PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Land Shark (ranked 7972 p4p, 556 weight class) and Donald Watson (ranked 5146 p4p, 476 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Land Shark has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Land Shark seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Shark
vs
Watson

175 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Land Shark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Donald Watson!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Shark counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Shark passes to side control.
You can see the frustration on Watson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shark tries to advance to mount but can't.

Shark is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Watson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shark has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Watson is bucking up trying to escape but Shark cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Watson wants to hold on but Shark pushes him away.
Watson is squirming around, avoiding Shark's attempts to control the action.
Shark takes Watson's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Watson is in trouble.
Shark is punishing Watson with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shark looking for the RNC.

Shark working for the choke.

Shark looking to break Watson's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Watson remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Shark will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Shark working for the choke.
Watson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Shark's guard. Nice work there by Watson.
Watson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shark working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Watson.
Shark wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shark's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Shark seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shark looking for a sweep. Not yet Shark, not yet.
Shark is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Watson wants to pass the guard but Shark is keeping the position.
Shark lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Watson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shark is one step ahead there.
Watson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shark keeping control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shark dives in and grabs Watson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Watson pushes down on Shark's head and hops out.
Watson works over Shark's head and body with a nice combination.
Watson throws a leg kick that is checked

and Shark counters with a takedown into side control.
Shark advances to mount.
Shark trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shark seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Watson is holding on tight.
Watson has given up his back. Will we see Shark going for some submissions?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson is trying to stand back up.
Watson can't escape the position.

Shark tightening his grip on Watson, looking for the choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watson defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Shark's arms.

Shark is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Watson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Watson for a finish.
Shark controlling from the back.
Watson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Shark is persistently looking for the submission but Watson is defending it well.
Watson tries to escape but Shark has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson is trying to get back to his feet but Shark has full control of the position and if anything, Watson has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Shark is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Watson defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Shark biding his time, controlling Watson.
Watson trying to get back to his feet but Shark is in full control for now.

Shark looking for the choke from the back.
Watson wants to get back to his feet.

Shark working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Watson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Shark.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Land Shark dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Watson goes for a double leg but Shark avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shark continues to drive forward.
It looked like Shark was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Watson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shark shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Watson but Watson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Watson misses with a combination

and Shark counters with a nice double leg into side control. Watson won't be happy with that.
Land Shark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Watson throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Shark closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Watson quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watson trying to hold on to Shark's head to control him but Shark postures up.
Shark trying to control from half guard but Watson is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watson looking for submissions off his back.

Shark is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Watson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shark.
Shark is looking to take a break and control but Watson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Watson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Watson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Watson.
Shark is pushing down on Watson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Watson is fighting to maintain full guard but Shark has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shark winds up and cracks Watson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Shark takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Shark is working for a submission of some sort.

Shark is trying to work for a kimura but Watson is defending well.
Shark sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Watson is looking for a sweep. Shark is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Watson can do to turn this around?
Shark is pressing down on Watson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Watson is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Land Shark did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shark shoots in but Watson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Watson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shark sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Watson somewhat.
Watson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shark misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson lands a jab-cross combination.
Shark looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Land Shark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shark.
Watson stuffs the takedown attempt from Shark. Shark gets slowly back to his feet.
Shark shoots for a double leg takedown but Watson sprawls well. He's pushed Shark's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Shark has closed the distance and engaged Watson in a clinch.

Shark pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shark wants to sweep here but Watson controlling him for the moment.
Watson wants to stand but Shark has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Watson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Shark bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Watson's guard.

Shark controlling from the top position.
Watson looking for a sweep. Not yet Watson, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watson is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donald Watson dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Watson swinging wildly here.
A counter left hand to the body from Shark misses its target.
Watson tries to bum rush Shark with a series of wild strikes but Shark uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Watson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Shark counters with a takedown into side control.

Shark tries for a kimura but Watson is defending well.
Shark has knee on belly and moves into mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Shark working for a submission but Watson is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shark is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Watson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Watson!
Watson trying to control but Shark is working from the bottom.
Shark controlling the position.
Watson trying to control but Shark is working from the bottom.
My spies in Cozad MMA Los Angeles inform me that Watson has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Watson postures up in Shark's guard and throws a big left but Shark blocks it.
Watson wants to control from the top but Shark keeps moving.
Watson stopping the sweep attempt from Shark.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shark seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Watson trying to control but Shark is working from the bottom.
Donald Watson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Land Shark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shark is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Watson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shark defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Land Shark.
I think Shark has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 49:46
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Land Shark!