PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Thatcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these fighters had to take extra time to make weight as they missed the initial 170lb limit. Tom Watson came in at 172.5 and Charles Thatcher came in at 171.1 but after the extra two hours, both guys managed to get within the one pound allowance. No doubt it will have affected them physically though, so let's see if that has an impact on the fight. Tom Watson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Watson
vs
Thatcher

174 cm
21
179 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Charles Thatcher!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thatcher is looking to clinch.
Thatcher throws a sloppy head kick and Watson moves out of range easily.
Nice sprawl there from Watson as Thatcher shoots in.

Thatcher has closed the distance and engaged Watson in a clinch.
Watson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thatcher walks away with a smile on his face. Watson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thatcher throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Thatcher scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Thatcher sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Watson pushes Thatcher off but Thatcher dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher wants to stand but Watson has his arm trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Thatcher dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thatcher fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thatcher throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Thatcher tries to clinch but Watson is having none of it.
Thatcher tries to score a power double leg takedown but Watson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thatcher somewhat.

Thatcher scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Thatcher prevents Watson from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatcher trying to control the position but Watson is working away.

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.
Thatcher wants to stand but Watson is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson tries to escape but Thatcher is in control.
Thatcher controls the position from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thatcher's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Thatcher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Watson slaps away a takedown attempt from Thatcher, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thatcher fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Watson is out of range.
Thatcher tries to clinch there but Watson circles away.

Thatcher scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Watson is trying to buck Thatcher off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatcher controlling the position.

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.
Charles Thatcher is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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.
Watson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Thatcher is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Thatcher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thatcher 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles Thatcher!