PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and tom watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). watson has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stark
vs
watson

185 cm
22
170 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

205 cm
26
180 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, tom watson!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

watson feints and as Stark raises his hands in defense, watson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
watson wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Stark might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Stark working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. watson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. watson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stark keeping moving, preventing watson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
watson wants to get up but he can't break Stark's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Stark 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 gets to his feet - Stark follows without any prompting.
watson throws a right hand that Stark ducks under and follows up with a left that Stark also avoids with ease.
watson looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
watson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Stark closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stark jumps guard but watson stands there with Stark around his waist. Stark gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Stark manages to pull guard.
watson advances position into side control!
Stark manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
watson is thwarting Stark's attempts to control the position.
watson slows the pace down in half guard.
Stark knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for watson on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
watson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

watson is looking for a kimura here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Stark gets full guard.
Stark keeping moving, preventing watson from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
watson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. tom watson wasn't active enough on the ground.

Stark darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
watson gets back to full guard.
watson controlling the position.

watson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stark doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stark manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stark trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
watson is trying to control the position but Stark postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
watson has his takedown stuffed

and Stark counters with a shoot takedown. watson fights it but they end up in guard.
Stark trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Stark avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Frank Stark will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stark lands a head kick. watson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Stark shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
watson gets full guard.
watson pulls Stark in to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark stopping the sweep attempt from watson.
watson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. tom watson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stark misses the shot to the body.
Stark tries to clinch up.
watson misses with a takedown attempt

and Stark decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in watson's guard.
Stark wants to pass the guard but watson is keeping the position.
Frank Stark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark wants to control from the top but watson keeps moving.
Stark has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of watson is proving hard to escape from.
Stark tries to free his leg and advance position but watson is retaining full guard.

watson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
A nice left hand lands by watson.

watson has clasped his hands together around Stark's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

watson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Stark to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

watson has Stark up against the cage in a clinch.

Stark breaks the clinch.
watson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
watson throws a right and a left that Stark avoids nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stark.

watson pushes Stark up against the cage in a clinch.
Stark gets underhooks to prevent watson's takedown attempt.
Stark tries to break free but watson pushes him back against the cage.
Stark misses with a shot to the kidneys.
watson stops a takedown attempt from Stark.
Stark tries for a takedown but watson manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

watson jumps guard.

Stark is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but watson has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Stark is looking to defend but watson has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Stark! watson pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Stark taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). tom watson!