PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jaylen Watson (ranked 4862 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cole Slovak (ranked 3258 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Watson
vs
Slovak

178 cm
22
136 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jaylen Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cole Slovak!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slovak lands a nice looking body kick.
Slovak throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Watson's head.

It looks like Jaylen Watson has been cut.
Watson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Slovak.
Slovak dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Slovak gets caught flat footed, as Watson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slovak controlling Watson's posture.
Slovak working a defensive guard here.
Watson is stalling in the full guard.
Watson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Watson scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slovak has control of Watson's left arm, preventing Watson from doing any damage.
Watson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Watson wants to pass the guard but Slovak is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Slovak changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Watson tries to avoid it but Slovak manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Watson to the ground. Watson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Watson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cole Slovak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Slovak fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watson avoids it really well and circles away.
Jaylen Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cole Slovak.

Watson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watson avoids the elbow strike from Slovak, against the cage.

Watson pulls Slovak into guard.
Slovak won't allow Watson to sweep him here.
Watson working a defensive guard here.
Slovak trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Slovak got a little sloppy there for a moment and Watson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Slovak has managed to get both his arms back between Watson's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slovak is working Watson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Watson trying to control the position here.
Slovak trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Watson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Watson throws a body shot but no joy.
Slovak lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Watson at a distance.

Watson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Slovak trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Slovak escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Watson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Slovak trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaylen Watson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jaylen Watson's cut.
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.

Watson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Watson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Slovak to the ground. Watson is now in Slovak's guard.
Watson postures up.
Watson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Slovak can do to turn this around?
Watson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Slovak looking to control.

Watson stands up from Slovak's guard - Watson perhaps looking for a knockout.

Slovak closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slovak tries to score a body lock takedown but Watson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The referee calls for Watson to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slovak is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Watson is defending well.
Slovak goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Watson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Slovak is looking to clinch.
Watson looks for the body kick but Slovak saw that one coming.
Jaylen Watson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Watson lands with a shot to the body.
Slovak goes for a double leg but Watson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Watson continues to drive forward.
Jaylen Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cole Slovak.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Slovak. Watson shrugs it off though.
Watson throws a combination. Slovak tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Cole Slovak has been cut.
Slovak is breathing heavily.
Slovak is looking to land body kicks.

Slovak shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Watson is trying to defend but Slovak finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Watson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Watson.
Slovak must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Watson working for a triangle but Slovak defends it easily.
Watson working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson wants to sweep here but Slovak controlling him for the moment.

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

Watson moves into range and clinches up with Slovak.
Slovak wants to break free but Watson has control.

Slovak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Slovak looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson misses with a body kick.
Watson shoots for a takedown but Slovak saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Watson tries to clinch but Slovak moves out of range.
Watson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Slovak fails with the takedown.
Slovak's corner calls for a 1-2. Slovak obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Watson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Slovak is working for takedown but Watson is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaylen Watson dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Slovak tries to sprawl but Watson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Watson seems content to control.
Slovak tries to get to full guard but Watson has control of the leg.

Watson is working for a submission of some sort.
Slovak is looking for a sweep. Watson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is pressing down on Slovak's thigh, looking to free his foot. Slovak is holding on for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Slovak trying to control here.

Watson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Slovak throws a right and a left that Watson avoids nicely.

Watson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Slovak quickly recovers to half guard.
Slovak is trying to maintain the position but Watson is very close to passing his half guard.
Slovak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Watson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Slovak for as long as he can get away with.
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. Watson connects with a nice short shot to Slovak's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slovak tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Watson manages to move to mount!
Slovak tries to hold on but Watson pushes him away.
Watson wants to control but Slovak has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Slovak tries to roll over but Watson keeps him under control.
Jaylen Watson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Watson blocks the strikes from Slovak.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slovak trying to control but Watson postures up.
Watson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Slovak has hold of Watson's hands but Watson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Watson slows the pace down in half guard.
Slovak trying to control from the bottom.
Cole Slovak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jaylen Watson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaylen Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Watson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight for Jaylen Watson!
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight for Jaylen Watson!
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight for Jaylen Watson!

Jaylen Watson wins by unanimous decision!