PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie Hepple (ranked 504 p4p, 79 weight class) and Kenji Watanabe (ranked 1242 p4p, 193 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Hepple
vs
Watanabe

187 cm
20
187 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
29
180 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Project Mayhem
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronnie Hepple!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenji Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hepple connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hepple cracks Watanabe with an open hand slap.
Watanabe wants to clinch but Hepple slips to the side
and Watanabe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Watanabe has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Watanabe there as he acknowledges the shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hepple, as that shot connected.
Hepple connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hepple connects with a crisp jab.
Hepple loads up on a big right hand but Watanabe slips the punch.

Hepple gets a clinch.
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!
Hepple stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Watanabe changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hepple fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Watanabe dives in for a single leg takedown but Hepple sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Watanabe throws a shot from downtown. Hepple moves away and avoids it.
Hepple appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hepple 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 moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hepple lands the left hand.
Hepple scores with a crisp jab that stopped Watanabe in his tracks.
Watanabe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Watanabe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ronnie Hepple has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Watanabe.
Watanabe takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hepple connects with a body shot that sends Watanabe's belly button to the back.
Watanabe dives in for a single leg takedown but Hepple sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ronnie Hepple is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hepple throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hepple throws out a powerful jab.
It looks like Hepple has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Hepple getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hepple lands an overhand right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hepple's jab looks to have found its range, popping Watanabe under the eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe looks for a takedown but Hepple sprawls well.
Hepple connects with a body shot that sends Watanabe's belly button to the back.
Hepple is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hepple lands a jab to Watanabe's midsection.
Watanabe on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A lazy left from Hepple finds it's target.

Hepple has managed to clinch.
Hepple lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hepple lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hepple gets through Watanabe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hepple lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Hepple is fighting off a takedown attempt but Watanabe is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Hepple to the mat. Hepple regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hepple wants to get back to his feet but Watanabe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hepple on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hepple tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hepple manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hepple lands a nice shot that snaps Watanabe's head back.
Ronnie Hepple seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watanabe shoots and misses
and Watanabe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hepple scores with a hook to the body. Watanabe takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Watanabe has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hepple connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hepple lands a body shot.
Watanabe takes one on the button.
Watanabe misses with a body shot
enabling Hepple to counter with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watanabe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hepple counters with a straight right hand.
A cross from Hepple lands.
Watanabe's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hepple connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Watanabe scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Watanabe.
Watanabe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hepple swivels and escapes.
Hepple is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A jab from Hepple does it's job there.
Hepple paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hepple with a jab.
Hepple lands with a cross.

Hepple lands a left and a right that send Watanabe crashing to the mat, dazed. Hepple thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Watanabe is rocked!
Watanabe bobbing and weaving nicely... He's ducked under a jab and ducks again but ooooooh! Hepple comes at him with an uppercut from hell! Watanabe falls to the canvas, unconscious! This one is all over! Oh man, looking at the replay that was right on the button! Watanabe was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ronnie Hepple!
Ronnie Hepple retains his welterweight title!
A relieved looking Ronnie Hepple thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.