PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Doyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Doyle kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Earthquake - Diplo vs Dj Fresh Ft. Dominique Young. Watson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by MARTIN GARRIX - ANIMALS. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Doyle
vs
Watson

165 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
137 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Doyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alex Watson!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Watson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Doyle taking some punishment here, with Watson in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Watson tries to stand and escape but Doyle is controlling the position.
Watson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Let's hope that Watson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alex Watson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Doyle misses with a head kick.
Doyle wants to clinch up but Watson keeps it at a distance.

Watson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Doyle's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Watson prevents Doyle from getting back to his feet.
Doyle will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Doyle wants to stand up but Watson is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Doyle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Watson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Doyle can't keep his opponent in guard - Watson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Watson winds up and cracks Doyle with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Watson not doing much here.
Watson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Watson looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doyle tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Watson wants to stand up but Doyle has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Watson prevents Doyle from standing back up.
Watson trying to control the pace.

Alex Watson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Watson avoids the head kick by Doyle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Watson.
Watson slips a jab and a cross from Doyle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Doyle, right into the meat.
Doyle looks to land a combination. Watson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Watson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Doyle can pounce on him.

Doyle has managed to clinch.
Doyle prevents Watson from breaking the clinch.
Doyle working hard to break the clinch.

Doyle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnny Doyle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Doyle tries to close the distance and clinch up but Watson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slapping leg kick lands for Doyle.
Doyle tries to clinch up.
Doyle jabs Watson to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Doyle instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson jumps guard but Doyle stands there with Watson around his waist. Watson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Watson is trying to pull guard but Doyle turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Johnny Doyle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Watson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Doyle stalling in the clinch but Watson improves position.
Doyle wants a takedown but no success here.
Watson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Doyle's efforts to push away.
Doyle is trying to break free.
Doyle looking to stall.
Watson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Doyle wants to break free but Watson has control.
Doyle is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Watson is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Watson will probably get the nod.
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.

Watson wants to clinch.
Watson wants to clinch.
Doyle throws a head kick but Watson moves out of range.
Doyle swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Doyle throws a leg kick which misses Watson's front leg but catches the back leg as Watson tries to avoid it.

Watson feints and as Doyle raises his hands in defense, Watson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Doyle 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.
Doyle wants to stand but Watson is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Doyle has an active guard here but Watson has managed to pass into half guard.
Watson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Watson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Doyle controls his leg.
Doyle trying to hold on to Watson's head to control him but Watson postures up.
Watson controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doyle is looking to improve his position.
Alex Watson has got the better of the ground game so far.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alex Watson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Watson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Doyle.

Watson closes the distance and pushes Doyle back into the cage.

Doyle works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Doyle throwing strikes but missing.
Watson has control of Doyle's left arm, preventing Doyle from doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watson wants to stand but Doyle is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Watson is on top in guard.
Watson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Watson works over Doyle with some ground and pound from guard.
Doyle is trying to control the position but Watson postures up.
Watson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Watson stops Doyle from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Watson misses with a series of wild punches.

Watson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Watson stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watson trying to mount his opponent but Doyle defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Doyle throws a front kick that sends Watson stumbling back into the cage.
Doyle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Doyle misses with the combination.

Watson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Doyle to the ground. Watson is now in Doyle's guard.
Doyle doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Watson stops Doyle from standing up.
Watson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Watson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Doyle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Watson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Watson forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson controlling the action here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Watson connects with a nice short shot to Doyle's temple.
Watson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Doyle wants to get back to his feet.

Watson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Doyle sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Watson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Doyle wants to get back to his feet.
Watson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alex Watson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Good shot there by Doyle.
Watson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Doyle tries to avoid it but Watson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Doyle to the ground. Doyle escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Doyle scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doyle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Watson sprawls well. Watson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Doyle gets slowly back to his feet.

Watson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Doyle sprawls well initially but Watson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Watson trying to control the pace.
Doyle is trying to stand.
Watson controlling the pace.
Watson trying to control from half guard but Doyle is working away.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alex Watson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Doyle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doyle has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Doyle can't get the takedown.
Watson keeps control of Doyle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Watson has picked Doyle up - he's going for a ride! Watson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Doyle is trying to stand up here but Watson is controlling him well.
Watson controlling the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:30

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