PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Edward Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pete Harder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watson's entrance music is Billie Jean. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Harder's choice of entrance music: Skindred - Destroy the dancefloor. Pete Harder has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Watson
vs
Harder

180 cm
20
130 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

150 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Berserker Nutrition
Powder for your success

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edward Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pete Harder!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson blocks a head kick by Harder.
Harder tries a head kick but it misses.

Watson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Watson tries to pull guard but Harder won't allow it.
Harder is looking to break free of the clinch but Watson has double underhooks.

Watson pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson working a defensive guard here.
Harder trying to stand up but can't free himself from Watson's guard.
Watson is trying to keep Harder in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson has a closed guard, preventing Harder from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Watson is working an open guard so Harder takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harder throws a sloppy head kick and Watson moves out of range easily.
Harder closes the distance but Watson moves to the side

and Watson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Watson is breathing heavily.
Watson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Harder's head.
Harder wants to get back to his feet but Watson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Watson trying to control but Harder is working from the bottom.
Watson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harder wants to stand but Watson is controlling the position.
Watson trying to control but Harder is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Harder throws a head kick that misses

and Watson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Watson.
Watson managing to block the knees to the body from Harder.
Harder is looking to break free of the clinch but Watson has double underhooks.
Watson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Harder gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harder trying to land knees to the body.

Watson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Watson shoots in for a double leg but Harder sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Watson has managed to clinch.
Harder avoiding damage as Watson throws knees to the body.

Harder manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Harder keeping moving, preventing Watson from controlling successfully.
Watson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Harder is working an open guard so Watson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Watson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Harder buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Harder misses with a kick to the body.
Harder throws a lazy head kick
letting Watson counter with a right hand.
Watson shoots in looking for a takedown. Harder tries to sprawl out of it but Watson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harder manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick by Harder misses
enabling Watson to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Watson shoots in but Harder avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Harder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Harder throws a head kick but Watson moves out of range.
Watson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harder circles away.
Pete Harder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watson shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Watson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Watson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Harder misses with a head kick.

Watson darts in and clinches Harder up against the cage.
Harder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Harder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Harder breaks from the clinch.
Harder throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Harder.
A head kick by Harder misses
and Watson counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Harder. That one must have hurt.
Watson avoids the head kick by Harder.
Harder shoots for a takedown but Watson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Watson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harder circles away.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Harder has eaten all the pies!
Watson shoots for a takedown but Harder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harder throws a sloppy head kick
and Watson counters with a body kick that stops Harder in his tracks momentarily.

Watson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Watson showed some decent athleticism there.
Watson is stalling here. Harder is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Watson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Harder has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Watson is trying to control Harder's posture but Harder avoids it.
Watson manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Watson moves into full guard.
Watson trying to control the position here.
Harder wanted to stand there but Watson had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harder stands up and waves to Watson to follow him.
Harder shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Watson but Watson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Harder tries to keep at a distance but Watson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Harder breaks the clinch.
Harder throws a lazy head kick
and Watson counters with a straight right hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Harder manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Watson looking to pass the guard.
Harder wants to stand and escape but Watson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harder has his feet on Watson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Harder tries a head kick but it misses.
No luck for Watson with that takedown attempt.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Harder.

Harder has managed to clinch.
Harder is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Harder breaks from the clinch.
Harder is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Harder tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Watson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Harder as he jumps to the side.
Watson blocks a head kick by Harder.
Watson wants to clinch up but Harder keeps it at a distance.
Watson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pete Harder will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Harder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Harder shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Watson as he jumps to the side.

Watson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Watson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harder fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Watson gets a clinch.

Harder breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harder throws a head kick that misses
and Watson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Harder fails with an attempt to clinch.
Watson blocks a head kick by Harder.
Watson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harder circles away.
Harder throws a sloppy head kick and Watson moves out of range easily.
Harder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harder throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Watson to counter with a crisp jab.
Harder throws a nice head kick!
A head kick by Harder misses

and Watson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but Harder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harder is looking to stand up but Watson isn't so interested in that idea.
Watson wants to control from the top but Harder keeps moving.

Harder pushes Watson off and gets back to his feet.
A head kick by Harder misses

and Watson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Harder's guard.

Harder wriggles free and stands up.
Harder shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Watson as he jumps to the side.
Edward Watson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pete Harder.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson misses with a takedown attempt
and Harder counters with a head kick. That will keep Watson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Watson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Harder lets loose with a powerful body kick. Watson will feel that in the morning.

Watson gets a clinch.
Harder tries to pull guard but Watson holds him up against the cage and eventually Harder drops back down to his feet.
Watson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Harder pulls his leg out and moves away.
A good leg kick by Harder.
Harder throws a head kick that misses

and Watson counters by moving into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Harder escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Watson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Harder misses with a head kick.
Harder throws a head kick that misses
and Watson counters with a nice leg kick.
Harder throws a head kick that misses

and Watson counters by moving into the clinch.
Harder wants to get back to striking at distance but Watson won't allow it.
Harder is looking to break free of the clinch but Watson has double underhooks.
Harder fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Harder wants to get back to striking at distance but Watson won't allow it.
Watson can't get the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson tries to break the clinch but Harder is controlling the position.
Harder can't break the clinch.
Watson wants to get back to striking at distance but Harder won't allow it.
Harder keeps control of Watson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Harder is trying to break the clinch but Watson has him pressed against the cage.

Watson manages to break the clinch.

Watson clinches up with Harder and pushes him back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Watson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Harder's brow.
Harder wants to break free but Watson has control.

Watson manages to break the clinch.
A head kick by Harder misses

and Watson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Harder's guard now.
Watson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Harder wants to stand and escape but Watson is having none of it.
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but Harder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watson won't allow Harder to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harder wants to stand up but Watson is controlling him.
Watson sitting in guard here, content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harder throws a sloppy head kick

and Watson counters with a single leg into guard. Harder didn't expect that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edward Watson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Watson 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

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