PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brian Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Watson
vs
Black

180 cm
21
180 lbs
8 - 2 - 1

180 cm
20
178 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Amber Swan*$15 Rec Supp*

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brian Watson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Black!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson lands a slapping body shot.
Watson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Black.
Black misses with a hook to the body
and Watson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Black missing with a left hand there. Watson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Black takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Watson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Watson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Black.
Black swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Watson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A jab from Black misses.
Watson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Black.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Watson misses with a hook. Black ducked under it nicely.
Black moves forwards but Watson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Watson throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Watson shoots in but no luck this time.
Michael Black seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Black misses with a hook to the body

and Watson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Watson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Black defending well though.
Black is trying to get back to full guard.
Watson wants to free his trapped foot but Black is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is looking for a sweep. Watson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Watson is looking to take a break and control but Black is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Black wants to control but Watson is keeping busy.

Watson seems to be working for a kimura but Black defends the submission attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Watson throws a solid leg kick but Black takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Watson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black throws a jab when Watson was well out of range.
Black tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Watson was well out of range. Poor timing from Black.
Watson scores with a shot to the body.
Black throws a combination that misses

and Watson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Watson.
Black wants to sweep here but Watson controlling him for the moment.
Watson tries to free his leg and advance position but Black is retaining full guard.
Watson is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watsonis looking to pass into half guard but Black pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Black is in guard.
Black wants to control from the top but Watson keeps moving.
Watson wants to stand but Black is controlling the position.
Black stays in close to Watson's body and controls the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Watson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Watson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Watson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Black.
Watson misses with a leg kick.
A big left from Watson misses.
Black misses with a few strikes there.
Watson takes a swing at Black's ribcage but misses.
Watson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Black.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Watson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Black blocks a low kick nicely.
A slow jab from Black misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Watson to counter with a crisp jab.
Watson moves away from the strike by Black.
Black moves out of range of the strikes.
Watson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Brian Watson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Watson.
Watson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Watson motions for Black to come forward. Watson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson shoots in for a takedown but Black shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Watson fails with a takedown attempt.
Watson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Black lands a nice hook to Watson's body. Watson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Watson works the jab nicely.
Watson loads up on a big right hand but Black slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Watson throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Watson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Watson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Black cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Watson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Black swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Black scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A left lands for Black.
Watson moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black looks to land a combination but Watson avoids it well.
Black misses with a body kick.
Watson fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Watson shoots for a double leg takedown but Black sprawls well. He's pushed Watson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black misses the jab.
Black on the wrong end of a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Black showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Black stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Black wants it to stay on the feet.
Black misses with a two punch combination.
Black swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Watson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Black throws out a loose jab but Watson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Black swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Watson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Watson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Black misses with a wild body shot.
Watson takes one on the button.
Brian Watson is winning the standup battle so far.
Black throws a series of punches but Watson moves out of range.
Michael Black is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black catches Watson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Watson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Black.
Black lands with a right hand.
Watson scores with a nice strike.
Watson misses with a jab to the body
and Black counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Watson ducks under a wild hook from Black.
Watson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Black throws a hook to the side of Watson's head but Watson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson lands a jab to Black's midsection.
Black looks to land a left hand but Watson moved out of range nicely.
Watson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Black.
Watson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Black sprawls well. Black wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Watson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black throws a big shot that misses.
Black looks to land a combination but Watson avoids it well.
Black swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Watson misses with a looping right.
Watson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Black throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Black throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Black thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Black misses with a straight left.
Black connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Watson's hands.
Watson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Watson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Black throws a hook but Watson blocks it.
Black throws a combination that misses
and Watson counters with a series of strikes. Black will be more careful next time no doubt.
Black throws a shot from downtown. Watson moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Black really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Black uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Watson has time to react.
The fighters circling - Black throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Black waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Watson.
Watson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Black tries to avoid it but Watson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Black to the ground. Black escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Watson with a poor takedown
and Black counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Black misses with a combination
and Watson counters with a left and a right that stings Black.
Watson tries to close the distance and clinch but Black swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Watson slips a straight right by Black.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black scores with a jab to the jaw.
Black might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Black throws a lazy right hand but Watson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Black avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Watson lands an overhand right.
Black throws an overhand right that lands on Watson's shoulder, as Watson tries to avoid the shot.
Black throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Black but Black pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Black checks a low kick from Watson.
Black throws out a loose jab but Watson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Black getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Black swings for the body but Watson moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Black throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fighters circling - Black throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson shoots for a takedown but Black saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A big right from Black misses.
Black throws a hook but Watson blocks it.
Watson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Black lands a nice hook to Watson's body. Watson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A big right from Black misses.
Black uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Watson has time to react.
Black throws a hook but Watson avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Black, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Black misses with a looping left.
Watson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Black but Black pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Watson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Black's waist but Black gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Watson off to one side.
Watson lands a jab to the nose.
Watson moves out of range as Black strikes.
Watson moves out of range as Black strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Black dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Watson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Black. Black circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Watson has closed the distance and engaged Black in a clinch.

Black breaks the clinch.
Watson slips a jab from Black.
Black swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A swing and a miss from Black.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Watson.
Black defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Watson.
Watson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Black.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Watson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Watson looks to score with a jab to the body but Black is just out of range.
Black misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Watson.
Watson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Black swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Black thows a left - swing and a miss!
Watson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Watson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Black lands with an overhand left.
Black jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Black cracks Watson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Watson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Black throws out the jab.
Black misses the body punch
and Watson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Brian Watson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Black displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Watson.
Black fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Watson manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Black to counter with a crisp jab.
Black swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Watson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Black circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Black thows a body shot but no joy.
Black misses with a body shot.
Black throws a shot from downtown. Watson moves away and avoids it.

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.
Watson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Black throws out the jab.
Watson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Watson blocks a jab.
A swing and a miss from Black.
Black waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Watson.
Black misses with a double jab

and Watson counters with a takedown into side control.
Michael Black is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
You can see the frustration on Black's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Watson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Black has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 47:48
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 47:48
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Black!
Michael Black is the new welterweight champion!