PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Black Sabbath - Children of the Sea. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Watanabe
vs
Jackson

180 cm
27
180 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

187 cm
27
180 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Island's Forbidden Fruits

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kenji Watanabe!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michael Jackson!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson connects with a high kick.
We've been informed that Jackson has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Jackson gets caught napping as Watanabe dives in and scores a takedown. Jackson manages to retain guard.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Watanabe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Watanabe is looking to work some ground and pound but Jackson has wrist control.
Watanabe throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Watanabe throws a big right hand that misses.
Watanabe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Watanabe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson trying to keep a closed guard but Watanabe is proving a slippery customer.
Watanabe 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 is looking to work some ground and pound but Jackson has wrist control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jackson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Watanabe works over Jackson with some ground and pound from guard.
Watanabe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jackson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson controls Watanabe momentarily but Watanabe frees himself.
Jackson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Watanabe throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jackson controls Watanabe momentarily but Watanabe frees himself.
Watanabe throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Watanabe throws a big elbow that misses.
Watanabe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Watanabe with a nice head shot there.
Watanabe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Watanabe distracts Jackson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Watanabe throwing strikes but missing.
Watanabe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Watanabe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Watanabe trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Watanabe stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.
Watanabe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Watanabe controls the pace.
Watanabe looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Watanabe throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Watanabe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Watanabe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jackson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Watanabe lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Watanabe distracts Jackson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Watanabe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Watanabe postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Watanabe with a nice head shot there.
Watanabe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Watanabe controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Watanabe works over Jackson with some ground and pound from guard.
Watanabe throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Jackson controls Watanabe momentarily but Watanabe frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe lands a couple of digs.
Watanabe lands a couple of digs.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Watanabe from controlling successfully.
Watanabe chips away with some ground and pound.
Watanabe connects with a couple of short punches.
Watanabe passes into half guard.
Watanabe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson has hold of Watanabe's hands but Watanabe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jackson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Watanabe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jackson leaves Watanabe with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Watanabe tries to move into range but Jackson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Jackson stuffs the takedown.
Jackson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Watanabe fails with the takedown
and Jackson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Watanabe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson lands a really nice looking cross but Watanabe seems unphased.
A lazy left from Jackson finds it's target.
Watanabe takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Watanabe 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Watanabe shoots in for a double leg but Jackson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A little jabbing left from Jackson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Jackson looks to land a combination but Watanabe avoids it well.
Jackson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Jackson has managed to clinch.
Jackson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Watanabe has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jackson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Watanabe is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jackson is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Watanabe is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Watanabe wants a takedown but no success here.
Watanabe goes for a takedown attempt but Jackson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jackson jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Jackson.
Watanabe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jackson pinned against the cage. Jackson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jackson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Watanabe's head backwards.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Jackson, right into the meat.
Jackson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Michael Jackson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice sprawl there from Jackson as Watanabe shoots in.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Watanabe on that attempt.
Jackson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Jackson does it's job there.
Watanabe has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Jackson finds it's way round the side to connect with Watanabe's head.
Jackson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Jackson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Watanabe.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson lands a head shot.
Jackson scoring well with a low kick there.

Jackson lands a big head kick that sends Watanabe tumbling to the mat! Jackson takes a step backwards and waves Watanabe back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Watanabe is rocked!
Jackson throws a head kick that misses.
Watanabe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Jackson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Jackson 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jackson tests Watanabe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Watanabe tries for a takedown but Jackson circles away easily
and Jackson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jackson as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watanabe swings away with a body shot that misses
and Jackson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jackson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jackson connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Watanabe tries for a takedown but Jackson circles away easily
and Jackson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Watanabe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watanabe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jackson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jackson lands a glancing blow to the side of Watanabe's head.
Jackson gets in close and tags Watanabe with a short punch that almost sends Watanabe to the mat! Oh Watanabe is in big trouble! He turns his back on Jackson, trying to create some distance but Jackson rushes him, striking wildly and Watanabe goes down! The referee tackles Jackson into the cage to end the fight! Jackson is one violent man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Jackson!
Michael Jackson is the new welterweight champion!
Michael Jackson was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.