PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Downs (ranked 8876 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Watne (ranked 5782 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Downs
vs
Watne

177 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

171 cm
25
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Carlos Downs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Watne!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Downs fails to land the takedown.
Watne with the counter takedown but Downs avoids it easily.

Watne clinches with his opponent.

Watne ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Watne no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Downs passes Watne's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Watne is trying to maintain the position but Downs is very close to passing his half guard.
Downs seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Watne does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Downs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watne keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Watne can do anything to dispel that myth.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Downs in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs trying to control the action but Watne is working from the bottom.
Watne is looking to control Downs's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Watne avoid being mounted?
Watne is refusing to be controlled, as Downs sits in half guard.
Watne is trying to control but can't.
Downs trying to control from half guard but Watne is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Watne closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Downs's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watne wants to get up but he can't break Downs's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watne pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Downs is keeping the position for now.
Watne sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Downs keeping full guard, as Watne tries to pass.
Downs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Downs controlling the position.
Downs is looking to stand up but Watne isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downs trying to keep a closed guard but Watne is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A decent looking cross lands there for Watne.

Watne has managed to clinch.

Watne pulls Downs into guard.

Watne is looking for a triangle but Downs pushes his legs off easily.
Downs working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Watne scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Watne closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Downs to the mat! Downs manages to get full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Watne stays in close to Downs's body and controls the position.
It looks like Watne might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Watne prevents Downs from getting back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Downs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Watne showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Watne dominated that 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.

Watne shoots in and gets a takedown into Downs's guard.

Watne drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Downs dives on top into guard.

Downs trying to control the position from guard on top but Watne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Downs has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Watne is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downs trying to control but Watne is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Watne has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Watne pulls Downs in close to prevent any damage.

Watne looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Downs passes into half guard.
Watne is looking to get back to full guard here but Downs has managed to pass to side control instead.
Watne is trying to control Downs's posture but Downs avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Downs lands a decent elbow from side control.
Downs wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watne keeps working.
Downs taking a breather here.
Watne is trying to control Downs's posture but Downs avoids it.
Watne is trying to improve his position.
Tom Watne has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downs grinds an elbow into Watne's temple.
Watne is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Watne is not content to let Downs control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Watne feints and as Downs raises his hands in defense, Watne changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Watne must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Watne missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Watne is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Watne avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Watne preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Downs dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Watne gets a clinch.
Downs has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Downs wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Watne blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Watne manages to pull guard.
Watne keeping moving, preventing Downs from controlling successfully.
Watne controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downs wants to control from the top but Watne keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watne managing to control the position.
Downs trying to control the position from guard on top but Watne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Downs landing some decent shots from guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Watne moves into the clinch.

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.

Watne successfully pulls guard.
Downs content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Watne tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Downs trying to control but Watne is working from the bottom.
Watne wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Downs passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watne is trying to get back to half guard.
Watne is trying to control Downs's posture but Downs avoids it.
Watne is not content to let Downs control the position.
Downs scores with punches from side control.

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.
Downs trying to control the position but Watne is working away.
Watne is trying to improve his position.
Downs wants to control but Watne is keeping him busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Watne gets a double leg takedown into Downs's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Watne controls from within his opponent's guard.
Downs looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Watne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Watne has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Watne!