PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Junichi Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clark Gerra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watanabe's entrance music is "One Thing Leads To Another" by The Fixx. A fine choice. The key to victory for Junichi Watanabe has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Watanabe
vs
Gerra

170 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

179 cm
23
161 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Superior Ki Supplements

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 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Junichi Watanabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Clark Gerra!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watanabe looks to score with a jab to the body but Gerra is just out of range.
Watanabe misses with a two punch combination.
Gerra fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gerra blocks a low kick nicely.

Gerra closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Watanabe to the mat! Watanabe manages to get full guard.
Gerra slips nicely into half guard.
Watanabe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gerra is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gerra is looking for a kimura here.
Watanabe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gerra.
Watanabe is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe tries to kick Gerra off but Gerra keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gerra working over Watanabe with some ground and pound. Watanabe looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Watanabe keeping control of the position.
Watanabe wants to improve his position but Gerra is controlling well.

Gerra is looking for a kimura but Watanabe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gerra to get the leverage.

Gerra is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Watanabe is just riding it out for now. Gerra eventually gives up the hold.
Gerra stops Watanabe from getting back to his feet.

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.
Gerra tries to pass the half guard into mount. Watanabe knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Watanabe looks like he's trying to stand up.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Gerra bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Gerra goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Watanabe has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gerra but great work by Watanabe.
Gerra looks gassed!
Gerra being controlled for a moment.
Gerra takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerra is looking to reverse the position.
Watanabe remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Gerra is looking to regain half guard here but Watanabe keeps moving and retains side control.
Gerra is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Watanabe trying to pass the guard but Gerra defending well.
Watanabe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gerra wants to get back to full guard.
Watanabe controlling the action here.

Gerra is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Watanabe pulls his head out easily.

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.
Watanabe trying to control from half guard but Gerra is working away.

Gerra actively working from the bottom here.
Watanabe prevents Gerra from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Watanabe connects with a jab.
Watanabe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gerra moves away.
Watanabe scores with a jab to the body.
A cross from Watanabe lands.
Gerra fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Junichi Watanabe will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Watanabe digs a good hook to Gerra's body.

Gerra scores with a takedown into Watanabe's guard.

Watanabe is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Gerra tries to pull guard but Watanabe holds him up against the cage and eventually Gerra drops back down to his feet.
Watanabe gets underhooks to prevent Gerra's takedown attempt.
Gerra is trying to drag Watanabe to the mat but Watanabe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Junichi Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clark Gerra.
Gerra drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Watanabe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gerra is breathing heavily.

Watanabe manages to break the clinch.
Gerra keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerra tries to clinch up but Watanabe circles away and keeps his distance.
Gerra takes one to the side of the head.
Gerra tries to clinch up but Watanabe circles away and keeps his distance.
Watanabe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gerra moves away.
Gerra shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Watanabe as he jumps to the side.

Watanabe gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Watanabe is looking to stand up but Gerra isn't so interested in that idea.
Watanabe trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Gerra trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Watanabe pulls Gerra in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe wants to sweep but no luck.
Gerra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watanabe is keeping the position for now.
Gerra trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watanabe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gerra on the ground.
Gerra throwing strikes from guard but Watanabe blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Watanabe!

Gerra is rocked!
Gerra shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A slow jab from Watanabe misses its intended target.
Watanabe cracks Gerra with a good jab.
Gerra is still on wobbly legs! Can Watanabe finish him?
Gerra circles to his right, straight into a beautiful hook by Watanabe. Gerra falls face first into the canvas - great knockout victory for Watanabe!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Junichi Watanabe!