PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Max Dawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derrick Waters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Max Dawson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Dawson
vs
Waters

170 cm
20
156 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

176 cm
24
145 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Max Dawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Derrick Waters!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Waters or perhaps it was just good defense by Dawson which made him look bad.
Dawson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Dawson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Dawson duly obliges.
Dawson misses with a head kick.
Dawson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Waters moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Waters is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dawson.
Dawson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dawson misses with a series of wild punches.
Dawson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dawson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Dawson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick from Dawson lands but Waters takes it in his stride.
Dawson throws a head kick but Waters moves out of range.
Dawson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Waters.
Waters shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dawson as he jumps to the side.
Max Dawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derrick Waters.
Dawson misses with a few strikes there.

Dawson gets caught flat footed, as Waters shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Waters sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waters won't allow Dawson to get back to his feet.
Waters throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dawson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dawson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Waters throwing strikes but missing.
Dawson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Waters is controlling him.
Dawson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Waters trying to control but Dawson is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A punch combination from Dawson misses.
Dawson misses with the combination.
Dawson throws a head kick that misses.
No joy there for Dawson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dawson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dawson misses with a series of wild punches.
Waters closes the distance and clinches up with Dawson, looking for a takedown. Waters pushes Dawson against the cage but Dawson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dawson looks to land a combination but Waters avoids it well.
Dawson misses with a wild combination.
Dawson leaves Waters with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Max Dawson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Waters shoots for a takedown but Dawson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dawson misses with a jab, cross combination.
A head kick misses from Dawson.
Dawson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Waters avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dawson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Waters circles away quickly and effectively.
Dawson misses with a double jab.
Waters tries for a takedown but Dawson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Dawson throws a head kick but Waters moves out of range.
Dawson throws a head kick that Waters semi-blocks.
Dawson misses with a head kick.

Waters decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dawson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Waters on the ground.
Waters prevents Dawson from standing back up.
Dawson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Waters is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dawson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Waters throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Waters stops Dawson from getting back to his feet.
Dawson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dawson is trying to stand up here but Waters is controlling him well.
Waters has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Waters fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dawson avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Waters drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Waters scores with a couple of short elbows.
Waters moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Waters lands an elbow.
Waters wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dawson keeps working.
Dawson tries to escape but Waters is in control.
Waters working the ground and pound.
Waters works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Dawson is trying to buck Waters off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Derrick Waters will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Waters takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Dawson lands with a nice combination. Waters backs away looking to recover.
Waters shoots in but no luck this time.
Waters has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Dawson misses with a series of wild punches.
Dawson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Waters fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Waters shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dawson sprawls well. Dawson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Waters gets slowly back to his feet.
Max Dawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derrick Waters.
Dawson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Waters throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dawson was covering up waiting for the punch and Waters finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Dawson wants to stand but Waters is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Waters accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Waters scoring with some ground and pound.
Waters is in close to Dawson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dawson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Waters throwing strikes from guard but Dawson blocks nicely.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Waters has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Max Dawson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dawson tries to bum rush Waters with a series of wild strikes but Waters uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dawson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Waters fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dawson avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Waters gets the takedown into side control.
Waters scoring with punches from side control.
Dawson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Dawson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Waters working the head and body with strikes.
Waters creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dawson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Waters is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dawson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dawson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Waters asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawson is looking to get back to his feet here but Waters is keeping cool and he's managed to take Dawson's back.

Waters looking for the RNC.

Waters tightening his grip on Dawson, looking for the choke.
Dawson is trying to stand back up.
Dawson is covering up but some of the strikes from Waters are getting through and doing damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waters throwing damaging strikes from the back! Dawson could be in trouble here!
Dawson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Waters's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Waters might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Dawson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Waters lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Waters has Dawson flattened out and is raining down punches.
Will Waters go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Dawson wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Waters showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Waters dodges the punch combination from Dawson.
Dawson throws a series of strikes that have Waters backpedaling.

Dawson gets caught flat footed, as Waters shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Waters wants to control from the top but Dawson keeps moving.
Dawson wants to get back to his feet but Waters is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Waters wants to control from the top but Dawson keeps moving.
Dawson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Waters is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dawson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dawson looks to land a combination but Waters avoids it well.
Dawson fails to land with a series of punches.
Waters fails with a takedown attempt.

Waters shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Waters content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Waters throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Max Dawson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson is trying to stand back up but Waters is controlling him
Waters is controlling the pace.
Dawson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Waters.

Waters is working for a kimura but Dawson is defending it quite comfortably.
Waters wants to take a breather but Dawson is having none of it.
Waters wants to pass to mount but Dawson is defending the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A head kick misses from Dawson.
Dawson throws a series of punches but Waters moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters avoids the head kick by Dawson.
Dawson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Waters's hands.
Dawson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dawson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Waters moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Max Dawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dawson looks to land a combination but Waters avoids it well.
Waters shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dawson pinned against the cage. Dawson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dawson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Waters's head.
Waters avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dawson connects with a high kick.
Dawson misses with a double jab.
Dawson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Waters shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dawson but Dawson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Max Dawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derrick Waters.

That's four 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.
Dawson misses with a head kick.
Waters shoots for a takedown but Dawson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dawson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Waters showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dawson.
Dawson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Dawson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dawson misses with a head kick.
A punch combination from Dawson misses.
Dawson throws a head kick that misses.
Dawson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Waters circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dawson throws a nice looking combination but Waters bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Waters fails with the takedown.
Dawson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrick Waters comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Waters 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derrick Waters!