PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael DeGarmo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Michael DeGarmo enters the cage!

Watson
vs
DeGarmo

174 cm
20
179 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
20
173 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael DeGarmo!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DeGarmo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Watson's waist but Watson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing DeGarmo off to one side.
DeGarmo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Watson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Watson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Watson lands in his opponent's guard.
Watson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeGarmo controls Watson momentarily but Watson frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
DeGarmo wants to get back to his feet but Watson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
DeGarmo has Watson pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Watson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

DeGarmo is looking to clinch but Watson is avoiding it.
DeGarmo wants to clinch.
Watson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and DeGarmo moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeGarmo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Watson is keeping busy.
DeGarmo looking for a takedown.
Watson wants a takedown but no success here.
Watson prevents the takedown attempt.

Watson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics DeGarmo uses from the top position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
DeGarmo throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeGarmo throws a big right hand that misses.
Watson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeGarmo.
Watson wants to get back to his feet but DeGarmo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
DeGarmo cracks Watson with a solid left hand.
DeGarmo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
DeGarmo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
DeGarmo throws and elbow that misses. Watson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in DeGarmo's guard. Nice move by Watson!
Watson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson'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.

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 is standing up over DeGarmo. DeGarmo looks to escape but Watson dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Watson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

DeGarmo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Watson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in DeGarmo's guard now.
DeGarmo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Watson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeGarmo is looking to stand back up but Watson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by DeGarmo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Watson stops DeGarmo from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson is taking a breather. DeGarmo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
DeGarmo trying to control from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Watson stops DeGarmo from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Watson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Tom Watson!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Tom Watson!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Tom Watson!

Tom Watson wins by unanimous decision!