PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Olof Hell (ranked 24899 p4p, 25100 weight class) and Carvel Watkins (ranked 673 p4p, 679 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Carvel Watkins was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hell
vs
Watkins

195 cm
22
205
1 - 4 - 0

196 cm
21
200
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Olof Hell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carvel Watkins!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Hell circles away.
Watkins tries for a takedown but Hell circles away easily

and Hell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hell.
Watkins tries to pull guard but Hell won't allow it.
Watkins drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hell pulls his leg out and moves away.
Olof Hell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carvel Watkins.

Hell gets a double leg takedown into Watkins's guard.
Watkins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hell stopping the sweep attempt from Watkins.

Hell drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Watkins dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Watkins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hell 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.

Hell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Watkins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hell is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

Hell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two 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 stands and steps away. Hell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Watkins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hell misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Watkins to counter with a crisp jab.
Hell is breathing heavily.
No luck for Hell with that takedown attempt.
Hell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Watkins as he jumps to the side.

Watkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Watkins fails to pull guard.
Hell lands an elbow just above Watkins 's eye.
Watkins is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hell is defending well.
Watkins is trying to break free.
Watkins has Hell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hell is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hell lands an elbow that stopped Watkins in his tracks for a moment.
Hell swings wildly with an uppercut but Watkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hell trying to land knees to the body.
Watkins can't break the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hell.
Hell lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Watkins tries to pull guard but Hell holds him up against the cage and eventually Watkins drops back down to his feet.
Hell has Watkins pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Watkins manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Watkins is trying to break the clinch but Hell is controlling him.
Watkins tries to score a body lock takedown but Hell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hell pushes off an throws an elbow but Watkins leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Watkins misses with an elbow over the top.
Hell slows down the pace here.
Watkins goes for a takedown attempt but Hell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hell fails with the takedown.
Hell walks into a straight right hand from Watkins.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hell has his takedown stuffed
and Watkins counters with a three punch combo that has Hell backing up. Hell nods at Watkins to acknowledge the strikes.
Watkins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Watkins slaps away a takedown attempt from Hell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Olof Hell will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Watkins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Watkins with that takedown attempt.
Hell shoots in for a double leg but Watkins sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Watkins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hell avoids it really well and circles away.
Watkins ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hell 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hell smiles and moves away.
Olof Hell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carvel Watkins.
Watkins throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Watkins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hell.
Watkins is breathing heavily.
Hell tries to move to full mount but Watkins actually manages to regain half guard.
Ground and pound from Hell.
Hell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Watkins knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Hell is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Watkins wants to improve his position but Hell is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watkins is pressing down on Hell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hell forces his way into half guard.
Hell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Watkins trying to control but Hell postures up.
Watkins is looking to improve his position.
Hell looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hell scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Watkins knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hell seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watkins keeps working.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Watkins knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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.
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.

Hell gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hell manages to pull guard.
Olof Hell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Watkins stands up and waves to Hell to follow him.
Watkins connects with a solid leg kick.
Hell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Watkins is fending him off so far but Hell persists. Nope, Watkins circles away and we're back to standing.

Watkins darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Hell has one foot on Watkins's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Olof Hell will probably get the nod.
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!

A low kick lands for Watkins.
A head kick misses from Watkins.
Watkins throws a sloppy head kick and Hell moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hell or perhaps it was just good defense by Watkins, which made it look bad.
Carvel Watkins seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Hell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hell showed some decent athleticism there.
Watkins trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hell with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Watkins missing with punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hell is looking for a kimura here.
Watkins is looking to improve his position.

Hell is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Watkins trying to control here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hell is keen to just control but Watkins is a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hell tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Watkins defends well and Hell ends up having to push Watkins into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hell - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Watkins is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hell has Watkins pressed against the cage.
Watkins is trying to break the clinch but Hell has him pressed against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Watkins dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hell pushes off an throws an elbow but Watkins leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hell lands with a short shot to the head.
Watkins is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hell to keep the fight standing.
Watkins looking for a takedown.
The referee calls for Hell to work.
Hell wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Olof Hell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hell fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Watkins manages to break the clinch.

Watkins throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hell tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Watkins is in Hell's guard.

Hell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Watkins wants to stand but Hell has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Hell is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Watkins is aware though and is defending well.
Hell can't keep his opponent in guard - Watkins advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Watkins is taking a breather. Hell says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Watkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Watkins wants to pass the guard but Hell is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Carvel Watkins.
I think Hell has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Olof Hell!
After the fight, Olof Hell was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.