PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gonzo Rawlings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junichi Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Watanabe's choice of entrance music: "One Things Leads To Another" by The Fixx. Gonzo Rawlings has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rawlings
vs
Watanabe

168 cm
20
159 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gonzo Rawlings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Junichi Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rawlings shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rawlings showed some decent athleticism there.
Rawlings keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rawlings not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Rawlings is working for a kimura but Watanabe is defending it quite comfortably.
Rawlings is pressing down on Watanabe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Watanabe is holding on for now.
Watanabe is positioning himself well to prevent Rawlings advancing to mount.

Rawlings is working for a submission of some sort.
Watanabe won't allow Rawlings to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe is trying to stand back up but Rawlings is controlling him
Watanabe is pressing down on Rawlings's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watanabe keeping moving, preventing Rawlings from controlling successfully.
Rawlings looking to pass the guard.
Watanabe has control of Rawlings's left arm, preventing Rawlings from doing any damage.
Rawlings stops Watanabe from standing up.
Rawlings stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Watanabe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rawlings 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.
Rawlings being controlled here momentarily.

Rawlings thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rawlings is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Watanabe swinging wilding here.
Watanabe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rawlings manages to avoid it.
Rawlings shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Watanabe as he jumps to the side.
Gonzo Rawlings seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watanabe lands a jab to Rawlings's midsection.
Watanabe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Watanabe lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Watanabe uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Watanabe throws a right hand that Rawlings ducks under and follows up with a left that Rawlings also avoids with ease.
Watanabe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
No luck for Rawlings with that takedown attempt.
Watanabe stuffs the takedown attempt from Rawlings. Rawlings gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gonzo Rawlings. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rawlings looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Junichi Watanabe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rawlings misses with a takedown attempt - Watanabe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Rawlings shoots in but Watanabe avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rawlings gets a takedown into half guard.
Watanabe regains full guard. Nicely done.
Watanabe can't keep his opponent in guard - Rawlings advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Rawlings is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Watanabe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rawlings.

Rawlings is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Watanabe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rawlings.
Rawlings stops Watanabe from getting back to his feet.
Watanabe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rawlings. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Watanabe has one foot on Rawlings's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawlings throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Watanabe's waist but Watanabe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rawlings off to one side.
Rawlings shoots in for a double leg but Watanabe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rawlings takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rawlings changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Watanabe tries to avoid it but Rawlings manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Watanabe to the ground. Watanabe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Watanabe stuffs the takedown attempt from Rawlings. Rawlings gets slowly back to his feet.
Rawlings misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rawlings changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Watanabe tries to avoid it but Rawlings manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Watanabe to the ground. Watanabe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rawlings looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Watanabe is fending him off so far but Rawlings persists. Nope, Watanabe circles away and we're back to standing.
Watanabe scores with a jab to the body.
Watanabe misses the shot to the body.
Watanabe is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rawlings rather than just go for the knockout.
Rawlings fails with the takedown.

Rawlings shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rawlings tries to free his leg and advance position but Watanabe is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watanabe has his hands on Rawlings's head, controlling the position.
Rawlings pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watanabe is keeping the position for now.
Rawlings is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junichi Watanabe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Watanabe stalks Rawlings and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rawlings's face. Rawlings staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Gonzo Rawlings has been cut.
Watanabe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Watanabe darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rawlings changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Watanabe tries to avoid it but Rawlings manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Watanabe to the ground. Watanabe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rawlings closes the distance and clinches up with Watanabe, looking for a takedown. Rawlings pushes Watanabe against the cage but Watanabe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rawlings looks for a takedown but Watanabe sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gonzo Rawlings. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watanabe with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gonzo Rawlings is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rawlings looks for a takedown but Watanabe sprawls well.
Watanabe swings for the body but Rawlings moves out of range.

Rawlings drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watanabe working a defensive guard here.
Watanabe keeping full guard, as Rawlings tries to pass.
Watanabe wants to stand but Rawlings is controlling the position.

Rawlings drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Watanabe dives on top into guard.
Watanabe is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rawlings is looking for a triangle but Watanabe pushes his legs off easily.
Watanabe wants to stand but Rawlings is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rawlings keeping moving, preventing Watanabe from controlling successfully.

Watanabe stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Watanabe works over Rawlings's head and body with a nice combination.
Watanabe is breathing heavily.
Rawlings has a takedown stuffed.
Watanabe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from Watanabe as Rawlings shoots in.
Rawlings closes this distance looking for a takedown but Watanabe circles away.
Rawlings will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe jabs at Rawlings's body.
Rawlings shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Watanabe pinned against the cage. Watanabe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rawlings changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Watanabe tries to avoid it but Rawlings manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Watanabe to the ground. Watanabe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Watanabe as Rawlings shoots in.
Watanabe stuffs the takedown.
Watanabe throws a right and a left that Rawlings avoids nicely.
Rawlings moves in looking to clinch but Watanabe pushes him off.
Watanabe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Watanabe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Watanabe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rawlings at a distance.
Rawlings looks for a takedown but Watanabe sprawls well.
Rawlings shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rawlings shoots in for a double leg but Watanabe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Watanabe throws a series of punches but Rawlings avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Watanabe misses.
Watanabe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rawlings moves forwards but Watanabe connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rawlings shoots in for a takedown but Watanabe shows good takedown defense.
Rawlings takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Watanabe fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Watanabe.
Watanabe moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rawlings shoots for a takedown but Watanabe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rawlings on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Watanabe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rawlings moves away.
Rawlings misses with a lunging right hand
and Watanabe counters with a one-two to the body.

Rawlings is rocked!
Rawlings fails with the takedown
and Watanabe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Oh Rawlings is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Watanabe lands a right hook to the body.
Rawlings seems to have got his legs back now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe takes a swing at Rawlings's ribcage but misses.
Rawlings shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Watanabe counters with a right hand to the body.
Watanabe lands the left hand.

Gonzo Rawlings's cut is getting worse.
Rawlings misses with a takedown
and Watanabe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rawlings tries for a takedown but Watanabe circles away easily
and Watanabe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Watanabe connects with a good straight punch right through the guard and follows up with a right hook and a left hook! That last one sent Rawlings tumbling to the canvas! Watanabe pours on the pressure with more strikes and the referee has no hesitation diving in to stop the fight! Rawlings was done - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Junichi Watanabe!