PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takashi Isso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chan Wathan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Isso comes to the cage accompanied by Shiawase Nara Te o Tatakō by NobodyKnows+. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Isso
vs
Wathan

180 cm
22
159 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
21
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Tokyo, Takashi Isso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chan Wathan!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Isso just misses with a punch to the body.

Wathan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Isso!
Wathan with the ground and pound from mount.
Isso is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Wathan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Isso manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Wathan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Isso is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Isso is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Wathan is controlling him well.
Wathan tries to move into full mount but can't pass Isso's legs.
Wathan moves into full mount!

Wathan looking for a guillotine from mount but Isso is having none of it.
Wathan scoring with strikes but Isso is staying in there.
Wathan tries to control but Isso wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Isso tries to lock up and control but Wathan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Isso can't escape the position.
Isso looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.

Wathan with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Isso really wants to buck Wathan off and get back to his feet.
Isso is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wathan pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Wathan looking for a guillotine from mount but Isso is having none of it.
Wathan looks gassed!
Isso tries to hold on but Wathan postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Isso tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Wathan stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Wathan shoots in but Isso avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wathan closes the distance and clinches up with Isso, looking for a takedown. Wathan pushes Isso against the cage but Isso circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Isso fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Wathan on the side of the head.
Wathan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wathan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Isso's waist but Isso gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wathan off to one side.
Takashi Isso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chan Wathan.
Wathan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Isso with a nice cross.
Isso misses with a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Isso as Wathan shoots in.
Wathan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wathan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Isso as Wathan shoots in.
Isso fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wathan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wathan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Isso just misses with a punch to the body.
Takashi Isso is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Isso chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Wathan fails to land the takedown.
Wathan throws a hook to the side of Isso's head but Isso sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Chan Wathan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wathan shoots in for a takedown but Isso shows good takedown defense.
Isso throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wathan has a takedown stuffed.
Wathan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Isso pinned against the cage. Isso gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Isso lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Isso lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wathan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Isso swivels and escapes.
Isso changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Isso listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Isso lands a front kick.
Wathan takes one to the side of the head.
Wathan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Isso looks to score with a jab to the body but Wathan is just out of range.
Isso is looking to wear down Wathan with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Wathan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Isso tries to avoid it but Wathan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Isso to the ground. Isso escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wathan.
Isso scores with a kick to the midsection.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wathan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Isso. Isso obviously looking to wear him down.
Wathan shoots in for a double leg but Isso sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
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!
Wathan has a takedown stuffed.
Wathan avoids the body shot from Isso.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wathan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Isso pushes Wathan off looking to stand but Wathan dives back in and keeps control.
Wathan wants to pass the guard but Isso is defending well.
Isso has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wathan is working away from the top position though.
Wathan is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Isso!

Isso defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Wathan.
Isso is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Wathan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Isso is looking to escape.

Wathan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Isso manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wathan is looking to take a break and control but Isso is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wathan controls the position from side control.
Isso is trying to control Wathan's posture but Wathan avoids it.
Isso wants to get back to his feet but Wathan drags him back down.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Isso lands a nice looking body kick.
Wathan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Isso can pounce on him.
Wathan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Good leg kick by Isso there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Isso uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Wathan avoids the body shot from Isso.
Wathan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Isso lands a jab to Wathan's midsection.
Wathan misses with a takedown attempt - Isso sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Takashi Isso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chan Wathan.
Isso throws a nice head kick!

Wathan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Wathan tries to free his leg and advance position but Isso is retaining full guard.
Isso utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Isso controlling Wathan's posture.

Wathan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Isso is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wathan tries to free his leg and advance position but Isso is retaining full guard.
Wathan wants to stand but Isso has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wathan shoots in but no luck this time.
Isso with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wathan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Wathan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Wathan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Wathan get's back to his feet.

Wathan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Isso keeping full guard, as Wathan tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wathan trying to control the position from guard on top but Isso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Isso is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Wathan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Isso is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wathan is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Isso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wathan manages to avoid it.
A shot to de liver by Isso. Beautiful body shot.
No luck for Wathan with that takedown attempt.
Wathan takes one to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chan Wathan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Wathan swinging wilding here.
Wathan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Good exchange - Isso coming out on top.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wathan.
Isso misses with an attempted mid kick.
Wathan checks a low kick from Isso.
Isso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wathan.
Isso fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Wathan gets a takedown into half guard.
Isso keeping hold of Wathan's head, controlling as best he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Isso is staying active underneath Wathan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Isso moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Isso is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wathan is controlling him.
Isso is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wathan wants to control but Isso is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Chan Wathan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Wathan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Isso stands up from half guard.
Wathan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
No luck for Wathan with that takedown attempt.
Takashi Isso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chan Wathan.
Wathan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Isso pinned against the cage. Isso gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wathan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Isso is not content to let Wathan control the position.
Wathan advances to mount.
Wathan wants to control the pace but Isso is squirming around nicely.

Wathan looking to secure an arm triangle but Isso defends it well.
Isso tries to hold on but Wathan postures up.
Poor strikes thrown by Wathan there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Isso somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Isso tries a head kick but it misses.
Wathan misses with an uppercut. Isso saw that one coming.
Wathan wants to clinch up but Isso keeps it at a distance.
Isso fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wathan.

Wathan gets a takedown into half guard.

Isso has one foot on Wathan's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Isso chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Wathan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Chan Wathan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wathan throws a right hand that Isso ducks under and follows up with a left that Isso also avoids with ease.
Wathan shoots in and drives through. Isso sprawls well.
Isso fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Wathan is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Isso.
Isso stuffs the takedown.
Takashi Isso is winning the standup battle so far.
Wathan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Isso as he jumps to the side.
Wathan's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Wathan fails with a takedown attempt.
Wathan tries to close the distance and clinch but Isso swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Isso lands the left hand.
Isso thows a body shot but no joy.
Isso swings for the body but Wathan moves out of range.
Isso tries a head kick but it misses.
Isso takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Isso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wathan.
Isso misses with a body shot

and Wathan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chan Wathan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wathan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chan Wathan!