PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Watts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miles Steedman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watts comes into the arena with Seek and Destroy blaring out of the sound system. Steedman is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Last Man Standing. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Watts
vs
Steedman

150 cm
18
152 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
152 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrew Watts!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Miles Steedman!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watts changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Steedman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Steedman stops Watts from passing to mount.
Watts is trying to move to mount but Steedman reverses beautifully and ends up in Watts's guard.

Watts is looking for a triangle here but Steedman uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Steedman controls the position from side control.
Watts is looking to reverse the position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Steedman has eaten all the pies!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watts sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Watts actively working from the bottom here.
Watts is breathing heavily.

Watts looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Steedman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Watts tries to get to full guard but Steedman has control of the leg.
Steedman controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steedman wants to pass the guard but Watts is defending well.
Steedman trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Miles Steedman.

Steedman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Steedman lands in his opponent's guard.
Steedman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Watts is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Steedman is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watts looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Steedman passes into half guard.
Steedman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
It looks like Steedman might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts wants to get back to full guard but Steedman has passed into side control.
Steedman controls the position from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watts is trying to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watts gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Steedman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Steedman lands in his opponent's guard.
Steedman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Watts working for a triangle but Steedman defends it easily.
Steedman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watts working for submissions but it's allowed Steedman to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Watts looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Watts is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Steedman jumps into side control!
Steedman content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Steedman advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steedman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Watts is desperately trying to improve his position but Steedman has a good base and remains in mount.
Steedman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Watts is trying to escape the mount.
Steedman controlling from mount.
Watts tries to improve his position but instead Steedman has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Watts right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steedman keeps control of the position as Watts tries to break free.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Miles Steedman was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Steedman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Watts tries to get to full guard but Steedman has control of the leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steedman works his way into full mount!
Watts looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miles Steedman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Steedman.
Watts tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Steedman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Steedman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Watts. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Steedman controlling the position.
Watts tries to escape but Steedman is in control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steedman takes a little break here. Watts wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Miles Steedman has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Steedman enables Watts to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Steedman manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Watts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Steedman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Watts drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Steedman dives on top into guard.
Steedman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Watts isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Steedman stacks Watts on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Steedman!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steedman controls the position from side control.
Watts tries to bench press Steedman off him but Steedman keeps the position.
Steedman remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Watts prevents Steedman from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts tries to bench press Steedman off him but Steedman keeps the position.
Steedman is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Watts will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Watts is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Watts is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Steedman pulls his head out easily.
Steedman looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Miles Steedman.

Steedman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Watts is looking for a triangle but Steedman pushes his legs off easily.

Watts is looking for a triangle here but Steedman uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Watts is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watts being controlled for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miles Steedman really dominated that 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.

Watts gets the takedown into side control.
Steedman wants to control but Watts postures up.

Watts wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Steedman, who protects the arm well.

Watts swings around for an armbar but Steedman sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Watts's guard.

Watts has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Steedman is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Watts.
Steedman controlling from side mount.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watts tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Steedman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Steedman moves into full mount!
Watts is trying to reverse the position but instead Steedman has taken his back - oops!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watts is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Steedman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Miles Steedman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Watts breaks Steedman's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Watts postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Steedman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Watts, into his guard.
Steedman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Watts is looking for a triangle here but Steedman uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts is trying to buck Steedman off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steedman takes a little break here. Watts wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Watts tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Steedman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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.
Steedman controls the position.
Watts is trying to get back to half guard.
Watts looks to move to half guard but instead Steedman has passed into mount! Damn!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watts is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Miles Steedman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Steedman drives through with a takedown into Watts's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Watts is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Steedman has his hands clasped together but Watts extends an breaks Steedman's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Watts.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:28 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Andrew Watts!
Andrew Watts is the new featherweight champion!