PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marco Polo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Watt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Polo comes to the cage accompanied by On The Floor. Watt has chosen Edmund Fitzgerald as his entrance music. Marco Polo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Scott Watt's chin.

Polo
vs
Watt

178 cm
29
153 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

185 cm
25
165 lbs
7 - 12 - 0

Good takedowns
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marco Polo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Scott Watt!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polo fails with a takedown attempt.
Watt throws a low kick, looking for Polo's leg but Polo calmly moves out of range.
Polo walks into a stiff left hand from Watt.

It looks like Marco Polo has been cut.
An inside leg kick lands from Watt.
A big right from Watt misses.
Polo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Watt scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Watt as Polo shoots in.
Watt throws a chopping leg kick but Polo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Watt, as that shot connected.
Polo tries to work over Watt's front leg with a kick but Watt checks it.
Watt is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Polo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
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!
Watt takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Polo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watt keeps working.
Polo working away.
Watt is trying to buck Polo off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Polo is trying to get an arm triangle but Watt is defending well.
A lull in the action here.

Polo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Watt knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Watt tries to buck Polo off but Polo is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Polo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Watt, who protects the arm well.
Watt wants to control but Polo postures up.

Polo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Watt is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Watt trying to remain calm as Polo controls from the top position.

Polo stands up.
Polo looks to land a left hand but Watt moved out of range nicely.
Watt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Watt tries a head kick but it misses.
Scott Watt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Watt's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Watt duly obliges.
Watt wants to clinch up but Polo keeps it at a distance.
Watt stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Polo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polo shoots in but Watt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Watt misses with the combination.
Watt tests Polo's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Polo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Watt was covering up waiting for the punch and Polo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Polo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Polo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watt throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Watt really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Polo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Polo stopping the sweep attempt from Watt.
Watt wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Polo chips away with some ground and pound.
Watt controls Polo momentarily but Polo frees himself.
Polo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Polo stays in close to Watt's body and controls the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Polo advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Scott Watt will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marco Polo's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Polo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Polo goes for a double leg but Watt avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Watt continues to drive forward.
Watt tries to score with a low kick but Polo moves his leg out of the way.
Watt tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Watt throws a right and a left that both miss.
Watt lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Watt misses with a few strikes there.
Scott Watt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Watt avoids a punch combination nicely.
Watt moves out of range of the body kick from Polo.
Watt cracks the inside of Polo's front leg.
Polo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Watt connects with a jab.
Polo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Polo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Watt has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Watt with a hook.
Polo misses with a low kick.
Watt is looking to slow Polo down with leg kicks.

Polo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Watt tries to escape but Polo is in control.
Watt can't do much from the bottom here.
Polo takes a little break here. Watt wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Watt is looking to reverse the position.
Polo trying to control the action but Watt is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watt sneaks back into half guard.
Polo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Polo tries to pass to full mount but Watt defends it.
Watt is looking for a sweep. Polo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Polo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Watt's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Watt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Polo is working away from the top position though.
Polo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Watt ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Watt misses with a low kick.
Watt walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Polo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Polo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Watt.
Polo takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watt fakes the leg kick and cracks Polo in the body.
Watt paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Polo walks into a left hand.
Nice body kick there by Polo.
Watt avoids the head kick by Polo.
Watt tries to close the distance and clinch but Polo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A right-left combo lands from Watt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice combination there by Watt.

Polo is rocked!
Nice body kick from Polo.

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

The fighters are working up against the cage. Watt manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Watt gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Polo makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Watt is breathing heavily.
Polo moves out of range of the body kick.
Watt throws a series of punches but Polo avoids them all with ease.
Polo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Watt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marco Polo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Watt cracks Polo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Watt gets caught flat footed, as Polo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Polo passes into half guard.
Polo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Watt does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Polo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Polo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Polo wants to stand up but Watt is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watt trying to control here.
Polo trying to mount his opponent but Watt defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watt looks like he's trying to stand up.
Polo controlling the pace.
Polo is pressing down on Watt's thigh, looking to free his foot. Watt is holding on for now.
Watt pushes Polo off looking to stand but Polo dives back in and keeps control.
Polo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Watt is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Polo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Polo's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polo can't escape the position.
Polo turns into Watt and is now in his guard.
Watt is controlling Polo's posture.
Polo preventing the sweep.
Watt working a defensive guard here.
Polo throws a big elbow that misses.
Polo preventing the sweep.
Polo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Polo is stalling in the full guard.
Polo with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Polo is one step ahead there.
Watt wants to get back to his feet but Polo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Polo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Watt trying to strike off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.

Polo darts in and clinches Watt up against the cage.
Scott Watt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Watt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Watt tries to pull guard but Polo holds him up against the cage and eventually Watt drops back down to his feet.
I was talking to Polo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Polo pressing his opponent against the cage.

Watt manages to break the clinch.
Polo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Watt's waist but Watt gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Polo off to one side.
Marco Polo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Polo fails to land the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Watt takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Good leg kick by Watt there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A combination from Polo does no damage.
Watt misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marco Polo.
I think Watt has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Watt!
Our winner, Scott Watt, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.