PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tadashi Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baal Thackeray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baal Thackeray will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Watanabe
vs
Thackeray

186 cm
25
216 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

197 cm
18
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tadashi 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, Baal Thackeray!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thackeray darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Baal Thackeray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thackeray throws a one two combo.
Thackeray misses with a jab to the body
and Watanabe counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thackeray throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Thackeray throws a right hand that misses

so Watanabe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Watanabe postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Watanabe with a nice head shot there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watanabe slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thackeray can't do much from the bottom here.
Thackeray is being controlled here.
Watanabe is putting a hurting on Thackeray here, landing some big shots from side control.
Thackeray taking punishment in the form of punches.
Watanabe working the ground and pound.
Watanabe in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Watanabe working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Watanabe's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Watanabe lands a nice forearm strike.
Watanabe looks up at the clock and then as Thackeray takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Watanabe smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Thackeray taking a bit of punishment here - Watanabe scoring with strikes.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Thackeray really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Watanabe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Watanabe landing strikes.
You can see the frustration on Thackeray's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Watanabe decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Thackeray throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Watanabe counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Thackeray!

Watanabe stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Thackeray pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A little feinted left hand from Watanabe on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thackeray throws a body punch but Watanabe moves out of range.
Watanabe takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe cracks a nice hook into Thackeray's ribs.
Watanabe looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Watanabe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thackeray.
Thackeray thows a leg kick but Watanabe checks it

and Watanabe counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Watanabe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thackeray wants to hit a switch here but Watanabe passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Thackeray there!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Watanabe cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Thackeray tries to lock up and control but Watanabe gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Watanabe looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thackeray is trying desperately to improve position.
Thackeray wants to hold on but Watanabe pushes him away.
Watanabe controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Watanabe with the ground and pound from mount.

Thackeray is rocked!
Watanabe controlling from mount.
Thackeray is still in real trouble! Can Watanabe finish him?
Thackeray tries to hold on but Watanabe postures up.
Thackeray seems to have recovered his senses.
Watanabe landing punches.
Watanabe controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thackeray hang on?
Watanabe controlling from mount.
Watanabe landing shots from mount.
Watanabe content just to control the position here.
Thackeray wants to hold on but Watanabe pushes him away.
Watanabe content just to control the position here.
Watanabe has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thackeray is working to get back to half guard.
Watanabe content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tadashi Watanabe dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Watanabe throws a hook to the side of Thackeray's head but Thackeray sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thackeray fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Watanabe checks it well.
An attempted straight right counter from Watanabe misses the target.
Thackeray misses with a body kick.
Watanabe moves out of range of the body kick.
Thackeray gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Watanabe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thackeray won't be happy with that.
Watanabe works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Watanabe has control of an arm but Thackeray manages to advance to Watanabe's back!
Watanabe rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Watanabe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Watanabe regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Thackeray decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Watanabe lands a nice shot to the body.
Watanabe throws out a powerful jab.
Thackeray tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Watanabe is able to avoid easily.
Thackeray tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Watanabe swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thackeray throws a leg kick that is checked

so Watanabe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe is stalling in the full guard.
Thackeray looking to control.
Watanabe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tadashi Watanabe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Watanabe.
Thackeray looking to control but Watanabe passes into half guard.
Watanabe is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thackeray is looking to control Watanabe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thackeray avoid being mounted?
Watanabe not doing much here.
Thackeray wants to sweep but Watanabe has passed to side control!
Watanabe is putting a hurting on Thackeray here, landing some big shots from side control.
Watanabe controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thackeray is looking to regain half guard here but Watanabe keeps moving and retains side control.
Watanabe working the head with strikes.

Watanabe stands up.
A low kick from Thackeray misses

and Watanabe counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thackeray can't keep his opponent in guard - Watanabe advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Watanabe lands a nice short elbow.
Watanabe working the head and body with strikes.
Watanabe lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Thackeray trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Watanabe manages to pass to mount!
Watanabe controlling from mount.
Watanabe with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watanabe content just to control the position here.
Watanabe breaks from Thackeray's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Watanabe lands a big shot there that rocks Thackeray but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watanabe loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Thackeray scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Watanabe land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Watanabe stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tadashi Watanabe!
Tadashi Watanabe 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.