PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kengo Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Black
vs
Watanabe

195 cm
30
209 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

182 cm
29
212 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Global Empire MMA Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tyson Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kengo Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watanabe closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Black quickly recovers to half guard.
Watanabe is trying to control the action in half guard but Black is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Watanabe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Watanabe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Watanabe is trying to control the action in half guard but Black is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Watanabe.
Black trying to control but Watanabe postures up.
Black tries to get to full guard but Watanabe has control of the leg.
Watanabe is taking a breather. Black says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Black is trying to get back to full guard.
Black keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black tries to roll over but Watanabe keeps him under control.
Black moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Black lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Watanabe!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Watanabe turns into him and now he's in Black's guard.
Watanabe trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Black manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Black avoids the attempt from Watanabe to control.
Watanabe manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Watanabe, under a barage of strikes from Black.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black thows a huge punch but Watanabe dodges it nicely.
Watanabe is refusing to be controlled, as Black sits in half guard.
Black looks to land a strike but Watanabe avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Watanabe can do anything to dispel that myth.

Watanabe pushes Black off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Black fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Watanabe manages to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bone on bone clash there as Watanabe blocks the leg kick.
Black throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Black connects with a looping right hand.
Tyson Black seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Black lands the left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Black.
Black creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Watanabe sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Black trying to control the action but Watanabe is working from the bottom.
Black misses with the ground and pound.
Black is trying to ground and pound but Watanabe uses the momentary lack of control by Black to regain half guard.
Black missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Black slips a nice elbow through Watanabe's hands, connecting with Watanabe's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Black looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Black throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black moves nicely into side control.
Watanabe is looking to reverse the position.
Watanabe struggling a bit here.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watanabe keeps working.
Black taking a break here but Watanabe is having none of it and regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Black looks to land a strike but Watanabe avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Black dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Black. Watanabe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Black misses with a low kick.
Horrible takedown by Watanabe or perhaps it was just good defense by Black which made him look bad.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Watanabe, as that shot connected.
Black misses with a double jab
and Watanabe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Black getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A slow jab from Black misses its intended target.

Watanabe drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Watanabe works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Watanabe's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Watanabe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Watanabe drops an elbow to the side of Black's head.
Watanabe slips a nice elbow through Black's hands, connecting with Black's forehead.
Black is pressing down on Watanabe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Watanabe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe 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 postures up.
Black tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Watanabe works over Black with some ground and pound from guard.
Watanabe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Black is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watanabe is looking to work some ground and pound but Black has wrist control.
Watanabe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Black is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Black utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Black being controlled here, momentarily.
Kengo Watanabe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Black preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Watanabe looking to pass the guard.
Black working a defensive guard here.
Black tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Watanabe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Watanabe is stalling in the full guard.
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!
Watanabe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Watanabe wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Black seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Watanabe gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Black.
Black shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Watanabe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Watanabe fails to land the takedown.
Black throws a head kick that misses.
Black with a hook.
Black misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Watanabe.
Black is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Black fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Watanabe to the ground. Black is now in Watanabe's guard.
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Watanabe is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Black is controlling him.
Black throwing strikes from guard but Watanabe blocks nicely.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black postures up in Watanabe's guard and throws a big left but Watanabe blocks it.
Black with a flurry of punches that miss.
Black trying to control but Watanabe is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Watanabe keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kengo Watanabe will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Left hook, right uppercut from Watanabe.
Black getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Watanabe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Black is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Black scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Watanabe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Black swivels and escapes.
Black fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Black smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kengo Watanabe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black tries to work over Watanabe's front leg with a kick but Watanabe checks it.
Black misses with a few strikes there.
Watanabe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Black tries to avoid it but Watanabe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Black to the ground. Black escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tyson Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kengo Watanabe.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown but Black shows good takedown defense.
Black displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Kengo Watanabe has been cut.

Black scores with a takedown into Watanabe's guard.
Black with a flurry of punches that miss.
Watanabe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watanabe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Watanabe can't keep his opponent in guard - Black advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Watanabe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Black.
Watanabe on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Black with the ground and pound but Watanabe uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black throwing strikes but missing.
Black postures up in Watanabe's guard and throws a big left but Watanabe blocks it.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Black postures up in Watanabe's guard and throws a big left but Watanabe blocks it.
Black scoring with punches to the head and body.
Black throws a big elbow that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Watanabe tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black wants to control from the top but Watanabe keeps moving.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Watanabe is retaining full guard.
Black trying to control but Watanabe is working from the bottom.
Black will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Black postures up in Watanabe's guard and throws a big left but Watanabe blocks it.
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Watanabe is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Black is controlling him.
Watanabe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Black.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Watanabe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Watanabe keeping full guard, as Black tries to pass.
Watanabe is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Watanabe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Black throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Watanabe is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Black dives into side control.
Black has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Black grinds an elbow into Watanabe's temple.
Black working the strikes but Watanabe uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyson Black showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Black 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 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyson Black!