PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hellas Pankratios (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.

Watson
vs
Pankratios

199 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

200 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rob Watson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hellas Pankratios!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson is looking to clinch.
Pankratios scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Rob Watson has been cut.

Pankratios throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Watson was covering up waiting for the punch and Pankratios finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Pankratios from controlling successfully.

Pankratios is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Watson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Watson has escaped and now he's on top!

Pankratios looking to control.
Pankratios really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Watson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Watson lands a couple of digs.
Watson won't allow Pankratios to sweep him here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pankratios can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pankratios working a defensive guard but Watson passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson is thwarting Pankratios's attempts to control the position.
Pankratios wants to get back to full guard but Watson has mounted him!
Pankratios wants to control but Watson is having none of it.
Watson thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pankratios wants to hold on but Watson pushes him away.
Pankratios is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pankratios is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Watson thowing shots but they're missing.
Watson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Pankratios?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Watson won't let Pankratios get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Pankratios is working to get back to half guard.
Pankratios avoids a series of strikes thrown by Watson.
Pankratios is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four 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.
Watson cracks Pankratios with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Watson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Watson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Pankratios turns into him and now he's in Watson's guard.
Pankratios trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pankratios makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Watson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pankratios trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Watson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rob Watson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Watson jabs at Pankratios's body.

Pankratios closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pankratios lands in his opponent's guard.

Watson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pankratios lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pankratios must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson is wriggling around but Pankratios manages to pass to half guard.
Pankratios working over Watson with some ground and pound. Watson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pankratios prevents Watson from standing back up.
Watson gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pankratios trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pankratios stands and throws Watson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Watson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Watson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pankratios connects with a decent elbow.

Watson is rocked!
Pankratios in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Watson looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Pankratios turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hellas Pankratios!