PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brazilian Experiment I (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kai Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watanabe has chosen Bombage by Tiësto as his entrance music. Kai Watanabe struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.9lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Experiment I
vs
Watanabe

178 cm
27
161 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

183 cm
27
170 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Revolution Fatigues

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 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian Experiment I!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kai Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Experiment I lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Experiment I avoids the body shot from Watanabe.

Experiment I 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.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Experiment I looking to pass the guard.
Experiment I won't allow Watanabe to sweep him here.
Experiment I stands and throws Watanabe's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Experiment I trying to control the action but Watanabe is working from the bottom.
Watanabe tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Experiment I wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Experiment I looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Watanabe dodges the ground and pound from Experiment I.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Experiment I thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Experiment I is trying to get an arm triangle but Watanabe is defending well.
Watanabe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Experiment I's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Watanabe is looking for a sweep. Experiment I is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Experiment I thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Watanabe's head.
Experiment I is just content to waste time from the top position. Watanabe takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Experiment I passes Watanabe's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Watanabe tries to get to full guard but Experiment I has control of the leg.
Experiment I throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Watanabe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Watanabe is staying active underneath Experiment I, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Experiment I is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Experiment I wants to control but Watanabe is keeping him busy.

We're going to have a standup here because Brazilian Experiment I wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Watanabe throws a nice looking combination but Experiment I bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Experiment I avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Experiment I connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Watanabe momentarily.

Watanabe gets caught napping as Experiment I dives in and scores a takedown. Watanabe manages to retain guard.
Experiment I trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Watanabe has momentary wrist control but Experiment I slips an elbow through the middle.
Experiment I keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Watanabe's head.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Experiment I drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Experiment I jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Experiment I wants to control from the top but Watanabe keeps moving.
Experiment I postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Experiment I trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Experiment I seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Watanabe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Experiment I is aware though and is defending well.
Watanabe looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Experiment I stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Experiment I scores with a shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Experiment I drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Experiment I working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brazilian Experiment I dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Watanabe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Watanabe misses with a hook
and Experiment I counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Watanabe defending well as Experiment I loads up on a big left hand.
Good exchange - Experiment I coming out on top.
Nice takedown defense from Watanabe. No joy for Experiment I on that attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Watanabe. Experiment I does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big right from Watanabe misses.
Experiment I doesn't manage to clinch there - Watanabe circles away.
Experiment I tries to land a front kick but Watanabe steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Watanabe misses with a double jab.
Experiment I looks for a takedown but Watanabe sprawls well.
A clash of legs there as Watanabe blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Experiment I misses with a body kick.

Experiment I feints and as Watanabe raises his hands in defense, Experiment I changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Watanabe trying to control the position.
Watanabe is adopting a defensive guard.
Experiment I trying to control but Watanabe is working from the bottom.
Experiment I passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Experiment I wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watanabe keeps working.

Experiment I is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Watanabe wants to improve his position but Experiment I is controlling well.
Experiment I is keen to just control but Watanabe is a slippery customer.

Experiment I is looking for a kimura here.
Watanabe is trying to maintain the position but Experiment I is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe tries to get to full guard but Experiment I has control of the leg.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Experiment I is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Experiment I 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 Experiment I.
Experiment I content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Experiment I is looking for a kimura but Watanabe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Experiment I to get the leverage.
Experiment I passes the guard and advances to mount!
Experiment I trying to control but Watanabe is having none of it.
Watanabe wants to hold on but Experiment I pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brazilian Experiment I dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Experiment I shoots in but Watanabe avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Watanabe throws a shot from downtown. Experiment I moves away and avoids it.

Experiment I closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Experiment I is nestled in close to Watanabe, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Experiment I looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Experiment I frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Experiment I working Watanabe over with strikes here.
Experiment I looking to finish Watanabe with some ground and pound. This is bad for Watanabe!
Experiment I lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Experiment I looking to control and managing it successfully.
Watanabe tries to hold on but Experiment I pushes him away.
Experiment I trying to control but Watanabe is having none of it.
Experiment I breaks from Watanabe's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kai Watanabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Watanabe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Experiment I has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Watanabe's face.

Experiment I is working for a guillotine from mount but Watanabe frees his head quite easily.
Watanabe tries to hold on but Experiment I postures up.

Experiment I is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Watanabe can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Watanabe is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Experiment I dominating with strikes here.
Watanabe tries to lock up and control but Experiment I gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Experiment I looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Watanabe keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Experiment I cracks Watanabe with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Experiment I in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Experiment I with a couple of short strikes.
Brazilian Experiment I is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe tries to reverse the position but Experiment I maintains control.
Experiment I content just to control the position here.
Watanabe tries to hold on but Experiment I postures up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Experiment I controlling his opponent.
Experiment I landing strikes from the mount and Watanabe is in trouble!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Experiment I trying to control but Watanabe is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brazilian Experiment I showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Experiment I has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brazilian Experiment I!
Brazilian Experiment I decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.