PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brad Grownstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Grownstone
vs
Watanabe

178 cm
26
175 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

180 cm
28
180 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Brad Grownstone!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenji Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grownstone clinches.
Watanabe's coach down at Heart Cave (8 elites, 4 double-elites, 1 triple) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Watanabe's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Grownstone lands a right hand.
Grownstone will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Watanabe up against the cage.
Grownstone lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Grownstone has Watanabe pushed against the cage.
Grownstone scores with a nice hook to the head.
Grownstone lands a left hand.

Grownstone breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grownstone lands a nice looking body shot.
Grownstone works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice uppercut there from Grownstone.
Grownstone tries to clinch but Watanabe moves away

and Watanabe counters with a single leg into guard. Grownstone didn't expect that.
Grownstone on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Grownstone tries to get out of the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grownstone avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Watanabe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Watanabe works over Grownstone with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe scoring with some ground and pound.
Watanabe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grownstone works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Watanabe scoring with some ground and pound.
Watanabe wants to control from the top but Grownstone keeps moving.
Watanabe landing some decent shots from guard.
Watanabe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Watanabe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Watanabe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Watanabe's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Watanabe trying to control the position from guard on top but Grownstone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grownstone knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Watanabe on the ground.
Watanabe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Watanabe is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Watanabe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Watanabe postures up in Grownstone's guard and throws a big left but Grownstone blocks it.
Watanabe with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Grownstone with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grownstone lands a body shot.
Watanabe takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Watanabe misses with an uppercut.
Grownstone scores with a jab to the body.
Watanabe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grownstone.
We've been told by Grownstone's head coaches at Gym 412-RoaR sponsored training facility that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Good exchange - Grownstone coming out on top.
Grownstone scores with a nice head shot.
Grownstone jabs at Watanabe's body.
Brad Grownstone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grownstone scores with a crisp jab that stopped Watanabe in his tracks.
Grownstone bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Grownstone tests Watanabe's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Grownstone misses.
Grownstone wants to clinch.
Grownstone changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Watanabe takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A right-left combo lands from Grownstone.
Grownstone throws a big shot that misses.

Watanabe looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Grownstone dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Grownstone tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Watanabe was well out of range. Poor timing from Grownstone.
Watanabe drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Grownstone defends it well.
Grownstone lands a nice shot that snaps Watanabe's head back.
Grownstone is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Watanabe can do to turn this around?

Watanabe gets tackled into the cage by Grownstone. Grownstone maintains the clinch.
Grownstone makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Grownstone lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Grownstone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Watanabe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Grownstone scores with a sloppy right hand. Watanabe should have avoided that one.
Grownstone is looking to clinch but Watanabe is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grownstone works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Grownstone jabs Watanabe right on the nose. Watanabe blinks but takes it well.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Grownstone sprawls well. Grownstone wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Watanabe gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grownstone scores with a jab to the jaw.
Watanabe with a poor takedown
and Grownstone cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A decent looking cross lands there for Grownstone.
Watanabe tries to move into range but Grownstone moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Grownstone gets a clinch.
Grownstone lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Watanabe backwards.

Watanabe jumps guard and drags Grownstone to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Grownstone wants to get up but he can't break Watanabe's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Grownstone wants to stand and escape but instead Watanabe has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Watanabe is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grownstone wants to get back to his feet but Watanabe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Watanabe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Grownstone's head.
Watanabe landing some decent shots from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe pushes down on Grownstone's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Watanabe working over Grownstone with some ground and pound. Grownstone looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Watanabe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Watanabe in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe moves nicely into side control.
Watanabe tries to score with some ground and pound. Grownstone controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Watanabe is working Grownstone over with some ground and pound from side control.
Watanabe is trying to ground and pound but Grownstone uses the momentary lack of control by Watanabe to regain half guard.
Watanabe works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe lands a big shot there that rocks Grownstone but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Watanabe is landing with some decent strikes but Grownstone is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Watanabe landing strikes from the mount and Grownstone is in trouble!
The referee warns Grownstone that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

It looks like Brad Grownstone has been cut.
Watanabe connects with a bit shot that sees Grownstone covering up! More strikes from Watanabe and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Watanabe is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kenji Watanabe! Kenji Watanabe retains his welterweight title!
Our winner, Kenji Watanabe, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Brad Grownstone spoke after the fight, saying 'I'm going back home so I can surf'.