PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Ciprianni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Watson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Watson
vs
Ciprianni

182 cm
41
210 lbs
35 - 9 - 0

191 cm
30
213 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear
Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Ciprianni!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Watson cracks Ciprianni with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Danga de danga de dang - Watson scores with a four punch combination!
Ciprianni takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The fighters circling - Watson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ciprianni tries a quick counter leg kick but Watson is wise to it.
Ciprianni misses with a body shot.
Watson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ciprianni. That did some damage!
Watson scores with a sloppy right hand. Ciprianni should have avoided that one.
John Watson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watson misses with a wild body shot.
A little jabbing left from Ciprianni on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ciprianni tries to score with a low kick but Watson moves his leg out of the way.
Watson just misses with a punch to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice straight punches there by Watson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Watson.
Watson lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ciprianni moves away.
Watson misses with a hook
and Ciprianni counters with a nice leg kick.
Watson has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Champions MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Ciprianni throws a looping overhand right but Watson ducks down to avoid it.
Watson throws a big shot that misses.
A lazy body kick from Watson
and Ciprianni connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters circling a little - Watson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Watson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Watson misses with a looping right.
Watson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ciprianni scores with a jab to the jaw.
Watson throws a low kick but Ciprianni avoids it.
Ciprianni avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson digs a good body shot into Ciprianni's ribs.
Watson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watson misses with a looping right.
It seemed like Ciprianni was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Watson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Watson tests Ciprianni's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ciprianni scores with a leg kick.
Watson scores with a jab.
Watson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ciprianni on the side of the head.
Watson 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.

Ciprianni is rocked!
A slow jab from Watson misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ciprianni checks it well.
Watson throws a jab but it's blocked by Ciprianni.
Watson throws a jab but it's blocked by Ciprianni.
Watson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Watson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Watson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ciprianni moves away.
Ciprianni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Watson.
An inside leg kick from Watson misses.
Ciprianni takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A swing and a miss from Watson.
Watson misses with a right hand
and Ciprianni counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ciprianni thumps Watson with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ciprianni walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ciprianni moves away from the strike by Watson.
Watson tried to score with a low kick but Ciprianni checks it.
Ciprianni was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Ciprianni has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ciprianni staying out of range there.
Watson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ciprianni moves away from the strike by Watson.
Watson throws a low kick, looking for Ciprianni's leg but Ciprianni calmly moves out of range.
Watson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ciprianni.
Watson swings for the body but Ciprianni moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ciprianni takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Watson just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Watson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A chopping leg kick lands by Watson.
Watson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Watson backing away here, and Ciprianni unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Watson misses with a body shot.
Ciprianni has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Watson finds it's way round the side to connect with Ciprianni's head.
Watson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ciprianni stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Ciprianni rushes Watson and presses him up against the cage.
Ciprianni blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ciprianni misses with a body punch.
Watson stalls.
Watson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ciprianni can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watson throws a head punch that misses.

