PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dion Watts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Hardcore Icon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watts comes to the cage accompanied by papa roach- scars. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Watts
vs
Hardcore Icon

179 cm
18
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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, Dion Watts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, The Hardcore Icon!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watts shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Icon defends it nicely.
Icon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Watts's waist but Watts gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Icon off to one side.
Watts closes the distance and clinches up with Icon, looking for a takedown. Watts pushes Icon against the cage but Icon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Icon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Watts as he avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Icon.
Dion Watts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Hardcore Icon.
Watts fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Watts stuffs the takedown attempt from Icon. Icon gets slowly back to his feet.

Icon scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Watts missing with punches from the bottom.
Watts punching from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watts flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Watts is defending against the submission attempts here by Icon.
Watts tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Icon trying to control from half guard but Watts is working away.
Watts tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Icon looks winded!
Watts is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Watts punching from the bottom.
Watts misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Watts landing small, sideways elbows.
Watts missing with punches from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Icon is trying to control. Watts wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watts missing with punches from the bottom.
Watts punching from the bottom.
Watts 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.
Watts striking from half guard on the bottom.
Watts misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Icon blocks the strikes from Watts.
Watts really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Watts striking from half guard on the bottom.
Watts punching from the bottom.
Icon blocks the strikes from Watts.
Watts punching from the bottom.
Icon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watts missing with punches from the bottom.
Watts is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Icon's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Icon's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Icon looking very determined here, making life difficult for Watts.

Despite having Icon's back, Watts says stuff this ground business - let's go for a knockout! Icon seems baffled but is happy to be out of the difficult position!
Watts shoots in looking for a takedown. Icon tries to sprawl out of it but Watts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Icon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Watts slaps away a takedown attempt from Icon, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Watts looks for a takedown but Icon sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Icon.
Watts has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Icon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Watts throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Watts throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Watts might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Watts lands a little strike from the bottom.
Watts throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Icon avoids the strikes from the bottom by Watts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watts manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Watts flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Watts misses with some strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Icon gets caught flat footed, as Watts shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Watts stands and steps away. Icon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Dion Watts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Watts will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Icon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Watts.

Icon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Icon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Icon manages to end up in side control.
Icon working the head with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Watts is trying to strike from the bottom but Icon has passed into full mount.
Icon tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Icon blocks Watts's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watts is looking to improve his position but Icon isn't that keen on the idea.

Icon working for a submission but Watts is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watts is desperately trying to improve his position but Icon has a good base and remains in mount.
Watts manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Icon is trying to control the action in half guard but Watts is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Watts striking from the bottom.
Watts missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watts missing with punches from the bottom.
Watts misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Watts flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Watts throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Icon is trying to control. Watts wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dion Watts overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Icon blocks the strikes from Watts.
Watts misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Watts is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Icon is trying to control. Watts wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watts punching from the bottom.
Icon is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Watts!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts is working to get back to half guard.
Watts throwing hammer fists to the chest of Icon. What's that going to do exactly?
Icon tries to control but Watts wriggling away.
Watts flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Icon scoring with strikes but Watts is staying in there.
Watts swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Watts throwing hammer fists to the chest of Icon. What's that going to do exactly?
Watts is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Watts throwing hammer fists to the chest of Icon. What's that going to do exactly?
Icon trying to control but Watts is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts is in a horrible position here. Icon smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Icon blocks Watts's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Watts tries to reverse the position but Icon maintains control.
Icon pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Icon looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Watts swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watts throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Watts regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watts punching from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dion Watts dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Watts doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Icon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Watts's guard.
Watts throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Watts throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Watts wants to sweep here but Icon controlling him for the moment.
Icon wants to control from the top but Watts keeps moving.
Icon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Watts throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Icon looking to pass the guard.
Watts will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Watts throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watts keeping moving, preventing Icon from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. The Hardcore Icon hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Watts scores with a takedown into Icon's guard.
Icon is controlling Watts's posture.
Icon doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Icon controls Watts momentarily but Watts frees himself.

Watts gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Watts gets caught napping as Icon dives in and scores a takedown. Watts manages to retain guard.
Watts throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Watts throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watts trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Watts trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Icon passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Watts punching from the bottom.
Watts flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Icon blocks the strikes from Watts.
Watts is pressing down on Icon's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Watts trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Watts doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Watts throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Watts striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Watts will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Icon wants to control from the top but Watts keeps moving.
Icon is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Watts throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Watts tries to strike from the bottom.
Watts will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Icon wants to control from the top but Watts keeps moving.
Watts trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Icon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Icon wants to get back to his feet.
Watts misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts missing with punches from the bottom.
Watts tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Icon blocks the strikes from Watts.
Watts punching from the bottom.
Watts throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Icon is working for a kimura but Watts is defending it quite comfortably.
Icon blocks the strikes from Watts.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dion Watts.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Watts, 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 Chris Downing scores the fight for Dion Watts!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Dion Watts!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Dion Watts!

Dion Watts wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Dion Watts thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.