PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Denver Washington (ranked 2384 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Watson (ranked 3759 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Washington
vs
Watson

189 cm
43
182 lbs
27 - 19 - 1

179 cm
53
175 lbs
34 - 26 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple 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 27 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denver Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Watson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Washington throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Watson moves into the clinch.
Washington presses Watson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Watson taking a breather.
Washington lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Watson misses with a punch on the inside.

Washington manages to break the clinch.

Washington fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Watson, pushing him back against the cage.

Washington manages to break the clinch.

Washington shoots in and bounces Watson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Washington accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Watson trying to keep a closed guard but Washington is proving a slippery customer.
Washington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Watson wants to stand up but Washington is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington is stalling in the full guard.
Washington stands and throws Watson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Washington in side control lands a decent elbow.

Washington decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Washington closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Washington lands in his opponent's guard.
Washington wants to pass the guard but Watson is keeping the position.

Washington gets to his feet. Watson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Watson.

Washington changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Watson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Washington is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Watson has escaped the position, nice work there.

Washington has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Watson throws a body shot but no joy.
Washington throws a head kick that misses.
Washington lands with a kick to the temple. Watson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Thomas Watson has been cut.
Washington avoids a kick to the body.
No luck for Washington with that takedown attempt.
Watson throws out a counter right but Washington avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Washington to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Watson can't keep his opponent in guard - Washington advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Washington perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Watson wants to improve his position but Washington is controlling well.
Washington lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Washington trying to control the action but Watson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson is trying to stand up here but Washington is controlling him well.
Washington prevents Watson from improving his position.
Washington sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Watson is trying to stand up here but Washington is controlling him well.
Ground and pound from Washington.

Washington is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Watson is just riding it out for now. Washington eventually gives up the hold.

Washington looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denver Washington dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thomas Watson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Washington has Watson up against the cage in a clinch.
Watson taking a breather.
Washington tries to pull guard but Watson holds him up against the cage and eventually Washington drops back down to his feet.
Watson has a couple of punches blocked by Washington.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson lands a shoulder strike.

Washington breaks the clinch.
Washington fails with a takedown attempt.
Watson tries to counter by closing the distance.
Washington fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denver Washington. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson misses the shot to the body.
Washington doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Watson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Watson.
Watson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Washington has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Watson after a bit of a struggle.

Washington jumps guard and drags Watson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Watson preventing the sweep.
Watson throwing strikes but missing.
Washington trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Washington avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Washington not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Watson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Washington wants to control the position but Watson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Watson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Washington to regain full guard.
Watson being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but Washington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Washington has Watson pulled in close to control his posture.
Washington controls Watson momentarily but Watson frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Denver Washington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Washington.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Washington rushes Watson and presses him up against the cage.

Washington breaks from the clinch.
Washington shoots for a takedown but Watson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Watson tries to counter by closing the distance.
Washington throws a head kick that misses.

Washington has taken the fight to the clinch.

Washington's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Washington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Watson.
Watson tries to clinch there but Washington circles away.

Watson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Washington tries to pull guard but Watson holds him up against the cage and eventually Washington drops back down to his feet.
Watson is looking to take this one to the mat.

Washington has clasped his hands together around Watson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
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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!
Watson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Washington's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson wants to control but Washington is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Washington looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Washington there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Washington connects with a nice short shot to Watson's temple.
Denver Washington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Watson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Washington scores with a couple of nice shots.
Washington sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Watson defending well though.
Washington controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watson trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Denver Washington will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thomas Watson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Watson throws the left hand but Washington avoids the punch easily.

Washington closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Watson is trying to get back to half guard.
Washington working the head and body with strikes.
Washington working the ground and pound.
Washington controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Watson tries to buck Washington off but Washington is having none of it.
Washington in side control lands a decent elbow.
Washington controls the position.
Washington 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.

Washington stands up.

Washington drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Washington decides to stand up, so the ref orders Watson to his feet.
Watson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Washington pushes Watson up against the cage in a clinch.
Watson taking a breather.
Watson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Washington breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Washington lands with a nice combination. Watson backs away looking to recover.

Watson is rocked!
Washington pounces like a tiger and cracks Watson with a vicious hook! Watson is down but not out! Washington follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Denver Washington!
Post fight, Denver Washington took to the microphone: 'Time to call it, I want to thank the fans for all the support.'.