PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Merv Ridley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ridley kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Don't Turn Off The Lights - Enrique Iglesias . Mike Watson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ridley
vs
Watson

180 cm
22
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Merv Ridley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Watson!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Ridley with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Ridley with that takedown attempt.
Nice body kick there by Watson.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ridley.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merv Ridley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ridley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Watson throws a head kick but Ridley moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridley has a takedown stuffed.
Watson tries to clinch but Ridley is having none of it.
Ridley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ridley shoots in looking for a takedown. Watson tries to sprawl out of it but Ridley keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Watson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Watson is looking to clinch but Ridley is avoiding it.

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.
Nice takedown defense from Watson. No joy for Ridley on that attempt.
A head kick from Watson lands but Ridley takes it in his stride.

Watson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ridley!
Watson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Watson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Watson throws some wild stikes that Ridley manages to avoid easily.
Watson punching from mount but Ridley doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Watson misses with a head shot.
Ridley is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridley wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Watson.
Ridley is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ridley tries to hold on but Watson postures up.
Watson looking to finish with strikes here!
Ridley wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Watson.
Ridley holds on for dear life, controlling Watson's posture momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Watson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Ridley wants to hold on but Watson pushes him away.
Watson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Watson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ridley avoids a series of strikes thrown by Watson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ridley wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Watson.
Poor strikes thrown by Watson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Watson shoots in looking for a takedown. Ridley tries to sprawl out of it but Watson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ridley manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ridley tries for a takedown but Watson circles away easily

and Watson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ridley's guard.
Ridley pulls Watson in close to prevent any damage.
Watson postures up in Ridley's guard and throws a big left but Ridley blocks it.
Watson wants to get up but he can't break Ridley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Watson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridley controlling the position.
Watson throwing strikes but missing.
Watson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ridley wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

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.
Ridley avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Watson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Watson throws a big right hand that misses.
Watson distracts Ridley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ridley seems keen to control Watson's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watson wanted to stand there but Ridley had control of the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ridley holds on and takes a little breather.

Watson gets to his feet - Ridley follows without any prompting.
Watson lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ridley doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Watson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ridley ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ridley no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Watson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Ridley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ridley pulls Watson in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Watson.
Watson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ridley misses with a takedown attempt
and Watson counters with a nice uppercut.
A nice combination there by Watson.
Ridley is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Watson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ridley takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Watson tries to clinch but Ridley is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridley fails with the takedown
and Watson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Watson lands a high kick!
Watson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Merv Ridley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Watson lands a head kick!
Ridley doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Watson counters with a single leg into guard. Ridley didn't expect that.
Merv Ridley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merv Ridley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson throws a big right hand that misses.

Ridley looking for a guillotine here but Watson defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson wants to stand but Ridley is controlling his posture from full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ridley holds on and takes a little breather.
Watson wanted to stand there but Ridley had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson is looking to work some ground and pound but Ridley has wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Watson scores a takedown into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ridley regains half guard.
Ridley is trying is best to control the position here.
Watson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ridley is pressing down on Watson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ridley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Watson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ridley is proving hard to escape from.

Ridley 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Watson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Watson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

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