PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lyle Willems (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watanabe has chosen The Handsome Family - Far From Any Road as his entrance music. Takeshi Watanabe has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Willems
vs
Watanabe

162 cm
36
144 lbs
18 - 18 - 0

175 cm
33
135 lbs
14 - 18 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lyle Willems!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Takeshi Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Watanabe. No joy for Willems on that attempt.
Watanabe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Willems ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Watanabe moves away.
Willems avoids a punch combination nicely.
Willems attempts a counter takedown but Watanabe avoids it well and moves away.
Watanabe misses with a double jab.
Takeshi Watanabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watanabe swinging wildly here.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Willems slips a jab and a cross from Watanabe.
Watanabe throws a series of punches but Willems avoids them all with ease.
Willems attempts a counter takedown but Watanabe avoids it well and moves away.
Willems throws a nice outside leg kick.
Willems slips a jab and a cross from Watanabe.

Willems looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe keeping full guard, as Willems tries to pass.
Willems keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Watanabe's head.
Willems is working Watanabe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Willems trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Willems works over Watanabe with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willems lands a couple of digs.

Watanabe has his foot on Willems's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Willems works his way back into a safe position though.
Willems is working Watanabe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Willems passes Watanabe's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Willems passes the guard and advances to mount!
Watanabe is looking to get to half guard.
Willems 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.
Watanabe sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Willems working Watanabe over with strikes.
Willems takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Watanabe is looking to improve his position.
Willems seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Watanabe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Willems 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. Willems eventually gives up the hold.
Willems 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.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Willems passes to side control.
Watanabe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Watanabe is trying to improve his position.
Willems cracks Watanabe with a big elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watanabe is looking to regain half guard here but Willems keeps moving and retains side control.

Willems tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Watanabe manages to work his way to half guard, despite Willems's best efforts.

Watanabe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Willems passes Watanabe's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Willems lands with a punch from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Willems uses his free foot to push down on Watanabe's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Watanabe.

Willems looking to secure an arm triangle but Watanabe defends it well.
Watanabe is in all sorts of trouble here.
Willems unloading with bombs!
Willems lands with some strikes.
Willems working Watanabe over with strikes here.
The referee warns Watanabe that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
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!
Willems looking to finish Watanabe with some ground and pound. This is bad for Watanabe!

Watanabe is rocked!
Willems fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Watanabe is still in real trouble! Can Willems finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willems loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Watanabe scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Willems land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Willems stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lyle Willems!
Lyle Willems seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.