PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wonder Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Warden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Watson
vs
Warden

200 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
174 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Wonder Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mr Warden!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Warden or perhaps it was just good defense by Watson which made him look bad.
Warden fails with a takedown attempt.
Watson is looking to clinch but Warden is avoiding it.
Watson fails with a takedown attempt.
Warden shoots and misses

and Watson counters with a shoot takedown. Warden fights it but they end up in guard.
Wonder Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mr Warden.

Warden working for a triangle but Watson defends it easily.
Warden preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Warden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but Warden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Warden doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Watson counters with a shoot takedown. Warden fights it but they end up in guard.
Watson wants to stand but Warden is controlling his posture from full guard.
Watson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Warden keeping moving, preventing Watson from controlling successfully.
Warden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Watson is one step ahead there.
Watson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson pushing down on Warden's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Warden looks gassed!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Watson trying to control from half guard but Warden is working away.
Warden flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Watson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Watson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Warden looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Watson is trying to keep Warden in close.
Warden won't allow Watson to sweep him here.
Warden scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Warden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watson is keeping the position for now.

Watson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Warden doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Warden manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Warden with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Warden trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Watson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Warden can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Warden shoots in and bounces Watson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Watson controls Warden momentarily but Warden frees himself.
Warden trying to control but Watson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wonder Watson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Warden falls off balance throwing a combination

and Watson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Warden's guard.
Warden wants to sweep here but Watson controlling him for the moment.
Warden manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Watson manages to get himself to full guard.

Warden gets to his feet - Watson follows without any prompting.

Warden looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Watson is looking for a sweep. Warden is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Warden tries to stand but can't do so whilst Watson controls his leg.
Watson missing with punches from the bottom.
Watson is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is trying to get back to full guard.
Warden wants to pass to mount but Watson is defending the position.
Wonder Watson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Watson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Warden is working away from the top position though.
Watson is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Watson tries to clinch but Warden moves out of range.
Warden throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Watson's waist but Watson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Warden off to one side.
Warden is breathing heavily.
Watson fails with a takedown attempt.

Watson shoots in and bounces Warden off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Watson is one step ahead there.
Watson pushing down on Warden's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Warden regains full guard. Nicely done.
Warden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Watson.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Watson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Watson forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson uses his free foot to push down on Warden's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Warden.
Warden sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Warden manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Watson trying to control but Warden is working from the bottom.
Warden looking to control.

Warden escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Watson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Watson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warden keeping moving, preventing Watson from controlling successfully.
Warden wants to sweep here but Watson controlling him for the moment.
Watson won't allow Warden to get back to his feet.

Warden looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Watson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Watson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Warden defending well though.
Warden taking some punishment here, with Watson in his half guard.
Watson wants to free his trapped foot but Warden is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wonder Watson dominated that second round.
That's time! Watson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Watson slows down the pace here.

Watson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watson misses with a takedown attempt - Warden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Warden feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Warden tries to free his leg and advance position but Watson is retaining full guard.
Watson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Warden puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Watson trying to control but Warden postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Warden manages to pass to mount!
Watson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Warden cracks Watson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Watson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Watson holding both Warden 's hands and preventing any damage.

Warden has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Warden not allowing Watson to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warden lands a shot to the body.
Watson has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Warden wants to control but Watson is keeping busy.

Watson showing good submission defense here.

Warden has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Watson has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warden controlling well, preventing Watson from escaping the position.
Mr Warden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Warden looking for the RNC.
Watson trying to control the position but Warden manages to sink in the hooks.

Warden is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Warden is not going to allow Watson to sit and survive in this position.
Warden is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Watson up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Watson is trying to stand back up.
Warden lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Warden.
Warden keeps control of the position as Watson tries to break free.
Watson trying to control the hands but Warden breaks the grip.
Warden is trying to stick to Watson's back but Watson is turning into Warden. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Warden's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Watson.
Watson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Warden tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mr Warden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Watson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wonder Watson!