PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abel Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Wates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Watson
vs
Wates

215 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

172 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Abel Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Edward Wates!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson shoots in looking for a takedown. Wates tries to sprawl out of it but Watson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wates manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Wates rushes Watson and presses him up against the cage.

Wates decides to pull guard.
Wates is trying to control the position but Watson postures up.

Wates 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wates is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wates is looking to stand up but Watson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wates doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Watson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Watson is looking to work some ground and pound but Wates has wrist control.

Watson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wates is trying to keep Watson in close.
Watson won't allow Wates to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Watson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wates tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Watson postures up in Wates's guard and throws a big left but Wates blocks it.
Watson won't allow Wates to sweep him here.
Watson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Watson wants to stand but Wates is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wates scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wates tries to move into full mount but can't pass Watson's legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Wates decides to stand up, so the ref orders Watson to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Wates to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wates missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wates trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wates.
Wates throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wates wants to control from the top but Watson keeps moving.
Wates is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Wates from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Wates throws a leg kick but Watson checks it.
A quick step to the side and Watson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wates looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wates advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Wates dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Wates fails in his attempt to clinch.
Watson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Wates darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wates not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Watson is looking to control Wates's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Watson avoid being mounted?
Wates not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wates moves nicely into side control.
Wates advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wates wants to control the pace but Watson is squirming around nicely.
Wates lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Watson hang on?
Wates misses with a head shot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Wates performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wates seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Watson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Wates decides to return to a standing position.
Wates tries to clinch but Watson moves out of range.

Wates scores with a takedown into Watson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wates controls from within his opponent's guard.
Wates loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wates trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wates landing with the ground and pound.

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 can't keep his opponent in guard - Wates advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Watson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Wates in particular looking to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Watson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wates.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Wates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Wates lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Watson is rocked!
Edward Wates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Wates shoots in and gets a takedown into Watson's guard.
Oh Watson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wates loads up on a big left hand. Watson felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Wates looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Watson can't hide his disappointment, as Wates celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Edward Wates!