PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Archer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ron Wattson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Archer comes to the cage accompanied by Anthem. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Archer
vs
Wattson

190 cm
19
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Rush Pharmaceuticals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ben Archer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ron Wattson!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wattson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Archer circles away.

Wattson gets the takedown into side control.
Archer could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Archer is looking to reverse the position.
Archer is working hard here to advance position.
You can see the frustration on Archer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Archer pushes Wattson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Wattson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Wattson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
An elbow from Wattson crashes against the mat.
Wattson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Wattson trying to control the action but Archer is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wattson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Archer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Wattson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wattson trying to control the action but Archer is working from the bottom.
Wattson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Archer knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Archer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Archer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wattson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Archer tries to stall but Wattson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Archer can't break the clinch.

Archer is fighting off a takedown attempt but Wattson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Archer to the mat. Archer regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Wattson trying to control the position from guard on top but Archer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Archer throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Wattson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Archer keeping moving, preventing Wattson from controlling successfully.
Archer has control of Wattson's left arm, preventing Wattson from doing any damage.
Wattson sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Archer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wattson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Archer is keeping the position for now.
Archer wants to sweep here but Wattson controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Wattson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Archer is fending him off so far but Wattson persists. Nope, Archer circles away and we're back to standing.
Wattson looks gassed!
Wattson tries to clinch up but Archer circles away and keeps his distance.

Wattson closes the distance and clinches.
Archer is trying to break free.
Wattson lands a body shot.
Wattson lands a nice knee to the body.
Wattson throws an elbow that misses.
Wattson lands a body shot.
Wattson scores with a shoulder strike.
Wattson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wattson leaning against his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Archer wants a takedown but no success here.

Wattson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Wattson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Archer goes for a takedown attempt but Wattson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Archer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wattson as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Archer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Archer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Archer showed some decent athleticism there.
Archer seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wattson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Archer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wattson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Archer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Archer's back!
Wattson missing with punches from the back.
Archer biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.
Archer rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Wattson is thwarting Archer's attempts to control the position.
Archer makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Archer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Archer looking to control.
Archer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wattson trying to control the position from guard on top but Archer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wattson preventing the sweep.
Archer on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Archer tries to get out of the position.
Wattson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Archer wants to sweep here but Wattson controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Archer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wattson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Archer misses with a takedown attempt - Wattson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Archer has his takedown stuffed

and Wattson counters by moving into the clinch.
Wattson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wattson prevents Archer from breaking the clinch.

Wattson manages to break the clinch.
Wattson wants to clinch up but Archer keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ron Wattson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wattson tries to clinch up but Archer circles away and keeps his distance.
Wattson wants to clinch

and Archer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Archer.
Wattson keeping moving, preventing Archer from controlling successfully.
Wattson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Wattson tries to strike from the bottom.
Archer trying to control but Wattson is working from the bottom.
Wattson working a defensive guard here.
Archer trying to control but Wattson is working from the bottom.
Wattson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Archer trying to control but Wattson is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wattson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Archer pinned against the cage. Archer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wattson tries to clinch but Archer moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wattson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Wattson moves into the clinch.
Archer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wattson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Wattson manages to pull guard.
Wattson throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Archer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wattson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wattson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Archer's head.
Wattson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Archer trying to control but Wattson postures up.
Wattson thows a huge punch but Archer dodges it nicely.
Wattson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Wattson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wattson is trying to control the action in half guard but Archer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wattson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Archer is looking to clinch.
Archer tries for a takedown but Wattson circles away easily

and Wattson counters by clinching up.
Wattson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Archer backwards.

Archer pulls Wattson into guard.
Archer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wattson is one step ahead there.
Archer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Archer wants to take a breather but Wattson is having none of it.
Wattson is trying to get back to full guard.
Archer with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Archer trying to control from half guard but Wattson is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Archer seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wattson is looking to improve his position.
Wattson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Archer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Archer's back!
Archer is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Archer rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Archer gets back to full guard.
Archer throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Wattson trying to control but Archer is working from the bottom.
Wattson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wattson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wattson trying to control the position from guard on top but Archer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Archer working for a triangle but Wattson defends it easily.
Archer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wattson is one step ahead there.
Wattson trying to control but Archer is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wattson tries to clinch there but Archer circles away.
Wattson tries to clinch but Archer is having none of it.
Archer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Archer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Archer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Archer 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Archer connects with a high kick.
Archer throws a half hearted mid kick.

Archer looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wattson wants to control but Archer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wattson wants to improve his position but Archer is controlling well.
Wattson tries to kick Archer off but Archer keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Archer blocks the strikes from Wattson.
Archer wants to stand up but Wattson is controlling the position.
Archer trying to control from half guard but Wattson is working away.
Archer is looking to advance position but Wattson won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Archer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wattson defending well though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wattson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Archer scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Archer looking to control but Wattson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wattson is looking to improve his position but Archer isn't that keen on the idea.
Archer tries to control but Wattson wriggling away.
Ben Archer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wattson tries to hold on but Archer pushes him away.
Archer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wattson is looking to escape.
Archer lands a heavy elbow.
Archer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wattson is looking to escape.
Wattson is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Archer looking to control but Wattson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Archer fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Wattson is trying to escape the mount.
Archer working Wattson over with strikes here.
Archer blocks Wattson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Archer landing strikes, looking to finish!
Wattson tries to lock up and control but Archer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wattson working to try and regain half guard.
Wattson wants to control but Archer is having none of it.
Archer misses with a head shot.
Wattson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wattson tries to lock up and control but Archer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wattson tries to reverse the position but Archer maintains control.
Wattson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Wattson tries to reverse the position but Archer maintains control.
Wattson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Wattson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Archer. What's that going to do exactly?
Wattson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Archer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wattson is looking to escape.
Archer misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Wattson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wattson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Archer. What's that going to do exactly?
Wattson tries to hold on but Archer pushes him away.
Wattson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wattson gets back to half guard.
Wattson wants to get back to full guard.
Archer is keen to just control but Wattson is a slippery customer.
Wattson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Archer is working away from the top position though.
Wattson gets full guard.
Archer wants to control from the top but Wattson keeps moving.
Wattson trying to keep a closed guard but Archer is proving a slippery customer.
Wattson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Wattson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Archer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Archer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Archer!