PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noryuki Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Watson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Watson
vs
Takahashi

177 cm
26
159 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

177 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

PWNAGE $19.50 Clothing NY - Over 150 Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Noryuki Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takahashi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Watson throws a series of punches but Takahashi moves out of range.
Takahashi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Watson lands a left and a right that send Takahashi crashing to the mat, dazed. Watson thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Takahashi is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takahashi tries to clinch up but Watson circles away and keeps his distance.
Takahashi is still on wobbly legs! Can Watson finish him?

Takahashi clinches up with Watson and pushes him back against the cage.
Takahashi seems to have recovered his senses.
Takahashi tries to circle away but Watson has him pinned against the cage.
Watson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Watson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Watson keeps control of Takahashi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Takahashi is trying to break the clinch but Watson is controlling him.
Takahashi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Watson lands a body punch.
A left hand lands to the body for Watson.
Takahashi wants to break free but Watson has control.
Takahashi is looking to break free of the clinch but Watson has double underhooks.

Takahashi breaks the clinch.
Takahashi wants to clinch up but Watson keeps it at a distance.
Watson throws a head kick that misses.
Watson thows a body shot but no joy.
Takahashi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Watson's waist but Watson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Takahashi off to one side.
Takahashi throws a nice looking combination but Watson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Watson.
Watson cracks a nice hook into Takahashi's ribs.
Takahashi looks gassed!
Watson stalks Takahashi and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Takahashi's face. Takahashi staggers backwards, shaken.
Watson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Takahashi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Watson cracks a nice hook into Takahashi's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watson scores with a hook to the body. Takahashi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Takahashi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Watson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Watson lands a nice shot that snaps Takahashi's head back.

Watson drops Takahashi with a beautiful combination! Takahashi stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Watson is looking for the KO!

Takahashi tries to keep at a distance but Watson has taken the fight into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Watson.
Watson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Watson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takahashi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Watson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Watson cracks Takahashi with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Takahashi looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Watson finish him?
Takahashi blocks a head kick by Watson.
Takahashi throws a right and a left that Watson avoids nicely.
Takahashi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Watson.
Takahashi darts in trying to clinch
and Watson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Watson is looking to wear down Takahashi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Watson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nice jab there from Watson.
Takahashi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
No joy there for Watson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Watson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Takahashi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Watson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Watson wriggles free and stands up.
Tom Watson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Watson is working the combinations to good effect here.
Takahashi tries to clinch but Watson moves away
and Watson counters with a three punch combo that has Takahashi backing up. Takahashi nods at Watson to acknowledge the strikes.
Watson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Watson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Takahashi's head.
Watson looks to clinch

and Takahashi moves into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Watson.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Watson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Watson misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Takahashi circles away quickly and effectively.
Watson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Takahashi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Watson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Takahashi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takahashi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Watson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Watson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Watson throws a jab but it's blocked by Takahashi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Watson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Takahashi throws the kick towards the body but Watson avoids it.
Takahashi throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Watson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Watson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Takahashi.
Watson swinging wildly here.
Takahashi tries to clinch but Watson is having none of it.
Watson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Watson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Good exchange - Watson coming out on top.
Watson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takahashi can do to turn this around?
Watson misses with a combination
and Takahashi counters with a left and a right that stings Watson.
Watson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Watson throws a hook but Takahashi blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Watson cracks Takahashi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Watson looks to land a combination but Takahashi avoids it well.
Watson lands with a good body shot.
Takahashi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Takahashi throws a head kick that misses.
Watson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Watson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watson postures up.
Watson wants to control from the top but Takahashi keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi working a defensive guard but Watson manages to pass into side control anyway.
Takahashi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Takahashi wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Takahashi is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Takahashi some visible discomfort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takahashi defending against the ground and pound.
Takahashi wants to control but Watson postures up.
Watson grinds an elbow into Takahashi's temple.
Watson lands a decent elbow from side control.
Watson scoring with punches and elbows.
Watson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Takahashi to see if he's OK.
Watson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Takahashi tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi wants to control but Watson postures up.
Takahashi avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Watson.
Watson prevents Takahashi from escaping the position.
Takahashi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Watson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Takahashi is being controlled here.
Watson is looking to take a break and control but Takahashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Takahashi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Watson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takahashi checks a low kick from Watson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Watson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Watson misses with a combination
and Takahashi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Takahashi misses with a few strikes there.
Watson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Takahashi wants to clinch.
Watson scores with a body shot.
Watson throws a body punch but Takahashi moves out of range.
Watson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Takahashi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Watson connects with a jab.
Watson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takahashi moves away.
Watson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Takahashi. Takahashi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Takahashi misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Watson thuds his shin into the meat of Takahashi's side.
Watson throws a sloppy head kick and Takahashi moves out of range easily.
A jab from Watson does it's job there.
Takahashi throws a sloppy head kick and Watson moves out of range easily.
Watson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Takahashi counters with a nice body kick.

Watson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takahashi, pushing him back against the cage.
Takahashi can't break the clinch.
Takahashi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Watson breaks the clinch.
Takahashi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watson avoids it really well and circles away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Watson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Takahashi avoids the head kick by Watson.
Takahashi dodges the punch combination from Watson.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Takahashi - that will leave a mark!
Watson tries to clinch but Takahashi is having none of it.
Tom Watson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takahashi misses the body punch
and Watson counters with a low kick, right behind Takahashi 's knee.
Takahashi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Watson misses with a few strikes there.
A solid body kick from Takahashi.
Watson looks to land a combination but Takahashi avoids it well.
Watson avoids the body shot from Takahashi.
A swing and a miss from Watson.
Watson checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi misses with a few strikes there.
Watson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takahashi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Takahashi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Takahashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takahashi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A thudding body kick lands there by Watson!
Takahashi throws a body kick that misses.
Watson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Watson misses with a leg kick

and Takahashi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Watson's guard.
Noryuki Takahashi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Takahashi from controlling successfully.

Watson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tom Watson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Watson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Takahashi's efforts to push away.

Watson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Takahashi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Watson scores with a punch to the head.
Takahashi moves out of range of the body kick.
Watson misses with a double jab.
Noryuki Takahashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takahashi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takahashi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Watson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Watson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takahashi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Watson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Watson scoring well with a low kick there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

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