PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Watts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alejandro Pederson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Watts has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Watts
vs
Pederson

180 cm
25
173 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sam Watts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alejandro Pederson!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watts shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pederson sprawls well. Pederson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Watts gets slowly back to his feet.
Pederson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Pederson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Watts manages to avoid it.
Pederson gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Watts decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pederson's guard.
Pederson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pederson wants to stand and escape but Watts is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pederson looking for a sweep. Not yet Pederson, not yet.
Watts will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Watts is fighting to break Pederson's control of his arms but Pederson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Pederson is trying to keep Watts in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pederson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pederson is trying to keep Watts in close.
Pederson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Watts content to stall in guard here.
Pederson pulls Watts in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pederson keeping moving, preventing Watts from controlling successfully.
Pederson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Pederson is looking for a triangle but Watts pushes his legs off easily.
Watts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pederson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pederson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Watts trying to control but Pederson is working from the bottom.
Pederson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Watts trying to control but Pederson is working from the bottom.
Pederson pulls Watts in to control the position.

Pederson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Watts is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Pederson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Watts can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Watts knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pederson on the ground.
Watts with a nice head shot there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watts controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Pederson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Watts postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Pederson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck for Pederson with that takedown attempt.
As Pederson tries to get set, Watts tries to push him back and clinch up but Pederson manages to avoid the attempt.
Pederson tries to clinch up.
Pederson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Watts looks for a takedown but Pederson sprawls well.
Pederson feints the counter takedown.
Pederson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Watts counters with a nice body shot.
Sam Watts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alejandro Pederson.
Pederson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Watts enables Pederson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Watts manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Watts wants to sweep here but Pederson controlling him for the moment.
Pederson is breathing heavily.
Pederson is looking to work some ground and pound but Watts has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watts tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pederson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pederson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Watts trying to keep a closed guard but Pederson is proving a slippery customer.
Watts looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Alejandro Pederson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Watts looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Watts.
Pederson throws a leg kick that misses.
Watts is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Pederson.

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.
Pederson avoids the head kick by Watts.
Pederson flicks out a counter leg kick but Watts steps away.
Watts tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pederson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Watts somewhat.
Pederson misses with a shot to the body
and Watts counters with a three punch combo that has Pederson backing up. Pederson nods at Watts to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice takedown defense from Pederson. No joy for Watts on that attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pederson.

Watts fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pederson sprawls well initially but Watts persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pederson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pederson wants to control but Watts is keeping busy.
Pederson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Pederson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Watts trying to control the position from guard on top but Pederson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watts sitting in guard here, content to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Watts wants to control from the top but Pederson keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Watts thuds his right hand into Pederson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Pederson fails with a takedown attempt.
Watts closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Pederson takes the fight into the clinch.

Pederson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pederson tries to keep at a distance but Watts has taken the fight into the clinch.
Watts is trying to drag Pederson to the mat but Pederson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Watts dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Pederson tries to clinch up but Watts circles away and keeps his distance.
Pederson fails to land the takedown.
Pederson shoots in but Watts avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Watts is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pederson's half guard.
Pederson gets back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watts is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pederson looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watts gets to his feet. Pederson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Watts shoots for a takedown but Pederson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Watts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pederson is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Watts with a body shot.
Watts tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pederson swivels and escapes.
Pederson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
A clash of legs there as Watts blocks the low kick.
Pederson fails with a takedown attempt.
Watts is looking to counter punch.
Sam Watts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alejandro Pederson.
Watts fails with the takedown.
Watts defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pederson.
Pederson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Watts closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pederson to the mat! Pederson manages to get full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pederson holds on and takes a little breather.
Watts trying to control the position from guard on top but Pederson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pederson working a defensive guard here.
Pederson wants to sweep here but Watts controlling him for the moment.
Pederson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Watts takes the fight into the clinch.
Pederson looking for a takedown.
Pederson tries to pull guard but Watts won't allow it.
Watts is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pederson is defending well for now.

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.

Pederson decides to pull guard.

Pederson working for a triangle but Watts defends it easily.
Watts trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pederson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Watts looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Pederson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Watts is positioning himself well to prevent Pederson advancing to mount.
Pederson uses his free foot to push down on Watts's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Watts.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alejandro Pederson.
I think Pederson 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Pederson!