PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Watson (ranked 1607 p4p, 1435 weight class) and Claudio Escorre (ranked 71 p4p, 63 weight class). Escorre has chosen Chico Science & Nação Zumbi - Da Lama Ao Caos as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Dave Watson had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Watson
vs
Escorre

205 cm
28
288
14 - 8 - 0

150 cm
24
300
13 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

MKFC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dave Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Claudio Escorre!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escorre tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Watson was well out of range. Poor timing from Escorre.
Watson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Escorre misses with a two punch combination.
Escorre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Watson moves away.
An attempted straight right counter from Watson misses the target.

Escorre pushes Watson up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Escorre.
Watson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Escorre cracks Watson with a nice body shot.
Escorre tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Watson's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escorre has had enough of the clinch but Watson keeps him there for the moment.
Watson prevents a body shot from Escorre.
Escorre misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Escorre is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escorre stops a takedown attempt from Watson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson can't get the takedown.
Escorre tries to work over Watson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Escorre struggles to land a body shot inside as Watson controls his hands.
A right hand to the body from Escorre.
Escorre misses with a hook to the ribs.
Escorre lands a nice uppercut.
Escorre doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Escorre can't find room to land a body shot as Watson controls the action.
A frustrated look appears on Escorre's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Escorre goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Escorre throws a punch but it's blocked by Watson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escorre misses with a body punch.
Escorre tries a body shot but Watson blocks it.
Escorre tries to break free but Watson pushes him back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Escorre - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Watson tries to score a body lock takedown but Escorre shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Watson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Escorre gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Watson tries to score a body lock takedown but Escorre shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Escorre tries to work over Watson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Escorre breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escorre takes a swing at Watson's ribcage but misses.
As Escorre looks to move away, Watson throws a big counter combo but Escorre just gets out of the way.
Escorre misses with a series of wild punches.
Escorre wants to clinch but Watson slips to the side

and Watson counters with a crisp one two that drops Escorre! Watson thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Escorre to his feet! Escorre is in big trouble!
Escorre tries to close the distance and clinch up but Watson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
An attempted straight right counter from Watson misses the target.
Sloppy strikes from Escorre. Those never looked like landing.
Escorre throws a right hand that Watson ducks under and follows up with a left that Watson also avoids with ease.
A little feinted left hand from Watson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Escorre gets caught flat footed, as Watson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Watson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Watson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watson stands up over Escorre, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Watson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Watson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Watson throwing strikes but missing.
Escorre is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Watson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Escorre works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Escorre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Watson tries to free his leg and advance position but Escorre is retaining full guard.

Escorre has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Watson has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Escorre tries a body shot but Watson blocks it.
Escorre misses with a punch to the body.
Watson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Escorre gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Escorre dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Escorre gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Escorre avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Good body shot from Escorre.
Escorre tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Watson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Escorre's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escorre can't find room to land a body shot as Watson controls the action.
Escorre tries to circle away but Watson has him pinned against the cage.
Escorre tries to throw a body punch but Watson avoids it by throwing Escorre back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Escorre.

It looks like Dave Watson has been cut.
Watson keeps control of Escorre as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Watson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Escorre gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Watson tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson has Escorre pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Escorre manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Escorre lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Watson backwards.
Escorre is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Escorre goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Watson has picked Escorre up - he's going for a ride! Watson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Escorre makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Escorre's waist but Escorre gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Watson off to one side.
Escorre has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escorre rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Watson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Watson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Escorre tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Watson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As Escorre looks to move away, Watson throws a big counter combo but Escorre just gets out of the way.
Escorre tries to clinch but Watson moves out of range.
Escorre goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Escorre fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Watson manages to avoid it.
Watson throwing a counter right hand but Escorre manages to avoid it.
Watson moves out of range of the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Watson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A punch combination from Escorre misses.
It looked like Watson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Escorre misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escorre fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Watson is looking to counter punch.
Claudio Escorre is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Watson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Escorre avoids it really well and circles away.
Escorre swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Watson counter with a right hand.

Watson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Escorre fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A combination from Escorre does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escorre connects with a body shot.
Escorre misses with a few strikes there.
Escorre throws a nice looking combination but Watson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Escorre misses with a two punch combination.
Watson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Escorre scores with a body shot.
Escorre throws a combination that misses
and Watson counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escorre misses with a wild body shot.
Watson dodges the punch combination from Escorre.
An attempted straight right counter from Watson misses the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Watson drives through with a takedown into Escorre's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Watson won't allow Escorre to sweep him here.
Watson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Watson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Watson is looking to work some ground and pound but Escorre has wrist control.
Watson working some strikes from top position.
Watson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Escorre is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson throwing strikes but missing.
Watson working some strikes from top position.
Escorre is pulling down on Watson's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Watson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Watson throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watson postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Watson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Escorre preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Watson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Escorre is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Watson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Watson postures up and lands a big shot to Escorre's brow.
Watson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escorre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Escorre wants to sweep but no luck.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Watson cracks Escorre with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson is looking to work some ground and pound but Escorre has wrist control.
Watson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Escorre's head.
Watson won't allow Escorre to get back to his feet.
Escorre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Escorre preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Watson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Watson is looking to work some ground and pound but Escorre has wrist control.
Watson landing some decent shots from guard.
Watson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Watson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Escorre is looking to stand up but Watson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson throws an elbow that misses. Escorre uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Watson's guard. Nice move by Escorre!

Dave Watson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Escorre has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Watson is proving hard to escape from.
Watson seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Escorre trying to control but Watson is working from the bottom.
Escorre won't allow Watson to get back to his feet.
Watson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Escorre must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Escorre wants to stand but Watson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Watson wants to get back to his feet but Escorre is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Escorre tries to stand but Watson is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Escorre gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Escorre tries to work over Watson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dave Watson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Escorre is fighting off a takedown attempt but Watson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Escorre to the mat. Escorre regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Watson throws a strike but Escorre rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watson wants to stand but Escorre is controlling the position.

Watson has his foot on Escorre's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Escorre works his way back into a safe position though.
Claudio Escorre is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Watson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Escorre uses it to pass to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Escorre has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claudio Escorre!
A very excited looking Claudio Escorre made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.