PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thor Hushovd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willy Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thor Hushovd has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hushovd
vs
Watson

190 cm
25
177 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

175 cm
22
183 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Thor Hushovd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Willy Watson!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson moves out of range as Hushovd strikes.

Watson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Hushovd has an active guard here but Watson has managed to pass into half guard.

Hushovd looking for submissions off his back.
Watson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Watson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Watson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hushovd keeps working.
Hushovd tries to roll over but Watson keeps him under control.
Hushovd has hold of Watson's hands but Watson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Watson is working for a kimura but Hushovd is defending it quite comfortably.

Hushovd is defending against the submission attempts here by Watson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hushovd is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Watson pulls his head out easily.
Watson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hushovd is pressing down on Watson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hushovd preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Watson wants to control from the top but Hushovd keeps moving.
Hushovd 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.
Hushovd manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Watson manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hushovd stopping the sweep attempt from Watson.
Hushovd with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hushovd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two 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 trying to control the position.

Hushovd is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hushovd passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hushovd tries to advance position but instead Watson slips a leg back in to half guard.

Watson kicks off Hushovd and gets to his feet.
Watson misses the shot to the body.

Watson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hushovd to the mat! Hushovd manages to get full guard.
Hushovd keeping full guard, as Watson tries to pass.
Watson looks gassed!
Watson wants to control from the top but Hushovd keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hushovd has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Watson has managed to get both his arms back between Hushovd's legs - danger averted.

Hushovd is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Watson forces his way into half guard.
Ground and pound from Watson.
Watson passes to side control.
Hushovd tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Watson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hushovd is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Watson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hushovd has escaped the position, nice work there.
Watson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hushovd tries to improve position but can't.
Watson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hushovd is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Watson off and has taken his back!
Hushovd keeps control of the position as Watson tries to break free.
Watson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Watson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hushovd's guard. Nice work there by Watson.
Watson wants to control from the top but Hushovd keeps moving.

Hushovd 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.

Watson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Watson scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willy 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.

Hushovd checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hushovd shoots in but Watson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hushovd tries to score a power double leg takedown but Watson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hushovd somewhat.

Watson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hushovd looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Watson controlling the position from side mount.
Hushovd is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Watson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hushovd keeps working.
Watson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hushovd tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hushovd, who protects the arm well.
Hushovd tries to improve position but can't.
Watson trying to control the position but Hushovd is working away.
Hushovd is looking for a sweep.
Watson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hushovd keeps working.
Hushovd tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Watson tries for a kimura but Hushovd is defending well.
Hushovd is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.

Watson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hushovd tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Watson cracks Hushovd with a big elbow.
Watson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hushovd's legs.
Watson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Hushovd is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Watson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Watson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hushovd is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Watson misses with a takedown attempt - Hushovd sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Watson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hushovd as he avoids it easily.
Watson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hushovd throws a good cross that connects.
Watson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hushovd throws a right and a left that Watson avoids nicely.
Hushovd misses with the combination.
Watson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Watson.

Hushovd closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Watson to the mat! Watson manages to get full guard.
Hushovd loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson controls Hushovd momentarily but Hushovd frees himself.
Hushovd tries to free his leg and advance position but Watson is retaining full guard.
Watson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hushovd's guard.
Hushovd manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Watson wants to control but Hushovd is having none of it.

Hushovd working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Watson regains half guard.
Watson is pressing down on Hushovd's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willy Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hushovd gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Hushovd throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Watson passes Hushovd's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hushovd tries to roll over but Watson keeps him under control.
Watson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Watson controlling the pace.
Watson is trying to control. Hushovd wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hushovd is trying to get back to full guard.

Watson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hushovd is looking for a sweep. Watson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson wants to take a breather but Hushovd is having none of it.
Watson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Watson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hushovd with a lazy takedown attempt
and Watson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hushovd rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Watson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Watson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Watson slips a straight right by Hushovd.
Hushovd lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Watson circles away quickly and effectively.
A left and a right from Watson both land. Nice combination.

Watson gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hushovd tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Watson lands a nice forearm strike.
Watson lands a few punches from side control.

Watson is trying to get an arm triangle but Hushovd is defending well.
Hushovd is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Watson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hushovd is trying to get back to full guard.
Watson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Watson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Watson blocks the strikes from Hushovd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Hushovd actively working from the bottom here.
Hushovd wants to improve his position but Watson is controlling well.
Hushovd is staying active underneath Watson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Willy Watson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hushovd throws a right hand that Watson ducks under and follows up with a left that Watson also avoids with ease.
Watson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Watson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thor Hushovd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Watson wants to clinch.
Hushovd swings for the body but Watson moves out of range.

That's four 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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Watson.
Watson tries to clinch but Hushovd is having none of it.

Watson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hushovd looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hushovd is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Watson off and has taken his back!

Hushovd is looking for the choke from the back position but Watson is controlling his hands well.
Watson is trapped and Hushovd is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Hushovd punches the canvas rather than the man.
Watson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Watson can't escape the position.
Thor Hushovd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Watson tries to lock up and control but Hushovd gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Watson is looking to get to half guard.
Hushovd landing punches.
Watson regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willy Watson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Watson 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

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