PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hector Gonzalez (ranked 1039 p4p, 872 weight class) and Craig Watkins (ranked 149 p4p, 127 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gonzalez
vs
Watkins

185 cm
22
190
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
185
5 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing

SynCity Fightwear
Blaze Clothing

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hector Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Watkins!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gonzalez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Watkins manages to avoid it.

Watkins gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short left from Watkins.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch.

Watkins instigates a clinch.
Watkins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Watkins pushes Gonzalez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Watkins lands a left hand.
Watkins tries a body shot but Gonzalez blocks it.
Gonzalez is trying to break the clinch but Watkins has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Watkins.
Watkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gonzalez's elbow.
A right hand to the body from Watkins.
Gonzalez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice body punch from Watkins - that landed with a thud.
Gonzalez is breathing heavily.
Gonzalez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Watkins lands a shot to the body.
Gonzalez tries a body shot but Watkins blocks it.
A short body shot lands from Watkins as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Watkins on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gonzalez is trying to force a seperation but Watkins has the dominant position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Watkins.
Watkins lands with a light punch inside.
Gonzalez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Watkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Gonzalez controls his hands.
Watkins scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gonzalez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watkins is working Gonzalez over against the cage.
Watkins makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gonzalez tries to work over Watkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gonzalez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gonzalez blocks a body shot from Watkins.
Watkins misses with a body punch.
Watkins lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gonzalez backwards.
Watkins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Watkins blocks an elbow strike from Gonzalez.
A head punch on the inside from Watkins fails to land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez prevents a body shot from Watkins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Watkins on the inside.
Watkins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Watkins lands a right hand.
Watkins tries to throw a body punch but Gonzalez avoids it by throwing Watkins back against the cage.
Watkins avoids a wild elbow strike from Gonzalez.
Watkins tries to work over Gonzalez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watkins lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gonzalez.
Gonzalez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Watkins pushes Gonzalez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Watkins.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Gonzalez controls the action.
Watkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watkins lands a left hand.
Watkins works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Watkins tries to work over Gonzalez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gonzalez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by Watkins.
Gonzalez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Watkins lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gonzalez.
Watkins tries to throw a body punch but Gonzalez avoids it by throwing Watkins back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Watkins - that landed with a thud.
Watkins scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Watkins tries to throw a body punch but Gonzalez avoids it by throwing Watkins back against the cage.
Gonzalez tries to work over Watkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Gonzalez controls the action.

Gonzalez breaks from the clinch.
Gonzalez sizes up Watkins with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gonzalez throws a hook but Watkins avoids it easily.
Watkins is looking to clinch but Gonzalez is avoiding it.
Craig Watkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Watkins darts in and clinches Gonzalez up against the cage.
Gonzalez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good body shot from Watkins.
Watkins blocks the elbow strike.
Watkins tries to work over Gonzalez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gonzalez pushes Watkins back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch.

Watkins moves into the clinch successfully.
Watkins lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gonzalez backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gonzalez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins swings wildly with an uppercut but Gonzalez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Watkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Watkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Watkins throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Watkins can't find room to land a body shot as Gonzalez controls the action.
Gonzalez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Watkins lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Watkins.
Gonzalez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watkins blocks a body shot from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez lands an elbow inside that Watkins shrugs off.
Watkins stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Gonzalez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Watkins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watkins lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gonzalez backwards.
A short body shot lands from Watkins as the two fighters clinch.
Watkins lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Still in the clinch, Watkins scores with a nice short uppercut.
Watkins lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Watkins 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.

