emilaninko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Watson wants it to stay on the feet.
Watson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Emilaninko pinned against the cage. Emilaninko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
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!
No luck for Emilaninko with that takedown attempt.

Watson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Emilaninko throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emilaninko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Watson manages to get himself to full guard.
Emilaninko trying to control but Watson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludovic Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Watson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Watson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Emilaninko tries to reverse the position but Watson maintains control.
Watson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Emilaninko is looking to escape.
Watson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Emilaninko is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson raining down shots from the mount!

Emilaninko is rocked!
Watson wants to take Emilaninko's back here but Emilaninko is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Oh Emilaninko is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson trying to control but Emilaninko is having none of it.
Emilaninko seems to have got his legs back now.
Watson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Emilaninko tries to hold on but Watson postures up.
Watson controlling his opponent.
Emilaninko trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson tries to control but Emilaninko wriggling away.

Watson is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Emilaninko is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Emilaninko flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Watson anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Emilaninko and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Watson slips an arm under Emilaninko chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Watson has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Watson is squeezing on Emilaninko like an anaconda would it's prey. Emilaninko fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ludovic Watson!