PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Scott Watt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Borden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Watt might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Edmund Fitzgerald. Borden comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Im Just Being Honest- Mozzy kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Watt
vs
Borden

185 cm
20
165 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

172 cm
21
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Scott Watt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Borden!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watt gets a clinch.

Watt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Borden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Borden pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Watt darts in trying to clinch

and Borden counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Borden.
Watt will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Borden up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Watt tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Borden avoids it.
Watt dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Watt trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watt misses with a knee to the head.

Borden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Watt tries to clinch but Borden moves out of range.
Watt misses with a takedown attempt - Borden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Watt throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Borden.
Borden is looking to clinch.

Borden tries to keep at a distance but Watt has taken the fight into the clinch.
Watt scores a nice knee to the body.
Watt goes for a takedown in the clinch but Borden prevents it.
Watt struggles to land a body shot inside as Borden controls his hands.
Borden being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Watt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Borden doesn't manage to clinch there - Watt circles away.
Borden defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Watt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Watt. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Watt gets a clinch.

Watt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Watt rushes Borden and presses him up against the cage.

Watt drags the fight down to the ground.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Watt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Borden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Borden looking to sit in guard and control but Watt gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borden pulls Watt in close to prevent any damage.
Watt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Borden holds on and takes a little breather.
Watt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Watt wants to pass the guard but Borden is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Daniel Borden.

Watt drives through with a takedown into Borden's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Watt stands up and waves to Borden to follow him.
Borden misses with a head kick.

Watt bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Watt stands up and beckons Borden to his feet.
Borden throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Watt throws a head kick that misses.
Watt is looking to clinch but Borden is avoiding it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borden tries to clinch up but Watt circles away and keeps his distance.
Watt lands a jab-cross combination.
Borden is looking to clinch.
Watt scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice takedown defense from Watt. No joy for Borden on that attempt.

Watt pushes Borden up against the cage in a clinch.
I was talking to Watt's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Watt jumps guard but Borden stands there with Watt around his waist. Watt gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Watt tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Borden just stands there and leans against the cage.
Watt stalling in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Borden is trying to break free.
Watt working hard to break the clinch.
Watt throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Watt prevents the takedown attempt.

Watt pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watt pulls Borden in close to his closed guard and prevents Borden from doing any damage or advancing position.
Watt wants to sweep here but Borden controlling him for the moment.

Watt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Borden wants to control from the top but Watt keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Daniel Borden.
Borden keeps the fight on the outside.

Borden has managed to clinch.
Watt prevents the takedown attempt.
Scott Watt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Borden.

Watt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Watt blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Borden has had enough of the clinch but Watt keeps him there for the moment.
Watt tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Borden avoids it.
Borden is looking for a takedown.
Scott Watt has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Borden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watt tries to clinch up but Borden circles away and keeps his distance.
Scott Watt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Borden on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Watt tries to close the distance and clinch but Borden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Borden looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A jab from Borden misses.
Scott Watt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watt chopping away at his opponent's legs.

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

Watt is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Watt wants to pass to mount but Borden is defending the position.

Watt is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watt trying to control the action but Borden is working from the bottom.
Watt thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Watt thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Borden blocking the ground and pound attempt from Watt.
Scott Watt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Watt takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Borden actively working from the bottom here.
Watt stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Watt dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Watt throws a head kick that misses.
Borden tries to clinch but Watt is having none of it.
Watt lands a nice shot to the body.
Borden shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Watt defends it nicely.
Watt looks to land a combination. Borden sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Borden has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Watt.
Borden doesn't manage to clinch there - Watt circles away.

Borden tries to keep at a distance but Watt has taken the fight into the clinch.
Watt tries to pull guard but Borden holds him up against the cage and eventually Watt drops back down to his feet.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Watt just misses with a elbow thrown towards Borden's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watt tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Watt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Borden avoids a kick to the body.
Watt shoots in but Borden avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Watt. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Borden gets tackled into the cage by Watt. Watt maintains the clinch.
Watt lands a nice elbow.
Watt lands a shoulder strike.
Watt has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Borden after a bit of a struggle.
Borden is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Watt is defending well.

Watt has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Borden uses from the top position.
Borden has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Watt is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borden trying to control the position from guard on top but Watt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Borden passes Watt's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Borden is looking to take a break and control but Watt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Borden sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Borden seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Borden not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Borden wants to pass the guard but Watt is defending well.
Watt wants to improve his position but Borden is controlling well.
Borden tries to stand and escape but Watt actually recovers to full guard.
Borden trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watt tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Borden throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Watt seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Borden working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Watt wants to sweep here but Borden controlling him for the moment.
Watt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Borden postures up.
Daniel Borden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Scott Watt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Scott Watt has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Watt clinches.
Borden takes a knee to the side of the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Watt showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Watt 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Watt!
After winning the bout, Scott Watt thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.