PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spyde Radic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Watson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Break by Three Days Grace. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Watson
vs
Radic

188 cm
22
192 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
20
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joseph Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Spyde Radic!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Anthony Taglia and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Radic throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Watson swats away the attempt to clinch by Radic.
Radic tries to clinch up but Watson circles away and keeps his distance.
Radic is looking to clinch.
Watson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Radic is looking to clinch.

Watson tries to keep at a distance but Radic has taken the fight into the clinch.
Watson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Radic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Radic prevents a takedown attempt there.
Radic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Watson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Radic has had enough of the clinch but Watson keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson is looking to break free of the clinch but Radic has double underhooks.

Watson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Radic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Radic wants to clinch.

Radic tries to keep at a distance but Watson has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radic trying to land knees to the body.

Watson breaks from the clinch.
Radic misses with a head kick.
Watson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Watson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Radic throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Watson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Radic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Watson trying to land knees to the body.
Radic trying to land knees to the body.
Radic tries to break the clinch but Watson is controlling the position.
Watson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Watson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Radic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Watson managing to block the knees to the body from Radic.
Radic misses with an elbow strike.

That's two 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 gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Radic keeping full guard, as Watson tries to pass.
Watson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but Radic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Radic wants to stand and escape but Watson is having none of it.
Watson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Watson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Radic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Radic pulls Watson in close to his closed guard and prevents Watson from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radic being controlled here, momentarily.
Radic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Watson is one step ahead there.
Radic keeping moving, preventing Watson from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Radic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Watson swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Radic tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Watson counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Radic fakes the leg kick and cracks Watson in the body.
Radic wants to clinch
and Watson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Radic's knee momentarily.
Radic wants to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Watson throws a sloppy head kick
and Radic counters with a body kick.
Radic misses with an attempted mid kick.
Radic clinches but Watson breaks the clinch

and Watson counters by clinching up.
Watson dodges an elbow strike from Radic.
Watson managing to block the knees to the body from Radic.

Radic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Radic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joseph Watson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Radic has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Watson.
An inside leg kick from Radic misses.

Radic closes the distance and pushes Watson back into the cage.

Watson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Watson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Radic postures up.
Radic wants to control from the top but Watson keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Watson holds on and takes a little breather.

Watson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Watson controls Radic momentarily but Radic frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radic stays in close to Watson's body and controls the position.
Watson looking to control.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Radic from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Radic looks to throw the jab but Watson is out of range.
Radic tries to clinch but Watson moves away
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Watson throws a head kick that Radic semi-blocks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Radic stuffs the takedown.
A head kick misses from Radic.

Watson closes the distance and clinches.
Watson avoiding damage as Radic throws knees to the body.
Radic pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Radic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Watson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Watson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Watson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Watson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Radic throws a knee to the head but misses.
Watson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Radic keeps control of Watson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Watson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Radic smiles and moves away.
Radic closes the distance looking to clinch
and Watson counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radic throws a head kick that misses.
Radic tries a head kick but it misses.
Radic looks for the body kick but Watson saw that one coming.
Radic is breathing heavily.
Radic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Watson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watson scores with a kick to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Watson.
Watson scores with a spinning back kick!
Watson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Radic.

Watson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on Watson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Watson avoiding damage as Radic throws knees to the body.
Watson blocks an elbow strike.
Radic trying to land knees to the body.

Radic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson avoids the head kick by Radic.
Radic takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Watson.
Watson throws a head kick but Radic moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Watson.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Watson.

Watson scores a takedown into full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Watson controlling from mount.
Radic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Watson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Watson throws and low kick but Radic moves out of range easily.
Spyde Radic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Radic clinches up with Watson and pushes him back against the cage.
Watson blocks an elbow strike from Radic.
Radic throws an elbow but it misses.
Radic prevents Watson from breaking the clinch.
Nice elbow from Watson.
Radic keeps control of Watson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Radic has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Watson uses from the top position.
Watson pushes down on Radic's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Watson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Radic wants to control but Watson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson working the head and body with strikes.
Radic trying to hold on to Watson's head to control him but Watson postures up.

Watson is looking for a kimura but Radic is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Watson to get the leverage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson trying to control the action but Radic is working from the bottom.

Watson is trying to work for a kimura but Radic is defending well.
Radic wants to get back to his feet.

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.
Radic is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A lazy body kick from Radic
and Watson counters with a leg kick.
Radic connects with a solid leg kick.
Radic closes the distance but Watson moves to the side

and Watson counters with a takedown into side control.
Spyde Radic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Watson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Radic works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Radic is trying to maintain the position but Watson is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radic is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Watson is staying active.
Radic is holding on to half guard well.
Radic is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Radic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Watson is taking a breather. Radic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Joseph Watson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Watson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joseph Watson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Watson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

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