PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Esa Saksinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Billie Jean. Edward Watson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Saksinen
vs
Watson

165 cm
22
132 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
130 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Esa Saksinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edward Watson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saksinen moves in looking to clinch but Watson pushes him off.
Watson looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Saksinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Watson moves away.

Saksinen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Saksinen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saksinen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Saksinen slows down the pace here.
Watson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Saksinen connects with a knee to the head.
Saksinen misses with an elbow strike.
Saksinen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Saksinen lands a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Saksinen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Watson's brow.
Saksinen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saksinen stalling against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Watson throws an elbow but misses.
Saksinen slows down the pace here.
Saksinen with a knee to the head.
Saksinen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Watson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saksinen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Saksinen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Watson blocks it with crossed arms.
Watson has had enough of the clinch but Saksinen keeps him there for the moment.
Saksinen lands a knee to the body.
Saksinen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Saksinen has Watson pressed against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Saksinen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Watson's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saksinen gets underhooks to prevent Watson's takedown attempt.
Saksinen stalling against the cage.
Saksinen throws an elbow but it misses.
Saksinen stops a takedown attempt from Watson.
Esa Saksinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edward Watson.
Watson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Watson fails to pull guard.
Saksinen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saksinen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saksinen keeps control of Watson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saksinen tries for a takedown but Watson manages to get underhooks.
Saksinen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Watson drags the fight down to the ground.
Watson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Watson trying to keep a closed guard but Saksinen is proving a slippery customer.
Saksinen controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saksinen tries to stand but Watson is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saksinen gets to his feet. Watson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Saksinen gets a clinch.
Saksinen pushes off an throws an elbow but Watson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Saksinen lands a knee to the body.
Watson blocks an elbow strike.
Saksinen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Saksinen connects with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Saksinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saksinen connects with a knee to the head.
Saksinen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Saksinen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Watson trying to control but Saksinen is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saksinen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Watson on the ground.
Saksinen keeping full guard, as Watson tries to pass.

Watson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Saksinen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.
Saksinen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Watson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saksinen is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Saksinen.
Saksinen is looking to clinch but Watson is avoiding it.
Saksinen fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Saksinen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Saksinen throws a hook but Watson avoids it easily.
Saksinen is looking to clinch.
Watson shoots for a double leg takedown but Saksinen sprawls well. He's pushed Watson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

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

Watson drags the fight down to the ground.
Saksinen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Saksinen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Watson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saksinen tries to close the distance and clinch but Watson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saksinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saksinen is looking to clinch but Watson is avoiding it.
Watson swats away the attempt to clinch by Saksinen.
Watson blocks a head kick by Saksinen.

Saksinen moves into the clinch.
Saksinen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Watson's face.
Watson stalling in the clinch but Saksinen improves position.
Watson tries for a takedown but Saksinen manages to get underhooks.
Saksinen trying to land knees to the body.
Watson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Saksinen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Esa Saksinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edward Watson.
Watson is trying to stall.
Saksinen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saksinen stalling the fight.

Saksinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Saksinen clinches.
Saksinen stalls.
Watson takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saksinen looking to throw knees to the head but Watson is blocking nicely.
Saksinen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Watson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saksinen scores a nice knee to the body.

Saksinen breaks from the clinch.
Watson slips a jab from Saksinen.

Saksinen clinches.
Watson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Saksinen pulls his leg out and moves away.

Saksinen has closed the distance and engaged Watson in a clinch.

Watson jumps guard and drags Saksinen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Saksinen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Watson keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Watson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Watson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saksinen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Watson is proving hard to escape from.
Watson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Watson blocks a jab.
Watson swats away the attempt to clinch by Saksinen.

Saksinen moves into range and clinches up with Watson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saksinen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Watson is looking to control Saksinen's arms but Saksinen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Watson has his back to the cage.
Saksinen misses with an elbow strike.
Saksinen throws an elbow that misses.
Saksinen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Watson breaks the clinch.
Watson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saksinen wants to clinch

and Watson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Saksinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saksinen wants to get back to striking at distance but Watson won't allow it.
Watson jumps guard but Saksinen stands there with Watson around his waist. Watson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Watson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Saksinen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Saksinen connects with a knee to the head.

Saksinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Saksinen moves into the clinch successfully.
Saksinen looking to throw knees to the head but Watson is blocking nicely.
Saksinen stalling in the clinch.
Saksinen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Saksinen breaks from the clinch.
Watson shoots in looking for a takedown. Saksinen tries to sprawl out of it but Watson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saksinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Saksinen dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Saksinen lands a head kick!
Saksinen closes the distance but Watson moves to the side
and Watson counters with a straight right hand.
Watson slips under a jab from Saksinen.
Saksinen lands a head kick!
Saksinen tries to clinch up but Watson circles away and keeps his distance.
Watson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Watson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Watson.
Saksinen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saksinen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Saksinen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Saksinen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Watson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saksinen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Saksinen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Saksinen breaks the clinch.
Saksinen swings for the body but Watson moves out of range.
Saksinen darts in trying to clinch
and Watson counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saksinen wants to clinch but Watson slips to the side
and Watson counters with a low kick, right behind Saksinen 's knee.
Saksinen throws a head kick that misses

so Watson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Saksinen wants to stand up but Watson is controlling him.
Watson won't allow Saksinen to sweep him here.
Watson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saksinen trying to control the position here.
Saksinen wants to stand up but Watson is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saksinen is controlling Watson's posture.
Saksinen is looking to stand up but Watson isn't so interested in that idea.

Watson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Watson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson preventing the sweep.
Saksinen wants to stand but Watson is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saksinen throws a poor cross that misses
letting Watson counter with a right hand.
Saksinen wants to clinch

and Watson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Saksinen's guard now.
Saksinen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Saksinen tries to get out of the position.
Watson wants to stand but Saksinen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Watson is looking to work some ground and pound but Saksinen has wrist control.
Watson wanted to stand there but Saksinen had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson trying to control but Saksinen is working from the bottom.
Saksinen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Saksinen keeping moving, preventing Watson from controlling successfully.
Edward Watson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saksinen wants to stand and escape but Watson is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edward Watson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saksinen 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esa Saksinen!