PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abel Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Bark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abel Watson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Watson
vs
Bark

215 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

167 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 3 - 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, Alexander Bark!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bark moves into the clinch successfully.

Bark escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bark changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Watson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Watson is looking for a sweep.
Bark with the ground and pound but Watson regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Bark wants to pass the guard but Watson is defending well.
Bark seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bark throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is not content to let Bark control the position.
Bark sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Watson defending well though.
Bark is taking a breather. Watson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Bark is keen to just control but Watson is a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Watson forces Bark back against the cage and clinches.

Bark drags the fight down to the ground.
Watson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Bark has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Watson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Bark is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bark pulls Watson in close to his closed guard and prevents Watson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bark looking to control.

Watson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bark, up you get!
Watson shoots in looking for a takedown but Bark manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Watson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Bark looking to score a takedown here. Watson is defending well but Bark drives through and ends up in Watson's guard.

Watson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bark defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bark controlling from the top position.
Watson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bark wanted to stand there but Watson had control of the position.
Bark stays in close to Watson's body and controls the position.

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.
Bark trying to stand up but can't free himself from Watson's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Watson looks for a takedown but Bark sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Bark dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bark changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Watson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Watson is not content to let Bark control the position.
You can see the frustration on Watson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bark wants to control but Watson is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bark tries to stand but Watson is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bark controls the position.
Bark lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Bark wants to stand but Watson is controlling his arm.
Bark working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Watson looking for a sweep but Bark has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Bark controlling the pace for now.
Bark wants to control the pace but Watson is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bark controlling from the full mount.
Bark can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Watson is looking to escape.
Bark looking to finish Watson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Watson!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Bark goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Watson turns into him and now he's in Bark's guard.
Watson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bark works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Watson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bark wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bark is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Bark showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Watson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bark dives in and scores a takedown into Watson's guard.
Bark in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Bark from controlling successfully.
Bark has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bark not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Watson is looking for a triangle but Bark pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Watson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bark content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bark passes Watson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Bark wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watson keeps working.
Bark throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alexander Bark has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bark stalling.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Bark gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bark wants to stand but Watson has his arm trapped.
Watson is not content to let Bark control the position.
Watson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Bark.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bark tries for a kimura but Watson is defending well.

Bark goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Watson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bark but great work by Watson.
Watson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Bark tries to improve position but can't.
Bark regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson wants to stand up but Bark has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Watson thows a huge punch but Bark dodges it nicely.

Bark looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bark takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Watson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Watson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bark's head.
Bark manages to get to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bark is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Watson defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Bark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bark 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Bark!