PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Keith Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Watson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hunt
vs
Watson

174 cm
24
140 lbs
5 - 17 - 0

160 cm
25
136 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 5 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Keith Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jim Watson!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hunt, pushing him back against the cage.
Hunt managing to block the knees to the body from Watson.
Watson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Watson.
Watson with a knee to the head.
Watson lands a knee to the body.
Watson landing knees to the body.

Watson manages to break the clinch.

Watson clinches with his opponent.
Hunt fails to pull guard.
Watson prevents a body shot from Hunt.
Watson struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunt controls his hands.

Watson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hunt steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Watson. That one must have hurt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hunt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Watson tries a body shot but Hunt blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watson breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Watson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Watson gets a clinch.
Watson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hunt is defending well.
Watson avoiding damage.

Watson has Hunt pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Watson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hunt tumbling to the mat - Watson dives into Hunt's guard.
Watson throwing strikes but missing.
Watson throwing strikes from guard but Hunt blocks nicely.
Watson stands up over Hunt, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Watson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Watson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunt controlling Watson's posture.
Watson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hunt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hunt on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hunt tries to get out of the position.
Watson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Watson throws a big elbow that misses.
Watson has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA St Petersburg. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Watson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Watson postures up and lands a big shot to Hunt's brow.
Watson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Watson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hunt is proving hard to escape from.
Watson is looking to work some ground and pound but Hunt has wrist control.
Watson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Watson throws a big right hand that misses.
Watson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hunt fails in his attempt to clinch.

Watson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Watson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Watson looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt working hard to break the clinch.
Watson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hunt jumps guard but Watson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Watson tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunt avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hunt avoiding damage as Watson throws knees to the body.
Watson lands a knee to the body.
Watson landing knees to the body.
Hunt wants to break the clinch but can't.
Watson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Watson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Watson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hunt is pressed up against the cage. Watson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hunt down to the mat. Hunt avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Keith Hunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Watson.
Watson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
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!
A head kick misses from Hunt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Watson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hunt fails with an attempt to clinch.

Watson moves into range and clinches up with Hunt.
Watson lands a good knee to the midsection. Hunt won't want to take too many of those.

Watson pulls guard effortlessly.
Watson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hunt throws a big right hand that misses.
Hunt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Watson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Watson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt pushing down on Watson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Watson scores with a few weak punches.
Hunt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hunt trying to pass the guard but Watson defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hunt controlling the action here.
Hunt is trying to control the action in half guard but Watson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jim Watson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt doesn't manage to clinch there - Watson circles away.
Hunt moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromWatson.

Hunt gets tackled into the cage by Watson. Watson maintains the clinch.
Hunt has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Watson after a bit of a struggle.
Watson is trying to stall.
Watson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Watson lands a good knee to the midsection. Hunt won't want to take too many of those.
Watson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hunt changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Watson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Watson instigates a clinch.
Watson is struggling to control the position.

Watson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hunt can't fight it off and eventually Watson manages to take the fight to the floor. Hunt looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Watson wants to get up but he can't break Hunt's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Watson trying to control but Hunt is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson throwing strikes but missing.
Watson throws a big elbow that misses.

Hunt escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Watson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hunt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jim Watson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Watson postures up in Hunt's guard and throws a big left but Hunt blocks it.
Watson with a nice head shot there.
Watson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Watson crashes against the mat.
Hunt misses with a strike from the bottom.
Hunt taking a bit of punishment here - Watson scoring with strikes.
Hunt is working to avoid the ground and pound but Watson connects with a decent elbow.
Watson working the ground and pound from side control.
Hunt tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Watson is trying to ground and pound but Hunt uses the momentary lack of control by Watson to regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim 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!

Hunt shoots in looking for a takedown. Watson tries to sprawl out of it but Hunt keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Watson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Watson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Come on Watson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Watson scores a nice knee to the body.
Hunt wants to break the clinch but can't.
Watson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Watson gets control of Hunt's arms and successfully pulls guard. Watson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hunt wants to control from the top but Watson keeps moving.
Watson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hunt looking to sit in guard and control but Watson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Watson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Watson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Watson forces his way into half guard.
Hunt has hold of Watson's hands but Watson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hunt looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Watson working Hunt over with strikes.
Watson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Watson moves nicely into side control.
Watson grinds an elbow into Hunt's temple.
Watson scoring with punches and elbows.
Hunt takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Watson cracks Hunt with a big right hand but Hunt just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Watson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Watson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Watson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hunt sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Watson throws an elbow but Hunt slips to the side and avoids it well.
Watson cracks Hunt with a big right hand but Hunt just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Watson scoring with punches and elbows.
Hunt takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Watson working the head with strikes.
Hunt knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Watson on the ground.
Hunt takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Watson working the head and body with strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Watson.
Watson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Watson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Watson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hunt is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Watson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hunt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Watson scores with a head kick. Hunt tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Watson gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hunt avoiding damage as Watson throws knees to the body.
Hunt is trying to maintain a safe position but Watson gets an underhook and turns Hunt into the cage.
Hunt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jim Watson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Watson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hunt misses with a wild body shot.
Watson darts in looking for a takedown but Hunt gets double underhooks and turns Watson into the cage.
Keith Hunt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hunt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Watson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Watson 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 25:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 25:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Watson!