PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Robertson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robertson comes to the cage accompanied by State of the union by Rise Against. Watson has chosen Walk Away by Five Finger Death Punch as his entrance music. Josh Robertson had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Robertson
vs
Watson

182 cm
22
198 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

188 cm
27
192 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Robertson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joseph Watson!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Robertson blocks a head kick by Watson.
Robertson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Watson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Robertson thinking.
Robertson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Watson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Robertson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
No luck for Watson with that takedown attempt.
Robertson misses with a few strikes there.
Robertson misses with a left hand
and Watson counters with a low kick, right behind Robertson 's knee.
Robertson avoids the head kick by Watson.
Robertson thows a leg kick but Watson checks it
and Watson counters with a big head kick but Robertson shrugs it off.
Robertson slips a jab and a cross from Watson.
Robertson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Robertson misses with a leg kick
and Watson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Watson moves in looking to clinch but Robertson pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Robertson to score with a decent uppercut.
A lazy body kick from Robertson
and Watson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Watson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Watson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Robertson is avoiding damage well.
Watson throws a strike aimed at the side of Robertson's head but Robertson avoids it well.
Robertson is trying to buck Watson off.

Watson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Watson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Watson fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Robertson struggling a bit here.
Watson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
An elbow from Watson crashes against the mat.
Watson scoring with punches and elbows.
Watson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Robertson looks to move to half guard but instead Watson has passed into mount! Damn!
Watson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watson goes for an armbar but Robertson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Robertson.
Robertson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Robertson from controlling successfully.
Watson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Robertson.
Watson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Robertson throwing strikes but missing.
Watson looking to control.
Robertson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Watson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Robertson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Watson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Robertson tries to hold on but Watson postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Watson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Robertson checks the leg kick.
Good shot there by Watson.
Watson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Robertson on the side of the head.
Watson throws a big shot that misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Robertson blocks the leg kick.
Robertson throws a leg kick
and Watson counters with a stiff right hand.
Robertson throws a leg kick
and Watson counters with a head kick. That will keep Robertson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Robertson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Josh Robertson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice body kick there by Watson.

Watson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Robertson is trying to push Watson away but Watson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Robertson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Robertson takes a knee right on the jaw!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Watson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Watson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Watson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Robertson blocks it with crossed arms.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Watson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Robertson is keeping busy.
Watson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Robertson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Watson is defending well for now.
Robertson misses with a knee to the head.
Watson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Robertson's face.

It looks like Josh Robertson has been cut.
Watson landing knees to the body.
Watson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Robertson backwards.
Watson pushes Robertson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Watson scores with a knee to the head.

Robertson is rocked!

Robertson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Oh Robertson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Robertson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Watson.
Robertson seems to have got his legs back now.
A low kick from Robertson misses
and Watson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Robertson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Watson - the referee stops the clock and Robertson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Watson. Robertson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Robertson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A low kick from Robertson is predictable there
and Watson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Watson works Robertson's body with a nice hook.
Watson misses with a head kick.
Josh Robertson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A low kick from Robertson is predictable there
and Watson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A low kick from Robertson misses
and Watson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Robertson's knee momentarily.
Watson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick by Robertson misses
and Watson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Watson. Robertson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Watson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watson wants to land a leg kick but Robertson is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson connects with an inside leg kick.
Robertson throws a right hand that Watson ducks under and follows up with a left that Watson also avoids with ease.
Watson has a takedown stuffed.
Joseph Watson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Robertson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Robertson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Robertson thows a leg kick but Watson checks it
and Watson counters with a thumping low kick.
Watson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Watson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Josh Robertson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Robertson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Robertson misses with a leg kick
and Watson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A low kick from Robertson is predictable there
and Watson counters with a big head kick but Robertson shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson throws a lazy body kick
and Robertson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Robertson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Watson's sensitive parts.
Watson throws a lazy head kick
and Robertson counters with a low kick, right behind Watson 's knee.
Watson looks to land a right hand but Robertson moved out of range.
Watson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Robertson circles away quickly and effectively.
Watson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Robertson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Watson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Watson fails to land with a series of punches.
Watson lunges at Robertson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Robertson's hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Robertson throws a leg kick
and Robertson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Robertson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Watson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Josh Robertson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Watson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Robertson misses with a leg kick
and Watson counters with a low kick, right behind Robertson 's knee.
Nice body kick from Robertson.
Robertson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Watson checks it well.
Robertson motions for Watson to come forward. Robertson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Robertson thows a leg kick but Watson checks it
and Watson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Robertson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Watson misses with a leg kick
letting Robertson counter with a right hand.
Watson throws a nice head kick!
Robertson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A low kick from Robertson misses
and Watson counters with a good low kick that Robertson was not able to check.
Robertson throws a leg kick
and Watson counters with a left and a right that stings Robertson.
Watson cracks the inside of Robertson's front leg.
Watson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robertson swats away the attempt to clinch by Watson.
Robertson looks to throw a body kick
and Watson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Robertson's knee momentarily.
Watson takes a swing at Robertson's ribcage but misses.
Watson sizes up Robertson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Watson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Robertson gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Watson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice defenses there by Watson.
Watson moves out of range of the body kick.
Watson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Robertson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Robertson scores with a jab to the body.
Josh Robertson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Robertson's head.
Watson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Robertson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Watson can pounce on him.
Robertson throws a head kick that misses
and Watson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Robertson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Watson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Robertson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Watson moves into the clinch.
Watson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Robertson's face.
Watson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Watson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Watson trying to land knees to the body.
Watson can't get the takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Robertson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Robertson breaks from the clinch.
Watson throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robertson thows a leg kick but Watson checks it
and Watson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Robertson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Robertson avoids a kick to the body.
Watson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Robertson throws a leg kick
and Watson counters with an inside leg kick.
Robertson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Watson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Robertson's head.
Jab from Watson.
Watson tries to clinch but Robertson moves out of range.
Robertson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Watson counters with a head kick.
Robertson throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Watson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Robertson's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robertson connects with a leg kick. Watson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A low kick from Robertson is predictable there
and Watson counters with an inside leg kick.
Watson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Robertson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Watson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Robertson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Joseph Watson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head kick from Watson lands but Robertson takes it in his stride.
Robertson thows a leg kick but Watson checks it
and Watson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Robertson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Watson counters with a body kick.
A lazy body kick from Watson
and Robertson counters with a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watson scores with a nice strike.
Watson throws a hook to the side of Robertson's head but Robertson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Robertson throws a leg kick
and Watson counters with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Watson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Watson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight for Joseph Watson!
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Joseph Watson!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Joseph Watson!

Joseph Watson wins by unanimous decision!