PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Wattson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Palacios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wattson
vs
Palacios

182 cm
21
210 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
202 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Convicted
Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Wattson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Palacios!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wattson closes the distance and clinches up with Palacios, looking for a takedown. Wattson pushes Palacios against the cage but Palacios circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Palacios scores with a jab to the jaw.
Palacios doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Wattson counters with a shoot takedown. Palacios fights it but they end up in guard.

Palacios has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wattson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wattson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Palacios is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wattson tries to free his leg and advance position but Palacios is retaining full guard.

Palacios working for a triangle but Wattson defends it easily.

Wattson drops back looking for a leg! Palacios is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Palacios manages to kick Wattson off! Wattson jumps back into Palacios's guard.

Wattson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Palacios shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Wattson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wattson tries to free his leg and advance position but Palacios is retaining full guard.

Palacios looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Palacios looks gassed!
Wattson passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palacios won't allow Wattson to pass to mount.
Palacios is looking to improve his position.
Wattson works his foot free and advances to mount.

Wattson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Palacios stops Wattson from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wattson forces the positional change into back control.
Palacios rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Wattson passes to full mount!

Wattson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Wattson avoids the attempt from Palacios to control.

Wattson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Palacios wants to control but Wattson is having none of it.

Wattson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Palacios is surviving well by controlling Wattson's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palacios sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Palacios gets full guard.
Palacios controlling Wattson's posture.

Palacios has his foot on Wattson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wattson works his way back into a safe position though.
Palacios is trying to control the position but Wattson postures up.

Wattson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Wattson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Palacios is keeping the position for now.
Palacios bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Wattson's guard.
Palacios is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wattson keeping full guard, as Palacios tries to pass.
Wattson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wattson uses his free foot to push down on Palacios's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Palacios.
Palacios is trying to escape the mount.

Wattson working for a guillotine from mount but Palacios is in no mood to give up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Palacios can't escape the position.

Wattson is working for a guillotine from mount but Palacios frees his head quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Wattson dominated that round.
That's time! Wattson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Wattson fails with the takedown

and Palacios decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wattson's guard.
Palacios controlling from the top position.
Wattson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Palacios is one step ahead there.
Palacios looking to pass the guard.
Palacios must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Palacios trying to control but Wattson is working from the bottom.

Wattson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Palacios trying to control but Wattson is working from the bottom.

Wattson working for a triangle but Palacios defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palacios slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Palacios with a flurry of punches that miss.

Wattson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Palacios throwing strikes from guard but Wattson blocks nicely.
Palacios not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Palacios thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wattson doesn't have the hooks in and Palacios manages to turn into his guard.
Wattson wants to sweep here but Palacios controlling him for the moment.

Wattson has his foot on Palacios's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Palacios works his way back into a safe position though.
Wattson keeping full guard, as Palacios tries to pass.
Steve Wattson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Wattson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Palacios is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Wattson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Palacios's back instead.
Palacios rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Wattson prevents Palacios from improving his position.
Wattson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Palacios is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palacios is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Palacios has given up his back here. Will Wattson look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Wattson is looking for the choke from the back position but Palacios is controlling his hands well.

Palacios showing good submission defense here.
Palacios rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Palacios regains full guard. Nicely done.

Wattson has gone for a leg lock! Palacios slips out almost immediately though and dives into Wattson's guard.
Palacios pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wattson is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wattson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Palacios drops back looking for a leg! Wattson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wattson manages to kick Palacios off! Palacios jumps back into Wattson's guard.

Wattson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Wattson working for a triangle but Palacios defends it easily.
Palacios forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Steve Wattson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Palacios gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Wattson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Palacios tries to roll over but Wattson keeps him under control.
Wattson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Palacios tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Palacios tries to hold on but Wattson postures up.

Wattson has control of Palacios's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Palacios regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Palacios really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wattson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Wattson looking to secure an arm triangle but Palacios defends it well.
Palacios manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Palacios moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Palacios is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wattson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Palacios's guard.

Wattson wants to work for an arm triangle but Palacios is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Palacios is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wattson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Palacios manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Wattson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Palacios is just riding it out for now. Wattson eventually gives up the hold.

Wattson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Wattson tries to pass to full mount but Palacios defends it.
Palacios is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palacios is defending against the submission attempts here by Wattson.
Palacios tries to get to full guard but Wattson has control of the leg.
Wattson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Palacios!
Wattson avoids the attempt from Palacios to control.

Wattson working for a submission but Palacios is keeping him at bay.

Wattson looking to secure an arm triangle but Palacios defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Palacios defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Wattson.
Palacios slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Palacios has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wattson is working away from the top position though.
Wattson wants to pass the guard but Palacios is defending well.
Wattson moves nicely into side control.

Wattson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Palacios knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Wattson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Palacios has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Wattson but great work by Palacios.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Wattson clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Palacios closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Wattson to the mat! Wattson manages to get full guard.

Wattson has his foot on Palacios's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Palacios works his way back into a safe position though.
Palacios forces his way into half guard.
Wattson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Palacios scores with a couple of nice shots.

Palacios is trying to work for a kimura but Wattson is defending well.
Wattson is pressing down on Palacios's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Wattson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Palacios is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Wattson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Palacios's back instead.
Wattson doesn't have the hooks in and Palacios manages to turn into his guard.

Wattson working for a triangle but Palacios defends it easily.

Wattson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wattson wants to sweep here but Palacios controlling him for the moment.
Palacios not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Palacios has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Wattson to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Palacios is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Wattson pulls down on the head and he's put Palacios to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Steve Wattson!
Steve Wattson retains his light heavyweight title!