PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abel Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Hottinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Hottinger acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Watson
vs
Hottinger

215 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Abel Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, John Hottinger!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hottinger looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hottinger passes Watson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hottinger wants to get back to his feet.
Watson is staying active underneath Hottinger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson gets full guard.
Watson wants to sweep here but Hottinger controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hottinger postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hottinger throwing strikes from guard but Watson blocks nicely.
Hottinger throws an elbow that misses. Watson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hottinger's guard. Nice move by Watson!

Watson wants to stand but Hottinger is controlling his posture from full guard.
Watson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hottinger scores with a takedown into Watson's guard.
Hottinger with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hottinger trying to move into half guard but instead Watson has managed to sweep!

Watson throws an elbow that misses. Hottinger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Watson's guard. Nice move by Hottinger!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hottinger stands up and waves to Watson to follow him.

Hottinger shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hottinger showed some decent athleticism there.

Watson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hottinger wants to stand up but Watson manages to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hottinger postures up.
Hottinger would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hottinger trying to control but Watson is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hottinger dominated that 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.

Hottinger lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Watson circles away quickly and effectively.
Hottinger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hottinger shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hottinger showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Watson looking for submissions off his back.
Hottinger performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hottinger seems to be looking for submissions.
John Hottinger has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hottinger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Watson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Watson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hottinger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hottinger keeps trying to improve his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hottinger swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Watson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Watson shoots in but no luck this time.
Watson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Hottinger dives in and scores a takedown into Watson's guard.
Hottinger looking to sit in guard and control but Watson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hottinger is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hottinger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hottinger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hottinger is breathing heavily.

Watson stands and steps away. Hottinger gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hottinger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hottinger throws a sloppy head kick

and Watson counters by moving into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Watson.

Hottinger gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Watson is looking for a sweep. Hottinger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Watson regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hottinger.
Hottinger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watson is keeping the position for now.
Watson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hottinger manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hottinger is trying to control the position but Watson postures up.
Watson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Watson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Watson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hottinger, up you get!
John Hottinger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Watson enables Hottinger to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Watson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hottinger throws an elbow that misses. Watson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hottinger's guard. Nice move by Watson!

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watson postures up and lands a big shot to Hottinger's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Hottinger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hottinger tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Watson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hottinger throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Watson was covering up waiting for the punch and Hottinger finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hottinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hottinger wants to get up but he can't break Watson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hottinger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watson is keeping the position for now.
Watson trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hottinger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hottinger pushes down on Watson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hottinger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Watson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hottinger is controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Watson tries for a takedown but Hottinger sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Watson tries to keep at a distance but Hottinger has taken the fight into the clinch.

Hottinger pulls guard effortlessly.
Hottinger is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Watson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Watson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Hottinger from controlling successfully.
Hottinger is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hottinger is continuing to stall.

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.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Hottinger from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hottinger with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Hottinger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hottinger winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Hottinger!