PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Rostowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takeshi Watanabe has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Watanabe
vs
Rostowski

175 cm
24
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

165 cm
18
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Watanabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Connor Rostowski!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watanabe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rostowski counters with a left to the body.
Rostowski scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Watanabe doesn't seem bothered though.
Watanabe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rostowski.
Rostowski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Watanabe lands with a nice combination. Rostowski backs away looking to recover.
Watanabe falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rostowski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rostowski slips a jab and a cross from Watanabe.
Rostowski lunges at Watanabe with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Watanabe's hand.
Rostowski shoots in for a takedown but Watanabe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Watanabe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Watanabe wants it to stay on the feet.
Watanabe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rostowski swinging wildly here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rostowski goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe throws a right and a left that Rostowski avoids nicely.
Rostowski fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watanabe avoids it really well and circles away.
Takeshi Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Rostowski.
Rostowski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Watanabe falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rostowski counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rostowski throws a big shot that misses.
Watanabe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rostowski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takeshi Watanabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watanabe is breathing heavily.
Rostowski throws a right hand that Watanabe ducks under and follows up with a left that Watanabe also avoids with ease.
Watanabe misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Watanabe misses.
Watanabe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rostowski shoots for a takedown but Watanabe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Watanabe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rostowski counters with a series of strikes. Watanabe will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rostowski misses the shot to the body.
Rostowski moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rostowski fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Watanabe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rostowski misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rostowski dives in and scores a takedown into Watanabe's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rostowski scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rostowski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rostowski postures up and lands a big shot to Watanabe's brow.
Watanabe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rostowski scoring with some ground and pound.
Rostowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rostowski scoring with some ground and pound.
Watanabe keeping moving, preventing Rostowski from controlling successfully.
Rostowski chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rostowski wants to control from the top but Watanabe keeps moving.
Rostowski connects with a couple of short punches.
Rostowski working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Watanabe's head.
Rostowski preventing the sweep.
Rostowski prevents Watanabe from getting back to his feet.
Rostowski preventing the sweep.
Rostowski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rostowski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rostowski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rostowski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rostowski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rostowski landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rostowski looks up at the clock and then as Watanabe takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rostowski smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rostowski scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Watanabe to see if he's OK.
Watanabe is trying to work for a sweep but Rostowski has mounted him!
Watanabe is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rostowski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Watanabe is looking to escape.
Watanabe on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Watanabe tries to get out of the position.
Rostowski putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watanabe taking shots to the head.
Watanabe is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Rostowski landing punches.
A nice elbow there by Rostowski.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Rostowski 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 drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Watanabe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Watanabe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rostowski.
Watanabe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Watanabe throws a nice looking combination but Rostowski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Watanabe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rostowski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Watanabe as he jumps to the side.
Rostowski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Watanabe.
Watanabe misses with a double jab
and Rostowski counters with a nice uppercut.
Watanabe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Good exchange - Rostowski coming out on top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rostowski throws a shot to the body.
Rostowski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe misses with a double jab
and Rostowski counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rostowski scores with a nice strike.
Takeshi Watanabe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A combination from Watanabe does no damage.
Rostowski is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watanabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takeshi Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Rostowski.
Watanabe staying out of range there.
Rostowski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rostowski connects with a crisp jab.
Rostowski goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Watanabe staying out of range there.
Rostowski looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Watanabe throws a series of punches but Rostowski avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rostowski shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Watanabe as he avoids it easily.
Rostowski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rostowski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Watanabe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rostowski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Watanabe misses with a series of wild punches.
Rostowski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Watanabe sprawls well. Watanabe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rostowski gets slowly back to his feet.
Watanabe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Watanabe lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Watanabe.
Rostowski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rostowski throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sloppy strikes from Rostowski. Those never looked like landing.
A punch combination from Watanabe misses.
Connor Rostowski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Watanabe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rostowski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takeshi Watanabe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Watanabe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rostowski counters with a left and a right that stings Watanabe.
Watanabe lands a two punch combo.
Watanabe throws a series of punches but Rostowski moves out of range.
Rostowski shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Watanabe pinned against the cage. Watanabe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Watanabe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rostowski lands a nice looking body shot.
Watanabe throws a series of punches but Rostowski avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe swinging wildly here.
Watanabe tries to move into range but Rostowski moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rostowski moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Watanabe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No joy there for Watanabe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rostowski shoots in but no luck this time.

Watanabe gets caught flat footed, as Rostowski shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rostowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Watanabe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rostowski on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rostowski trying to control but Watanabe is working from the bottom.
Rostowski lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Rostowski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Watanabe throws a right and a left that Rostowski avoids nicely.
Watanabe misses with a combination
and Rostowski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Watanabe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rostowski.
Watanabe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rostowski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rostowski dodges the punch combination from Watanabe.
Rostowski thows a body shot but no joy.
Watanabe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rostowski counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watanabe misses with a double jab.
Rostowski feints a jab promting Watanabe to slip. Rostowski then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Watanabe slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Rostowski fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watanabe avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rostowski fails to land the takedown.
Watanabe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rostowski counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Watanabe has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Watanabe there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rostowski throws a right and a left that Watanabe avoids nicely.
Watanabe throws a right and a left that Rostowski avoids nicely.
Rostowski throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Watanabe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rostowski circles away quickly and effectively.
Watanabe slips a jab and a cross from Rostowski.
Watanabe misses with a double jab
and Rostowski counters with a stiff right hand.
Rostowski avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rostowski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Watanabe scores with a three punch combo!
Watanabe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rostowski counters with a nice body shot.
Rostowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Watanabe manages to avoid it.
Watanabe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rostowski shoots in for a takedown but Watanabe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Takeshi Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Rostowski.
Rostowski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rostowski jabs Watanabe right on the nose. Watanabe blinks but takes it well.
Watanabe throws a right hand that Rostowski ducks under and follows up with a left that Rostowski also avoids with ease.
Rostowski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Watanabe throws a combination that misses
and Rostowski counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rostowski ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Watanabe misses with a double jab
and Rostowski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A combination from Watanabe does no damage.
Rostowski looks to land a combination but Watanabe avoids it well.
Watanabe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rostowski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rostowski misses with a wild body shot.
Watanabe throws a combination that misses
and Rostowski counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Watanabe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rostowski counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Watanabe thinking.
Watanabe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Watanabe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Watanabe dodges the punch combination from Rostowski.
Watanabe looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Some wild striking there from Watanabe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Watanabe does no damage.
Watanabe falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Rostowski to counter with a crisp jab.
Connor Rostowski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Watanabe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rostowski counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A big left from Rostowski misses.
Rostowski has a takedown stuffed.
Watanabe misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A combination from Watanabe does no damage.
Takeshi Watanabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rostowski scores with a one two! Watanabe had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Takeshi Watanabe.
Well Rostowski 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Rostowski!