PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderson Machado (ranked 167 p4p, 401 weight class) and Craig Watkins (ranked 25 p4p, 56 weight class). Machado comes to the cage accompanied by El Barrio. Wanderson Machado could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Craig Watkins's chin.

Machado
vs
Watkins

175 cm
28
187
18 - 4 - 0

185 cm
26
185
9 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

SynCity Fightwear
Vegan Gains

Urban Fighter
SynCity Fightwear

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 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wanderson Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Watkins!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watkins throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Wanderson Machado has been cut.
Watkins lands a jab to Machado's midsection.
Watkins on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Watkins lands a nice leg kick that just misses Machado's sensitive parts.
Craig Watkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watkins takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A decent looking cross lands there for Watkins.

Watkins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Machado, pushing him back against the cage.
Watkins prevents a body shot from Machado.
Machado lands a shoulder strike.
Watkins lands a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Watkins fails to land.
Machado stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Machado fails to land.
Watkins tries to throw a body punch but Machado avoids it by throwing Watkins back against the cage.
Watkins misses with a punch on the inside.
I was talking to Machado's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Watkins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Machado swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Watkins manages to break the clinch.
Watkins misses with a two punch combination.
Machado is looking to counter punch.
Machado throws a body punch but Watkins moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Watkins's head.
A bone on bone clash there as Machado blocks the leg kick.
Watkins lands with a straight right. Machado didn't see that one coming.
Watkins looks to land a left hand but Machado moved out of range nicely.
It looked like Machado was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Machado takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Watkins looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Watkins has taken the fight to the clinch.

Machado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watkins scores with a sloppy right hand. Machado should have avoided that one.
Watkins has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Machado fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Machado throws a nice looking combination but Watkins bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Machado throws a looping overhand right but Watkins ducks down to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Watkins drops his hands momentarily and Machado needs no second invitation. He sets himself and throws a perfect high kick, that clips Watkins just on the top of the head. Watkins drops like a sack of potatoes to the canvas, out cold! Oooooooh yeah! Stick a fork in Watkins - he's done!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Wanderson Machado!
Wanderson Machado thanked the fans post fight for their support.