PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gerald Wood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Gerald Wood has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Wood
vs
Watson

175 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
24
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gerald Wood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Watson!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Anthony Taglia and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Wood looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Watson! But no joy.
Wood is looking to clinch but Watson is avoiding it.
Watson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wood shoots for a double leg takedown but Watson sprawls well. He's pushed Wood's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Watson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Wood fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood fails with the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Watson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerald Wood. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Watson keeps the fight on the outside.
Watson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wood is looking to clinch but Watson is avoiding it.
Wood throws a looping overhand right but Watson ducks down to avoid it.

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.
Wood misses with an uppercut.
It seemed like Watson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Wood shoots in for a takedown but Watson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wood tries to score a power double leg takedown but Watson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wood somewhat.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wood's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wood tries to clinch up.
Watson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Wood doesn't manage to clinch there - Watson circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Wood shoots in but no luck this time.
Watson throws out a counter right but Wood avoids it with no problem.

Wood moves into the clinch.
Wood stalls.

Wood's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wood looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
It seemed like Watson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gerald Wood will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

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

Wood drags the fight down to the ground.
Watson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Watson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Wood!

Watson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson wants to control the pace but Wood is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is stalling here but it's allowed Wood to get half guard.
Watson prevents Wood from improving his position.
Watson is trying to control. Wood wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Watson is working for a submission of some sort.
Wood is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Watson wants to take a breather but Wood is having none of it.
Watson trying to pass the guard but Wood defending well.

Watson is trying to work for a kimura but Wood is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wood knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Watson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wood does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Watson is working for a submission of some sort.
Wood trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Wood is not content to let Watson control the position.
Watson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wood knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Watson on the ground.
Wood wants to improve his position but Watson is controlling well.

Watson seems to be looking for submissions.

Watson is working for a kimura but Wood is defending it quite comfortably.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Watson trying to control the action but Wood is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Wood throws a leg kick but Watson checks it.
It seemed like Watson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Watson keeps the fight on the outside.
Wood darts in looking for a takedown but Watson gets double underhooks and turns Wood into the cage.
Wood misses with a low kick as Watson jumps back.
Watson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Watson. No joy for Wood on that attempt.
Watson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wood rushes Watson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Wood pulls guard effortlessly.
Wood controlling Watson's posture.
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but Wood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watson is pushing down on Wood's leg trying to pass to half guard. Wood is fighting to maintain full guard but Watson has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson trying to control from half guard but Wood is working away.

Watson is looking for a kimura but Wood is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Watson to get the leverage.
Watson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Watson wants to control the pace but Wood is squirming around nicely.
Josh Watson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Watson working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Wood turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Watson off and cradles Wood's limp body as Watson celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Josh Watson!