Watkins forces Gonzalez back against the cage and clinches.
Still in the clinch, Watkins scores with a nice short uppercut.
Watkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watkins throws a head punch that misses.
Gonzalez lands a body punch.
Watkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Gonzalez controls his hands.
Watkins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Watkins misses with a body punch.
Gonzalez misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gonzalez.
Watkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watkins lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gonzalez wants to break free but Watkins has control.
Watkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins blocks an uppercut.
Watkins misses with the head strike.
Watkins tries a body shot but Gonzalez blocks it.
Watkins lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gonzalez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Gonzalez throws a punch but it's blocked by Watkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins lands a shoulder strike.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch.
Watkins's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Watkins duly obliges.
Watkins wants to clinch up but Gonzalez keeps it at a distance.
Watkins wants to clinch.
Watkins wants to clinch up but Gonzalez keeps it at a distance.
Gonzalez misses with a kick to the body.
Watkins tries to clinch up.
Gonzalez misses with a looping right.
Watkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gonzalez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Watkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Gonzalez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gonzalez scores with a three punch combo!
Gonzalez throws a jab when Watkins was well out of range.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watkins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gonzalez backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Watkins.
Watkins avoids a wild elbow strike from Gonzalez.
A shot in the inside from Watkins.
A right hand to the body from Gonzalez.
Watkins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Watkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Watkins.
Watkins lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gonzalez.
Craig Watkins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watkins lands a hook to the side of the head.
Watkins misses with a body punch.
Gonzalez can't break the clinch.
Gonzalez lands a shoulder strike.
Gonzalez misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins lands a left hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gonzalez.
Watkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watkins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gonzalez's efforts to push away.
Gonzalez misses with some punches.
Gonzalez misses with some punches.
Watkins working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gonzalez works on Watkins's body with a couple of short punches.
A body shot lands from Gonzalez.
Craig Watkins seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Watkins makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gonzalez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gonzalez lands a shoulder strike.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gonzalez looks for the body kick but Watkins saw that one coming.

Watkins takes the fight into the clinch.
Gonzalez misses with an elbow strike.
Watkins misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Gonzalez fails to land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body punch from Gonzalez - that landed with a thud.
Watkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Watkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Watkins wants to clinch.
Watkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Watkins tries to clinch but Gonzalez is having none of it.
Watkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Gonzalez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gonzalez.
Watkins moves out of range of the body kick.
Gonzalez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Watkins sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Watkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Gonzalez circles away.
Watkins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez fails to land with a series of punches.
Hector Gonzalez is winning the standup battle so far.
Gonzalez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Watkins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gonzalez, pushing him back against the cage.
Gonzalez tries to work over Watkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gonzalez struggles to land a body shot inside as Watkins controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gonzalez's elbow.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Gonzalez circles away.
Gonzalez misses with the body kick
and Watkins counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Watkins is looking to clinch.
Gonzalez moves out of range as Watkins strikes.

Gonzalez moves into the clinch.
Gonzalez misses with an elbow strike.
Gonzalez struggles to land a body shot inside as Watkins controls his hands.
A short left from Gonzalez.
Watkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gonzalez can't find room to land a body shot as Watkins controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gonzalez avoids the body shot from Watkins.

Watkins closes the distance and clinches.
Gonzalez misses with the head strike.
Watkins misses with a punch to the body.
Watkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Gonzalez controls his hands.
Watkins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gonzalez misses with an elbow over the top.
A head punch on the inside from Gonzalez fails to land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gonzalez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watkins blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gonzalez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Watkins's brow.
Gonzalez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gonzalez wants to get back to striking at distance but Watkins won't allow it.
Gonzalez wants to get back to striking at distance but Watkins won't allow it.
Watkins blocking some punches.
Gonzalez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nice body punch from Gonzalez - that landed with a thud.
Gonzalez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gonzalez swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gonzalez lands a hook to the side of the head.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watkins wants to clinch.
Watkins tries to clinch up.
Gonzalez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Watkins.
Watkins dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gonzalez. That did some damage!
Watkins tries to clinch but Gonzalez moves away
and Gonzalez counters with an inside leg kick.

Watkins clinches up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watkins blocks the elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gonzalez throws an elbow but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Gonzalez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Watkins has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Watkins!
An out of breath Craig Watkins thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.