PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arsteen Berghen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Watts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Watts will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Berghen
vs
Watts

179 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
173 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arsteen Berghen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sam Watts!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watts defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Berghen.
Watts tries a head kick but it misses.
Berghen fails with the takedown.
Berghen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Watts misses with the combination.
Berghen dodges the punch combination from Watts.
Watts thows a leg kick but Berghen checks it

and Berghen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Berghen.
Berghen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berghen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Berghen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Watts for as long as he can get away with.
Berghen stands and throws Watts's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berghen working the ground and pound.
Watts is trying to buck Berghen off.
Watts takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Berghen is working Watts over with some ground and pound from side control.
Berghen cracks Watts with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Berghen working the ground and pound from side control.
Berghen lands a nice forearm strike.
A lull in the action here as Berghen stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berghen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Watts is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Berghen is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Watts will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Watts can do anything to dispel that myth.
Berghen working the body and head with strikes.
Watts is being controlled here.
Watts is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Berghen asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Watts is trying to buck Berghen off.
Watts really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Berghen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Berghen landing strikes.
Berghen scoring with punches from side control.
Watts is being controlled here.
Watts is trying to buck Berghen off.

That's four 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.
Berghen just content to control the position.
Berghen in side control lands a decent elbow.
Check out the look on Berghen's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Berghen tries for a kimura but Watts is defending well.
Berghen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Watts some visible discomfort.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watts wants to get back to his feet but Berghen drags him back down.
Watts trying to remain calm as Berghen controls from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berghen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watts keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Watts fails to land with a series of punches.
Watts stuffs the takedown attempt from Berghen. Berghen gets slowly back to his feet.
Watts pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Watts throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Berghen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Berghen 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.
Watts is trying to stand.
Arsteen Berghen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berghen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Berghen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berghen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Berghen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berghen with the ground and pound from mount.
Berghen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Berghen controlling his opponent.
Berghen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Berghen with the ground and pound from mount.
Berghen working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berghen controlling his opponent.
Berghen breaks from Watts's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Berghen content just to control the position here.
Watts is in a horrible position here. Berghen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Watts wants to try and get back to his feet.
Berghen controlling his opponent.
Berghen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berghen controlling his opponent.
Berghen lands a couple of good shots and Watts has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Watts is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Watts wants to get back to his feet.
Good control from Berghen.
Berghen is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Berghen gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Berghen gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Berghen apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Watts bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berghen shoots for a takedown but Watts saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Watts throws a wild body kick that Berghen sees coming a mile off.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Berghen checks a leg kick.
Berghen wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Berghen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Watts's waist but Watts gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Berghen off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arsteen Berghen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Berghen misses the target.
Berghen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Watts can do to turn this around?
Watts shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Berghen eats them both and turns towards Watts to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Berghen dives in and grabs Watts's left leg, looking for a takedown. Watts pushes down on Berghen's head and hops out.
Watts throws a leg kick that misses.
Watts lands a hook that stumbles Berghen back into the cage. Watts follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Berghen to the canvas! Watts pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Berghen has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Sam Watts!