PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Watts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Watts

180 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
159 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ilya Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jack Watts!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watts on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gracie swinging wildly here.
Gracie lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A solid body kick from Gracie.

Watts closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Watts forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Watts won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watts misses with a body punch.
Watts tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Watts back against the cage.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watts tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie jumps guard but Watts stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watts tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watts scores with a hook to the body.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Watts forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Watts is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Watts down to the mat. Watts avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A head kick by Gracie misses

and Watts counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Watts.
Nice body punch from Watts - that landed with a thud.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Watts misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Watts walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Watts tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a double jab

and Watts counters by moving into the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Watts forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Watts tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Watts back against the cage.
Gracie tries to circle away but Watts has him pinned against the cage.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Watts to keep the fight standing.
Watts lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gracie or not.
A right hand to the body from Watts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watts tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good body shot from Watts.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Watts won't allow it.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Watts smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Watts has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watts just stands there and leans against the cage.
Watts is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Watts down to the mat. Watts avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Watts wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie throws a lazy head kick

and Watts counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gracie fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Watts won't allow it.
Watts tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watts just stands there and leans against the cage.
Watts tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Gracie misses with an elbow over the top.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Watts.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Watts works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Watts tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
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!
Gracie tries to circle away but Watts has him pinned against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jack Watts will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Watts closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Watts fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watts misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Watts walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Watts avoids them all with ease.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ilya Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Watts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Watts moves out of range easily.

Watts moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Watts holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gracie jumps guard but Watts stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Watts lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Watts walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watts misses with a punch to the body.
Watts presses Gracie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Watts smiles and moves away.
Gracie tries to bum rush Watts with a series of wild strikes but Watts uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Watts closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Watts.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Watts to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Watts as the two fighters clinch.
Watts tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie jumps guard but Watts turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watts just stands there and leans against the cage.
Watts can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie wants to break free but Watts has control.
Watts tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Jack Watts seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Watts pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Watts forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Watts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Watts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Watts.
Watts struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Watts tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Watts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Watts manages to get underhooks.

Gracie pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Watts stands up from guard. Let's bang!
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!

Watts drives through and clinches with Gracie against the cage.
Watts tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watts presses Gracie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Watts lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gracie or not.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts has him pressed against the cage.
Watts struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Watts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Watts ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Gracie gets a clinch.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie fails to pull guard.

Gracie pulls guard successfully.

Watts decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Watts fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watts misses with a body punch.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Watts walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Watts closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.
Gracie is trying to force a seperation but Watts has the dominant position.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watts just stands there and leans against the cage.
Watts cracks Gracie with a nice body shot.
Gracie jumps guard but Watts stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Watts as the two fighters clinch.
Watts scores with a hook to the body.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Watts prevents it.
Gracie fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watts misses with a punch to the body.
Watts scores with a hook to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Watts.
Watts is working Gracie over against the cage.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Watts avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Watts as the two fighters clinch.
Watts misses with a body punch.
Watts tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watts misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watts tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Watts stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Watts lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gracie or not.
Watts avoids the elbow strike from Gracie, against the cage.
Gracie jumps guard but Watts turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watts just stands there and leans against the cage.
Watts can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Watts to keep the fight standing.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Watts.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Watts to keep the fight standing.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watts just stands there and leans against the cage.
Watts tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gracie.
Gracie misses with a knee strike.
Watts misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Watts forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Watts lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Watts has him pressed against the cage.
Watts is leaning against Gracie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watts is working Gracie over against the cage.
Watts pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Watts tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Watts tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Watts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Watts winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Jack Watts!
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Jack Watts!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Jack Watts!

Jack Watts wins by unanimous decision!