Watson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Watson connects with a right hand. Ciprianni shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ciprianni lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Watson swings widly with a right hand
and Ciprianni counters with a stiff right hand.
Watson looks to land a right hand but Ciprianni moved out of range.
A low kick from Watson is predictable there
enabling Ciprianni to counter with a crisp jab.
Watson misses with a hook
letting Ciprianni counter with a right hand.
Watson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Watson digs a good body shot into Ciprianni's ribs.
Ciprianni throws a head kick that misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Watson.
Watson is looking to score with low kicks.
Watson connects with a body shot that sends Ciprianni's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ciprianni avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Watson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A slow jab from Watson misses its intended target.
Watson throws a body shot but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ciprianni avoids the body shot from Watson.
Watson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Watson connects with a right hand. Ciprianni shakes it off.
Watson throws a right and a left that Ciprianni avoids nicely.
Ciprianni looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Watson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ciprianni throws a sloppy head kick and Watson moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson misses with a straight right.
Ciprianni throws a big shot that misses.
Watson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Watson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Watson throws a poor cross that misses
and Ciprianni cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Watson swings for the body but Ciprianni moves out of range.
Ciprianni looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Watson tries a head kick but it misses.
Watson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Watson throws an overhand right that lands on Ciprianni's shoulder, as Ciprianni tries to avoid the shot.
Ciprianni moves out of range as Watson throws a body kick.
Ciprianni walks into a jab.
A big left from Watson misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Ciprianni to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice body punch from Watson.
Ciprianni takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ciprianni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Watson.
Ciprianni lands an overhand right.
John Watson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Watson misses with a body punch
and Ciprianni counters with a nice leg kick.
Ciprianni checks a leg kick.
Watson just misses with a punch to the body.
Watson misses with a body shot.
Watson just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Watson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ciprianni at a distance.
Watson with a hook.
A big right from Watson misses.
Watson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ciprianni manages to avoid it.
Watson lands a nice hook to Ciprianni's body. Ciprianni takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Watson looks to land a left hand but Ciprianni moved out of range nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ciprianni! But no joy.
Ciprianni does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Watson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ciprianni on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ciprianni slips a jab from Watson.
Ciprianni looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Watson throws a poor cross that misses
letting Ciprianni counter with a right hand.
Watson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ciprianni takes one on the button.
Nice defenses there by Ciprianni.
That kick from Watson tenderised Ciprianni's leg. Ciprianni is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ciprianni tries to move into range but Watson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Watson jabs Ciprianni to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Watson takes a swing at Ciprianni's ribcage but misses.
Watson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
John Watson is winning the standup battle so far.
Watson scoring well with a low kick there.
Watson lands an overhand right.
Watson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little jabbing left from Ciprianni on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Watson just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Watson.
Nice body punch from Watson.
Ciprianni takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watson scores with a leg kick.
Watson misses with a lunging right hand
and Ciprianni makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Watson takes a swing at Ciprianni's ribcage but misses.
Watson throws a sloppy head kick and Ciprianni moves out of range easily.
Watson avoids a kick to the body.
A big left from Ciprianni misses.
A big left from Watson misses.
Ciprianni is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Watson thows a leg kick but Ciprianni checks it
and Ciprianni counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A lazy left from Watson finds it's target.
Watson connects with a solid leg kick.
Watson misses the shot to the body.
Ciprianni only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Watson throws a low kick, looking for Ciprianni's leg but Ciprianni calmly moves out of range.
Watson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ciprianni on the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Watson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Watson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ciprianni throws out a counter right but Watson avoids it with no problem.
Watson throws a lazy right hand but Ciprianni sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Watson defending well as Ciprianni loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson just misses with a punch to the body.
Watson staying out of range there.
A jab from Watson finds it's way through Ciprianni's defenses.
Ciprianni chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Watson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ciprianni moves away.
Ciprianni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Watson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ciprianni throws a head kick that half lands.
Watson misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Watson clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ciprianni takes a swing at Watson's ribcage but misses.
Ciprianni checks a leg kick.
Ciprianni chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Watson can pounce on him.
Ciprianni avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Watson misses with a jab to the body
and Ciprianni counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ciprianni misses with an uppercut
and Watson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ciprianni thumps Watson with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ciprianni slips a straight right by Watson.
Watson misses with the body kick
and Ciprianni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ciprianni bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ciprianni slips a jab from Watson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson throws a body shot but no joy.
Watson misses with a straight left.
Ciprianni throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Watson to counter with a crisp jab.
Watson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ciprianni.
Ciprianni on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ciprianni slips a jab and a cross from Watson.
Ciprianni walks into a straight right hand from Watson.
Ciprianni takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ciprianni moves out of range as Watson throws a body kick.
Ciprianni has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Watson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ciprianni's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ciprianni staying out of range there.
Watson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ciprianni is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Watson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ciprianni counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
Watson working a defensive guard here.
Ciprianni throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Watson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ciprianni trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ciprianni throws an elbow that misses. Watson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ciprianni's guard. Nice move by Watson!

Watson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ciprianni is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ciprianni wants to sweep here but Watson controlling him for the moment.

Ciprianni escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Watson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ciprianni has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Ciprianni working for a triangle but Watson defends it easily.
Watson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Watson wants to get back to his feet.

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.

Ciprianni actively working from the bottom here.

Ciprianni looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ciprianni is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ciprianni is still trying to improve position.
Watson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Watson had his way with Danny Ciprianni in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Ciprianni finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Watson throws a body punch but Ciprianni moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Watson. Ciprianni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab, jab by Ciprianni - just one landing.
Watson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ciprianni takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A low kick from Watson misses

and Ciprianni counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ciprianni.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson is trying to control the position but Ciprianni postures up.
Ciprianni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Watson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ciprianni is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is adopting a defensive guard.
Watson trying to keep a closed guard but Ciprianni is proving a slippery customer.
Ciprianni tries to free his leg and advance position but Watson is retaining full guard.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Ciprianni from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watson wants to sweep here but Ciprianni controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Watson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Danny Ciprianni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Watson misses with a shot to the body
and Ciprianni counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Watson takes a swing at Ciprianni's ribcage but misses.
Ciprianni with the counter takedown but Watson avoids it easily.
Ciprianni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Watson.
A jab lands there for Watson.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Watson.
Watson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Watson jabs Ciprianni to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ciprianni moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Watson scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Watson.
Ciprianni doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Watson slips under a jab from Ciprianni.
A counter left hand to the body from Watson misses its target.
Ciprianni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ciprianni drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Watson defends it well.
Ciprianni on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Watson misses the shot to the body.
Ciprianni scoring well with a low kick there.
Watson misses with a body punch
enabling Ciprianni to counter with a crisp jab.
Watson throws a body punch but Ciprianni moves out of range.
Watson scores with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ciprianni doesn't seem bothered though.
Ciprianni is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Watson.
Watson misses with a hook to the body
and Ciprianni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Watson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ciprianni.
Watson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watson works the jab nicely.
Watson takes one on the button.
Ciprianni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A nice side step and Ciprianni releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Watson scores with a shot to the body.
Watson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Watson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 50:45
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Watson!
A very excited looking John Watson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.