PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Micky Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dion Watts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watts has chosen papa roach- scars as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ward
vs
Watts

175 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

179 cm
19
139 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Micky Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dion Watts!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward doesn't manage to clinch there - Watts circles away.
A punch combination from Ward misses.

Ward is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Watts's half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ward throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Watts tries to get to full guard but Ward has control of the leg.
Nice strikes from Ward there.

Watts looking for submissions off his back.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but Watts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Watts is trying to control but can't.

Watts actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Watts is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ward seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Watts does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Watts gets full guard.
Ward postures up in Watts's guard and throws a big left but Watts blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward trying to control but Watts is working from the bottom.
Ward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ward is looking to stand up but Watts won't let him.
Ward has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ward stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Watts swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ward is working hard here to advance position.
Ward being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward wants to stand but Watts has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Watts will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Watts controls Ward momentarily but Ward frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Watts closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Watts is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ward has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Ward's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ward tries to bench press Watts off him but Watts keeps the position.
Watts controls the position from side control.
Ward tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Watts wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Watts has an Americana. Ward didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Watts is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Watts hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Dion Watts!