PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ken Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Carter's choice of entrance music: Walkie Talkie - DJ Shadow. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Andrew Carter enters the cage!

Watanabe
vs
Carter

195 cm
27
210 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

188 cm
30
217 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ken Watanabe!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrew Carter!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carter jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Carter scores with a head kick. Watanabe tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Carter tries a head kick but it misses.

Watanabe gets caught napping as Carter dives in and scores a takedown. Watanabe manages to retain guard.
Carter controlling from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Carter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Watanabe keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.
Carter tries to free his leg and advance position but Watanabe is retaining full guard.
Carter throwing strikes but missing.

Carter drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Watanabe dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watanabe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Watanabe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Watanabe won't allow Carter to sweep him here.
Watanabe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Carter on the ground.
Watanabe is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Watanabe gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Carter staying out of range there.
Carter misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter with a nice cross.
Nice shot by Carter.
Good work by Carter as he checks the leg kick.

Carter closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Watanabe to the mat! Watanabe manages to get full guard.
Carter is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Watanabe is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Carter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Watanabe is trying to keep Carter in close.
Carter trying to control but Watanabe is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe controlling Carter's posture.

Ken Watanabe has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Carter shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Watanabe as he avoids it easily.

Carter manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Watanabe on his heels. He'll look to pass Watanabe's guard now, I'm sure.
Carter controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Watanabe keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Carter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Carter postures up in Watanabe's guard and throws a big left but Watanabe blocks it.
Carter looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Carter dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Watanabe misses with a two punch combination.
Watanabe throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Watanabe misses with a body punch
and Carter counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Carter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Carter throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Carter changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Watanabe looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Carter laying and praying for a moment but Watanabe takes advantage and regains half guard.
Carter with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Carter working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Watanabe's thigh. Watanabe counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Carter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Carter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Carter trying to control but Watanabe is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Carter is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Carter trying to control but Watanabe is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Andrew Carter hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Carter throws a head kick that misses.
Watanabe thows a leg kick but Carter checks it
and Carter makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Carter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter moves into full mount!
Carter putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watanabe is working to get back to half guard.
Carter takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Watanabe wants to control but Carter is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Carter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Carter shoots in for a double leg but Watanabe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A combination from Watanabe does no damage.
Carter lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
No luck for Carter with that takedown attempt.
Andrew Carter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carter buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Carter shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Watanabe is trying to defend but Carter finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Watanabe preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Watanabe is trying to stand up here but Carter is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter trying to control the action but Watanabe is working from the bottom.
Carter is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Carter trying to advance position but Watanabe counters by regaining guard.
Watanabe keeping full guard, as Carter tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Watanabe keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.
Watanabe keeping full guard, as Carter tries to pass.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Andrew Carter wasn't active enough on the ground.
Carter goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Carter 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 Carter off to one side.
Ken Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Carter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carter shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Watanabe's guard.
Carter looking to pass the guard.
Carter postures up.
Carter stands and throws Watanabe's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Carter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Watanabe, who protects the arm well.
Carter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carter misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe is looking to reverse the position.

Carter tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Carter has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Carter wants to control but Watanabe is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Watanabe tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Carter wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Carter really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Carter lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Carter with a nice cross.
Carter shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Watanabe as he avoids it easily.
Carter drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Watanabe throws an off balance right hand

and Carter counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Carter.
Carter wants to pass the guard but Watanabe is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Carter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Carter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watanabe is keeping the position for now.
Carter stands and throws Watanabe's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter taking a break here but Watanabe is having none of it and regains half guard.
Carter is looking to take a break and control but Watanabe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Carter thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Watanabe to regain full guard.
Carter passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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.
Watanabe is not content to let Carter control the position.
Carter just content to control the position.
Watanabe prevents Carter from improving position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter trying to control the position but Watanabe is working away.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Carter wants to control for a moment but Watanabe uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Carter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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.

Carter is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Watanabe defends it well.
Watanabe looks like he's trying to stand up.
Watanabe is staying active underneath Carter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Watanabe keeping hold of Carter's head, controlling as best he can.
Watanabe is staying active underneath Carter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Carter dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Carter pivots, looking for a leg kick but Watanabe is out of range and Carter settles back down.
Carter misses with a lunging right hand
and Watanabe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Carter is looking to land body kicks.
Watanabe tries to land a front kick but Carter steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Carter shoots in but no luck this time.
A head kick misses from Carter.
Ken Watanabe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carter shoots and misses
and Watanabe counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Watanabe misses with a right hand

and Carter counters with a single leg into guard. Watanabe didn't expect that.
Carter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Carter is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Carter is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Carter wants to pass the guard but Watanabe is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Andrew Carter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Watanabe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Carter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Carter wants to pass the guard but Watanabe is keeping the position.
Carter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Watanabe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Carter wants to control from the top but Watanabe keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Carter tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Watanabe is able to avoid easily.
Carter throws a wild body kick that Watanabe sees coming a mile off.
Ken Watanabe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carter lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A cross from Carter lands.
A jab from Carter finds it's way through Watanabe's defenses.
Watanabe blocks a jab.
Carter tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Watanabe looks to land a right hand but Carter moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe misses with a two punch combination.
Watanabe avoids the head kick by Carter.
Watanabe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Carter looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Watanabe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Watanabe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Carter cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Carter pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Watanabe back to the cage. Carter follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Watanabe throws a leg kick that misses.
Carter misses with a lunging right hand
and Watanabe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Carter takes a swing at Watanabe's ribcage but misses.
Carter misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe scores with a sloppy right hand. Carter should have avoided that one.
Watanabe falls off balance throwing a combination
and Carter counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ken Watanabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carter checks the leg kick nicely there.
Watanabe connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Carter's hands.
Carter throws a head kick that misses.
Watanabe is looking to clinch but Carter is avoiding it.
Carter throws a wild body kick that Watanabe sees coming a mile off.
Carter shoots in looking for a takedown but Watanabe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Carter's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ken Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Carter.
Watanabe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Carter.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andrew Carter.
Well Carter has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 45:50
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 46:50
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Carter!
Andrew Carter is the new light heavyweight champion!