PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Lopes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jun Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lopes comes to the cage accompanied by Pride Theme. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Lopes
vs
Watanabe

188 cm
25
227 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
265 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabriel Lopes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jun Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lopes clinches.

Watanabe turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Watanabe manages to end up in side control.
Lopes is trying to get back to his feet.

Watanabe working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Watanabe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lopes wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Watanabe trying to control the action but Lopes is working from the bottom.

Watanabe goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lopes rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Watanabe's guard! Nice work there by Lopes!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watanabe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Watanabe looking to control.
Lopes thows a big elbow that misses.

Watanabe working for a triangle but Lopes defends it easily.

Lopes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lopes lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Jun Watanabe has been cut.
Watanabe avoids the head kick by Lopes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopes takes a swing at Watanabe's ribcage but misses.
Lopes shoots in looking for a takedown but Watanabe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lopes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters circling a little - Lopes finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lopes misses with the combination.
Lopes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Watanabe sprawls well. Watanabe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lopes gets slowly back to his feet.
Lopes is breathing heavily.
Lopes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Lopes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopes throws a series of punches but Watanabe moves out of range.

Watanabe drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watanabe drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lopes manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Watanabe has Lopes in his guard.
Lopes trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Watanabe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Watanabe has his foot on Lopes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lopes works his way back into a safe position though.

Watanabe has his feet on Lopes's thighs here. He's pushed Lopes off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Lopes screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jun Watanabe!