PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Briggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Watkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harry Briggs has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Briggs
vs
Watkins

202 cm
24
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Harry Briggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shawn Watkins!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watkins shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Briggs napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Watkins tries to stand but Briggs is controlling his head.
Watkins looks up at the clock and then as Briggs takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Watkins smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Briggs tries to bench press Watkins off him but Watkins keeps the position.
Watkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Briggs keeps working.
Briggs wants to control but Watkins postures up.
Briggs manages to get back to half guard.
Briggs is trying to maintain the position but Watkins is very close to passing his half guard.
Briggs is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Watkins is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins wants to take a breather but Briggs is having none of it.
Briggs avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Watkins.
Watkins keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs is looking for a sweep. Watkins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Briggs is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Watkins's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Watkins's back!
Briggs keeps control of the position as Watkins tries to break free.
Briggs has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Watkins's body.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Briggs. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Watkins tries to escape but Briggs has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watkins looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Briggs loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Watkins hold on?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watkins wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Watkins. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Briggs softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Watkins is taking damage to the body and head.

Briggs looking for the RNC.

Briggs working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Briggs punishes Watkins with strikes from the back mount.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Briggs is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins tries to escape the position.
Watkins is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Briggs.
Watkins staying busy and making it hard for Briggs to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Briggs is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Briggs is hanging on to Watkins's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Briggs dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Briggs wants to clinch.
Watkins tries to counter with a clinch but Briggs shakes him off and moves away.

Briggs gets tackled into the cage by Watkins. Watkins maintains the clinch.

Watkins tightens his grip and picks Briggs up, before dumping him to the ground. Briggs manages to land in guard.
Briggs managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Briggs is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Watkins is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs keeping full guard, as Watkins tries to pass.
Briggs is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Watkins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Briggs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Watkins is one step ahead there.

Briggs is looking for a triangle but Watkins pushes his legs off easily.
Watkins trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Watkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Watkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Briggs looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Briggs closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Watkins to the mat! Watkins manages to get full guard.

Watkins has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Briggs is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Briggs is trying to break the clinch but Watkins is controlling him.

Watkins manages to break the clinch.

Watkins instigates a clinch.
Briggs has had enough of the clinch but Watkins keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watkins is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Briggs can't fight it off and eventually Watkins manages to take the fight to the floor. Briggs looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Briggs has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Watkins has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Watkins works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Watkins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Watkins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Briggs manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Watkins manages to get himself to full guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Briggs scoring with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Watkins is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins postures up in Briggs's guard and throws a big left but Briggs blocks it.
Briggs keeping moving, preventing Watkins from controlling successfully.
Harry Briggs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Watkins content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Briggs has control of Watkins's left arm, preventing Watkins from doing any damage.
Briggs wants to sweep but no luck.
Briggs looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Watkins puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Watkins trying to control from half guard but Briggs is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Watkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Watkins moves into the clinch.

Watkins lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Watkins wants to pass to mount but Briggs is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Briggs keeps working.
Briggs has his hands clasped together around Watkins's back. He's all about the action.
Briggs manages to get to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Watkins postures up.
Watkins's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Briggs is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Watkins is controlling him.
Briggs lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Watkins trying to strike off his back.
Watkins trying to keep a closed guard but Briggs is proving a slippery customer.
Briggs keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Watkins's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs sitting in guard here, content to control.
Watkins trying to keep a closed guard but Briggs is proving a slippery customer.
Watkins keeping moving, preventing Briggs from controlling successfully.

Briggs avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Briggs working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Watkins throws a jab but it's blocked by Briggs.
Briggs tries for a takedown but Watkins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Watkins looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shawn Watkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Briggs shoots in looking for a takedown. Watkins tries to sprawl out of it but Briggs keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Watkins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Watkins changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Watkins throws a combination that misses
and Briggs counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Some wild striking there from Watkins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs misses with a takedown attempt

and Watkins counters with a shoot takedown. Briggs fights it but they end up in guard.

Briggs manages to escape and get back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harry Briggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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!

Watkins shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Briggs is refusing to be controlled, as Watkins sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Watkins stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Briggs to get to his feet.

Watkins feints and as Briggs raises his hands in defense, Watkins changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Briggs has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Watkins off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harry Briggs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Briggs 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harry Briggs!