PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Devin Watkins (ranked 7966 p4p, 660 weight class) and Danny Meechum (ranked 23265 p4p, 754 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Watkins
vs
Meechum

190 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
185 lbs
5 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Devin Watkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danny Meechum!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watkins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Meechum but Meechum pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Watkins buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Watkins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Meechum slaps away a takedown attempt from Watkins, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Watkins throws a chopping leg kick but Meechum manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nice defenses there by Watkins.
Watkins tries to counter with a takedown but Meechum is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins dodges the punch combination from Meechum.
Meechum slips a jab and a cross from Watkins.
Danny Meechum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meechum pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Watkins closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Meechum avoids it.

Watkins pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Watkins throws a combination. Meechum tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Meechum lands with a nice body punch.
Watkins takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Watkins fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devin Watkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watkins has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Watkins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Meechum is fending him off so far but Watkins persists. Nope, Meechum circles away and we're back to standing.
Meechum misses with a jab, cross combination.
Meechum misses with a body shot
and Watkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Meechum keeps the fight on the outside.
Watkins throws a right hand that Meechum ducks under and follows up with a left that Meechum also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Meechum gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Watkins to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Watkins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Watkins is in close to Meechum's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Meechum wants to get back to his feet but Watkins is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Meechum manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Watkins putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Meechum in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Meechum has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Watkins missing with knees to the body.
Watkins lands a body shot.
Watkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Meechum is defending well for now.
Watkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Meechum blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meechum is trying to break free.
Watkins landing knees to the body.
Meechum looks winded!
Meechum managing to block the knees to the body from Watkins.
Watkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Meechum has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Watkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Meechum stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Meechum wants it to stay on the feet.
Watkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Meechum's waist but Meechum gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Watkins off to one side.
Watkins slips under a jab from Meechum.
A chopping leg kick lands by Meechum.
Meechum rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Watkins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Danny Meechum is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Watkins has closed the distance and engaged Meechum in a clinch.
Watkins scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Meechum.

Meechum breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watkins connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Meechum momentarily.
Watkins works over Meechum's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Watkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Watkins looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Meechum with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Watkins is trying for a kimura here. Meechum looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Watkins wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Devin Watkins!