PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Emanuel Rodrigez (ranked 3981 p4p, 379 weight class) and Devin Watkins (ranked 4732 p4p, 432 weight class). Watkins comes into a darkened arena with his song building. What Happened to That Boi kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be a great matchup!

Rodrigez
vs
Watkins

188 cm
29
173 lbs
8 - 17 - 0

190 cm
26
180 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Good elbows
Knockout power

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 8 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Emanuel Rodrigez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Devin Watkins!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodrigez.

Watkins rushes Rodrigez and presses him up against the cage.
We've been hearing reports that Rodrigez has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Watkins breaks the clinch.

Watkins drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Watkins gets to his feet. Rodrigez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Watkins throws a combination. Rodrigez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rodrigez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Watkins.
That kick from Watkins tenderised Rodrigez's leg. Rodrigez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rodrigez takes one on the button.
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!
Watkins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from Watkins. Those never looked like landing.
Rodrigez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rodrigez gets tackled into the cage by Watkins. Watkins maintains the clinch.
Watkins tries to land knees in the clinch but Rodrigez avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigez takes an elbow to the temple.
Rodrigez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Watkins lands a nice knee to the body.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Watkins has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Watkins digs a right hand underneath Rodrigez's ribcage. Rodrigez let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Watkins breaks from the clinch.

Rodrigez moves into the clinch.

Rodrigez has clasped his hands together around Watkins's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rodrigez remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Watkins is not content to let Rodrigez control the position.
Rodrigez in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watkins tries to buck Rodrigez off but Rodrigez is having none of it.
Rodrigez working the ground and pound but Watkins is defending the strikes.
Watkins wants to control but Rodrigez postures up.

Rodrigez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Watkins looks to land a combination but Rodrigez avoids it well.
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!

Rodrigez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Watkins to the ground. Rodrigez is now in Watkins's guard.
Rodrigez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Watkins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Watkins is trying to control the position but Rodrigez postures up.
Rodrigez is in close to Watkins's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rodrigez controlling from the top position.
Watkins is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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

That's four 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.
Watkins lands a jab-cross combination.
Rodrigez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watkins sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A nice side step and Watkins releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emanuel Rodrigez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rodrigez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Watkins trying to land knees to the body.
Watkins throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Rodrigez manages to break the clinch.

Watkins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodrigez, pushing him back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Watkins.
Watkins comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Watkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rodrigez is defending well for now.
Watkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rodrigez is defending well for now.
Watkins stops a takedown attempt from Rodrigez.
Rodrigez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devin Watkins dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Watkins gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rodrigez postures up.
Watkins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Watkins working a defensive guard here.
Watkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodrigez is one step ahead there.
Rodrigez 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Watkins keeping moving, preventing Rodrigez from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rodrigez shoots in but no luck this time.
Watkins scoring well with a low kick there.
Watkins throws a leg kick

and Rodrigez counters with a single leg into guard. Watkins didn't expect that.
Watkins wants to sweep here but Rodrigez controlling him for the moment.

Watkins has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rodrigez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rodrigez sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigez'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.
Rodrigez won't allow Watkins to sweep him here.
Rodrigez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watkins is keeping the position for now.
Watkins is looking to sweep but instead, Rodrigez has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Watkins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fighters are battling for position here. Watkins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Watkins looking to control.
Rodrigez is working Watkins over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rodrigez content to stall in guard here.
Watkins keeping full guard, as Rodrigez tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Watkins trying to keep a closed guard but Rodrigez is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab from Watkins does it's job there.

Rodrigez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watkins missing with knees to the body.
Rodrigez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Watkins walks away with a smile on his face. Rodrigez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rodrigez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Watkins. Watkins obviously looking to wear him down.
Rodrigez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Watkins.
Rodrigez dives in for a single leg takedown but Watkins sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emanuel Rodrigez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Watkins clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodrigez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Watkins with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Devin Watkins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Watkins throws a series of strikes that have Rodrigez backpedaling.
Watkins lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Devin Watkins seems to be getting the better of the standup.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Watkins pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rodrigez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rodrigez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodrigez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watkins keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigez tries to score with some ground and pound. Watkins controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rodrigez working the ground and pound.
Watkins struggling a bit here.
Watkins manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Emanuel Rodrigez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigez won't allow Watkins to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watkins working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Watkins wants to advance to full mount but Rodrigez doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Watkins postures up and lands a big shot to Rodrigez's brow.
Watkins wants to stand and escape but instead Rodrigez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rodrigez working some strikes from top position.

Rodrigez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Watkins is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Watkins has escaped and now he's on top!

Watkins preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Watkins controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Watkins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Watkins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Watkins postures up in Rodrigez's guard and throws a big left but Rodrigez blocks it.
Rodrigez has control of Watkins's left arm, preventing Watkins from doing any damage.
Rodrigez looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Watkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Watkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Watkins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rodrigez goes for a double leg but Watkins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Watkins continues to drive forward.
Watkins with the counter takedown but Rodrigez avoids it easily.

Watkins clinches up with Rodrigez and pushes him back against the cage.
Watkins lands a body shot in the clinch.
Watkins lands a good knee to the midsection. Rodrigez won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Watkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Watkins gets a double leg takedown into Rodrigez's guard.

Rodrigez has his feet on Watkins's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rodrigez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
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!
Rodrigez shoots for a takedown but Watkins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emanuel Rodrigez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigez tries for a takedown but Watkins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Watkins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Watkins is looking to take a break and control but Rodrigez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodrigez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Watkins is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rodrigez controlling the position well.

Watkins is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Watkins is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Devin Watkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Watkins winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Devin Watkins!
Devin Watkins managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Juggernaut And Gladiators(90% Laundry), into his post fight interview.
Emanuel Rodrigez was interviewed post fight and said 'PUTA!!!'.