PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wonder Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sherman Stafford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stafford has chosen Sherman's too sexy as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Wonder Watson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Wonder Watson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Watson
vs
Stafford

200 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

186 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Wonder Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sherman Stafford!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stafford stuffs the takedown.
Watson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Watson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Stafford looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Watson tries to kick Stafford off but Stafford keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
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.
Stafford keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Stafford prevents Watson from standing back up.
Stafford content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Stafford's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Watson looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford is controlling the pace.
Stafford wants to free his trapped foot but Watson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stafford looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Watson is trying to get back to full guard.
Stafford stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Watson trying to control but Stafford postures up.
Well, if Stafford 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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Sherman Stafford just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Watson is looking to clinch.
Watson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stafford paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watson shoots and misses

and Stafford counters with a shoot takedown. Watson fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wonder Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson is breathing heavily.
Stafford advances position into side control!
Stafford controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Stafford is controlling him well.
Stafford is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Watson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

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.
Watson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Stafford slows the pace down.

Despite being in the dominant position, Sherman Stafford just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Watson misses with a takedown attempt

and Stafford counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stafford sitting and controlling from the half guard.
I looks like Stafford might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sherman Stafford dominated that 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.

Watson has his takedown stuffed

and Stafford counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Watson's face as Stafford controls the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Sherman Stafford just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stafford fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Watson sprawls well initially but Stafford persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford works his foot free and advances to mount.
Watson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Watson tries to hold on but Stafford pushes him away.
Stafford controlling from mount.
Watson tries to hold on but Stafford postures up.
Stafford controlling his opponent.
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.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Watson is trying desperately to improve position.
Stafford controlling from the full mount.
Watson is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson has given up his back.
Stafford trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Watson doesn't escape.
Watson is trying to stand back up.
Well, with Stafford on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Watson is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
What can Watson do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Despite being in the dominant position, Sherman Stafford just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Watson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Watson lands in his opponent's guard.
Watson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stafford swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stafford seems keen to control Watson's posture.
Let's hope that Stafford has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sherman Stafford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Stafford fails with a takedown attempt.
Watson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stafford in his tracks.

Watson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stafford looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stafford wants to control but Watson postures up.
Sherman Stafford has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stafford regains half guard.
Watson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stafford works his way to full guard. Good work.
Watson wants to control from the top but Stafford keeps moving.
Watson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Stafford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Watson postures up in Stafford's guard and throws a big left but Stafford blocks it.
Stafford has control of Watson's left arm, preventing Watson from doing any damage.
Watson wants to pass the guard but Stafford is keeping the position.
Stafford seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Watson wants to stand but Stafford has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stafford controlling Watson's posture.
Stafford wants to sweep here but Watson controlling him for the moment.
Stafford has control of Watson's left arm, preventing Watson from doing any damage.

Despite being in the dominant position, Sherman Stafford just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stafford avoids the head kick by Watson.
Stafford fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafford circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stafford decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Watson's guard.
Stafford wants to pass the guard but Watson is keeping the position.
Stafford is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stafford pushes down on Watson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Stafford trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson is looking for a sweep. Stafford is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stafford looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Wonder Watson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sherman Stafford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Watson manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sherman Stafford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stafford winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sherman Stafford!