PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Erris Watts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Roja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Watts
vs
Roja

150 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Black Skull Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erris Watts!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antonio Roja!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watts just misses with a punch to the body.
Watts digs a good hook to Roja's body.
Roja waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Watts.
Watts ducks under a wild hook from Roja.
Roja scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Roja stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Roja wants it to stay on the feet.
Watts swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Watts shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Roja napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Watts misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roja is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Watts asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watts is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Watts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roja keeps working.
Watts just content to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Erris Watts.
Good work by Roja as he checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Watts ducks under a wild hook from Roja.

Watts has managed to clinch.

Watts has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Roja clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Roja rolls, trying to escape but Watts keeps control of the position.
Watts controls the action.
Roja trying to control the position but Watts manages to sink in the hooks.
Watts is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Watts seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Roja for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts throwing strikes and Roja squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
Watts looking to finish with strikes here!
Roja avoids a series of strikes thrown by Watts.
Watts content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Roja is working to get back to half guard.
Watts controlling his opponent.
Roja wants to control but Watts is having none of it.
Watts controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erris Watts dominated that round.
That's time! Watts's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Roja checks a leg kick.

Watts clinches up with Roja and pushes him back against the cage.
Watts fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Watts has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Roja regains guard immediately.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Erris Watts.
Roja with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Roja throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Roja connects with a nice looking jab.
Roja jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Roja ducks under a wild hook from Watts.
Roja misses with a looping right.
Roja throws a shot from downtown. Watts moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roja stuffs the takedown.
Roja misses with a looping left.
Watts misses with a takedown attempt - Roja sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erris Watts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watts misses with a shot to the body
and Roja connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Roja scores with a jab to the body.
Roja lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Roja might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Watts uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Roja.
Watts fails with a takedown attempt.
Watts avoids the body shot from Roja.
Roja throws a shot from downtown. Watts moves away and avoids it.
Roja staying out of range there.
Antonio Roja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watts on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Watts closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Watts perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Watts wants to stand up but Roja is controlling the position.
Watts wants to take a breather but Roja is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Watts is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Roja is pressing down on Watts's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Watts has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts throws a big right hand that misses.
Roja has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Watts's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Erris Watts.
Watts bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four 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.
Roja throws a hook but Watts blocks it.
Watts thows a body shot but no joy.

Watts throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Roja was covering up waiting for the punch and Watts finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Roja has his hands on Watts's head, controlling the position.
Watts slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Watts wants to control from the top but Roja keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Antonio Roja will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Watts's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Roja throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Watts sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Watts is looking to wear down Roja with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Roja misses with a looping left.
Roja keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roja misses with a body shot.
Roja is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Watts misses with a hook to the body
and Roja counters with a left to the body.
Watts takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Roja misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Watts.

Watts shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Roja's guard.
Watts is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Watts looking to sit in guard and control but Roja gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Watts looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roja is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watts keeping moving, preventing Roja from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Roja stopping the sweep attempt from Watts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roja wants to pass the guard but Watts is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Roja is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Antonio Roja just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Watts lands a nice hook to Roja's body. Roja takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Watts misses with a body shot
and Roja counters with a left and a right that stings Watts.
Watts misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Roja counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Watts shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roja pinned against the cage. Roja gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Watts shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd cheers as Roja lands an impressive looking overhand right. Watts doesn't seem phased though.
Watts looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Watts looks to score with a jab to the body but Roja is just out of range.
Watts misses with a looping right.
Watts fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erris Watts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watts throws an overhand right that lands on Roja's shoulder, as Roja tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roja jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Roja avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Roja misses the jab.
Roja scores with a punch to the head.
Watts ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Roja moves away.
Roja misses with a straight right.
Roja lands a slapping body shot.
Roja cracks Watts with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Watts slips a jab from Roja.
Watts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Roja counters with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roja misses with an uppercut.
Watts gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Watts swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Roja misses with a hook.
Roja throws out a loose jab but Watts uses good head movement to avoid it.
Watts displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Roja throws out the jab.
Watts closes this distance looking for a takedown but Roja circles away.
Roja lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Watts circles away quickly and effectively.
Roja dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Watts fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roja manages to avoid it.
Roja misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Roja.
Erris Watts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot lands for Roja.
Antonio Roja seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Watts misses with a low kick.
Watts shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Roja loads up on a big right hand but Watts slips the punch.
Watts misses with a shot to the body
and Roja counters with a nice uppercut.
Roja misses with a straight right.
Watts walks into a stiff left hand from Roja.
A left lands for Roja.
Roja lands a body shot.
Roja misses with a body shot

and Watts counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Roja!
Watts throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts looking to control and managing it successfully.
Roja is looking to get to half guard.
Watts controlling the pace for now.
Watts trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watts controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Roja dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Roja throws a looping overhand right but Watts ducks down to avoid it.
Roja dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Watts displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Roja throws out the jab.
Roja misses with a hook.
Roja looks to land a left hand but Watts moved out of range nicely.
Watts ducks under a wild hook from Roja.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roja keeps the fight on the outside.

Watts changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Roja looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Watts is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Roja will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Watts prevents Roja from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Roja's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Roja regains half guard there - taking advantage of Watts's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Roja regains full guard. Nicely done.
Watts sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Watts thows a big elbow that misses.

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.
Roja is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Roja keeping full guard, as Watts tries to pass.
Watts is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Watts stands and throws Roja's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Roja is not content to let Watts control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Erris Watts.
Roja throws a looping overhand right but Watts ducks down to avoid it.
Watts staying out of range there.
Watts misses with a hook to the body
and Roja counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Roja misses with a few strikes there.
Antonio Roja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roja works over Watts's head and body with a nice combination.
Roja cracks Watts with an open hand slap.
Roja misses with an uppercut. Watts saw that one coming.
Watts looks to score with a jab to the body but Roja is just out of range.
Roja loads up on a big right hand but Watts slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Watts fails with the takedown.
Roja misses with a body kick.
Roja looks to throw the jab but Watts is out of range.
Roja with a jab.
Erris Watts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Watts throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Roja walks into a stiff left hand from Watts.
Roja throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Watts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roja lands a jab to the nose.
Watts throws a predictable looking body shot
and Roja counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Roja misses with a looping right.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Roja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Roja 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 46:49
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 47:49
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Roja!
Antonio Roja is the new featherweight champion!