PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Senior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Senior's choice of entrance music: Z Cars. Joe Senior has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Watson
vs
Senior

171 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ivan Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Senior!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Topper Green and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Senior gets a clinch.

Senior decides to pull guard.

Watson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Senior has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Watson preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Senior trying to control the position here.
Senior trying to keep a closed guard but Watson is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Senior has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Watson has passed into side control.
Senior controls the position for a moment.
Senior wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Senior sneaks back into half guard.

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.

Senior pushes Watson off and gets back to his feet.
Senior fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watson avoids it really well and circles away.
Watson scores with a hook to the body. Senior takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Senior shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Watson defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Senior moves into the clinch successfully.

Senior's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Senior pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Watson moves into the clinch.
Watson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Senior to keep the fight standing.

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

Watson tries to keep at a distance but Senior has taken the fight into the clinch.
Senior goes for a takedown in the clinch but Watson prevents it.
Ivan Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Senior.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Senior smiles and moves away.

Senior has closed the distance and engaged Watson in a clinch.

Senior gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson is trying to maintain the position but Senior is very close to passing his half guard.
Senior controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Senior lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Senior dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Watson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Senior!

Senior explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Senior shoots for a double leg takedown but Watson sprawls well. He's pushed Senior's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ivan Watson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Senior moves into the clinch successfully.
Watson tries to land a knee to the head but Senior blocks with his arms.

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

Senior clinches up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Senior breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Senior has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Senior is defended easily by Watson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Senior misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ivan Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Senior.
Watson stuffs the takedown.
Senior is breathing heavily.
Senior shoots in looking for a takedown. Watson tries to sprawl out of it but Senior keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Watson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Watson rushes Senior and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Senior crunches a lovely knee into Watson's ribcage.
Senior slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Senior prevents a body shot from Watson.
Senior blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Senior breaks from the clinch.

Senior rushes Watson and presses him up against the cage.
Watson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Senior is looking for a takedown.

Senior decides to pull guard.
Watson wanted to stand there but Senior had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Senior wants to improve his position but instead Watson has moved into half guard.
Senior keeping control of the position.
Senior trying to control but Watson postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

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 tries to stand but can't do so whilst Senior controls his leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Watson fails with the takedown.
Senior dives in for a single leg takedown but Watson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nice takedown defense from Watson. No joy for Senior on that attempt.
Watson looks for a takedown but Senior sprawls well.
Senior is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Senior showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Watson stuffs the takedown.
Senior shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Watson defends it nicely.
Senior fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ivan Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Senior.
Watson misses with a double jab.
Senior fails with the takedown
and Watson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Senior.
Senior takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Watson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Senior defends well and Watson ends up having to push Senior into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Senior closes the distance and pushes Watson back into the cage.
Watson tries to pull guard but Senior won't allow it.
Senior fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Watson tries to pull guard but Senior won't allow it.
Senior tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Watson smiles and moves away.
Senior shoots in for a takedown but Watson shows good takedown defense.

Watson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Senior blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Watson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Watson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Watson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Senior is standing up over Watson. Watson looks to escape but Senior dives into side control.
Watson is trying to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Watson's face as Senior controls the position.

Senior stands up.
Senior dives in and grabs Watson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Watson pushes down on Senior's head and hops out.
Senior fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Senior avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Senior is fending him off so far but Watson persists. Nope, Senior circles away and we're back to standing.
Senior gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Watson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Watson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Watson jumps guard but Senior turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Watson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Senior's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watson.
Senior tries a body shot but Watson blocks it.

Watson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Watson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Senior is pushing down on Watson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Watson is fighting to maintain full guard but Senior has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Senior stands up from half guard.

Senior clinches with his opponent.
Watson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Watson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Senior smiles and moves away.
Watson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Senior tries to avoid it but Watson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Senior to the ground. Senior escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Senior fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watson avoids it really well and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Senior 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Senior!
After winning the bout, Joe Senior thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.