PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dennis Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Dennis Smith was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Watson
vs
Smith

183 cm
20
197 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

195 cm
24
205 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tom Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dennis Smith!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Watson is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Watson circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Watson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Watson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smith tries to clinch there but Watson circles away.
Smith wants to clinch.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Watson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Watson lands a jab-cross combination.
Watson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Watson moves out of range as Smith strikes.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Watson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Dennis Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Watson can't escape the position.
Smith trying to control but Watson is having none of it.
Watson working to try and regain half guard.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Watson's face.

Smith looking to secure an arm triangle but Watson defends it well.
Watson is desperately trying to improve his position but Smith has a good base and remains in mount.
Watson tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Smith pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Watson is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Watson stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Watson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Watson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Smith scoring with strikes but Watson is staying in there.
A nice elbow there by Smith.
Watson is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Smith looks gassed!
Smith dominating with strikes here.
Watson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Watson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Smith 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 Smith.
Watson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Watson looking to control.
Smith stands and throws Watson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Smith is putting a hurting on Watson here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Watson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Watson sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Watson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Watson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Watson is keeping the position.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Watson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Watson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dennis Smith will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Watson slips under a jab.
Smith throws a jab when Watson was well out of range.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Watson is just out of range.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith scores with a nice head shot.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.
Watson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith fails with the takedown

and Watson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Watson connects with a couple of short punches.
Watson connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson stands up over Smith, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Watson working some strikes from top position.
Watson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.
Watson throwing strikes but missing.
Watson wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Watson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Watson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Watson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Watson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Watson throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Tom Watson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith has his foot on Watson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Watson works his way back into a safe position though.
Watson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Watson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Watson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Watson is one step ahead there.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Watson works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith controls Watson momentarily but Watson frees himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Watson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Smith throws the left hand but Watson avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson misses the jab.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Watson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith tries to clinch but Watson moves out of range.
Watson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Smith throws the left hand but Watson avoids the punch easily.

Watson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Watson working over Smith with some ground and pound. Smith looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Watson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Watson prevents Smith from improving his position.
Watson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson slips a nice elbow through Smith's hands, connecting with Smith's forehead.
Watson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Watson working the head and body with strikes.
Watson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Watson's guard.
Watson wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith advances position into side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Watson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Watson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smith's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Watson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Watson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Watson looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Watson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Watson moves into the clinch.
Watson throws an elbow but it misses.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Watson prevents it.
Tom Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dennis Smith.
Watson tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Watson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smith is trying to keep an underhook but Watson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Watson connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Watson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Watson's back!
Smith has the hooks in. Watson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith is trying to stick to Watson's back but Watson is turning into Smith. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Smith's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Watson.
Watson stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Watson is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Watson throws a big right hand that misses.
Watson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Watson momentarily.
Smith bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Watson's head backwards.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Watson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Watson moves forwards but Smith connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Watson was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Watson throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Watson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith throws a lazy head kick
and Watson counters with a head kick. That will keep Smith thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Watson feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.
Watson has a takedown stuffed.
Watson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Watson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Watson takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a hook but Watson blocks it.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Watson on that attempt.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Watson counters with a big head kick but Smith shrugs it off.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Watson is just out of range.

Watson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Smith's defenses.
Watson stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
Watson lands a nice elbow.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith takes an elbow to the forehead.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Watson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Watson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Watson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Watson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson throws an elbow that misses.
Watson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Watson throws an elbow but misses.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Watson prevents it.
Watson lands an elbow inside that Smith shrugs off.
Watson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith's efforts to push away.
Watson tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nice elbow from Watson.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Watson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Watson smiles and moves away.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Watson scores with a nice head shot.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Watson.
A head kick misses from Watson.

Watson has managed to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Watson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

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