PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zachary Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LenDale Cleaver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Watson
vs
Cleaver

174 cm
26
150 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

181 cm
22
164 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Zachary Watson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, LenDale Cleaver!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cleaver closes this distance looking for a takedown but Watson circles away.
Watson misses the shot to the body.
Watson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cleaver was well out of range. Poor timing from Watson.
Cleaver uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Watson.

Watson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Watson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cleaver tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Watson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cleaver is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Watson prevents Cleaver from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cleaver is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zachary Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of LenDale Cleaver.
A frustrated look appears on Cleaver's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Watson leaning his opponent against the cage.

Watson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson stuffs the takedown.
Watson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Watson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cleaver.
Zachary Watson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watson throws a nice looking combination but Cleaver bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Watson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like LenDale Cleaver has been cut.
Watson thows a body shot but no joy.
Watson misses with a wild combination.
Cleaver fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watson avoids it really well and circles away.
Watson jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Cleaver changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Watson tries to avoid it but Cleaver manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Watson to the ground. Watson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Watson stuffs the takedown attempt from Cleaver. Cleaver gets slowly back to his feet.
Cleaver shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cleaver looks gassed!

Oooh a lovely combination from Watson sends Cleaver down but not out. Watson dives into side control looking to finish.

Cleaver is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Watson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cleaver is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cleaver is still in real trouble! Can Watson finish him?
Watson lands a strong strike to the head of Cleaver. That's dazed him! Watson looking to finish here. Cleaver is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Watson lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zachary Watson!
Zachary Watson is the new lightweight champion!