PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Harper (ranked 24247 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Watanabe (ranked 6067 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Harper has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Harper
vs
Watanabe

193 cm
21
161 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jack Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watanabe shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Watanabe is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Harper is on top in guard.

Harper is looking to work some ground and pound but Watanabe has wrist control.
Harper will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Harper with a nice head shot there.
Watanabe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Harper. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Watanabe is striking but Harper is not phased and passes to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harper winds up and cracks Watanabe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Harper slips a nice elbow through Watanabe's hands, connecting with Watanabe's forehead.
Harper prevents Watanabe from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harper is working for a submission of some sort.
Harper working Watanabe over with strikes.
Watanabe has hold of Harper's hands but Harper slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Watanabe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Harper is working away from the top position though.
Harper winds up and cracks Watanabe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Harper lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Watanabe is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Harper pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Harper.
Watanabe is looking to escape.
Ground and pound from Harper.
Harper lands strikes from half guard.
Watanabe is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Harper scores with a couple of nice shots.
Harper working over Watanabe with some ground and pound. Watanabe looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Harper is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Harper is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Harper lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper working the head and body with strikes.
Harper really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Harper scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Watanabe has hold of Harper's hands but Harper slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Harper is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Harper is working for a submission of some sort.
Watanabe trying to control here.
Harper 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Harper working the head and body with strikes.
Harper takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Harper 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. Harper eventually gives up the hold.
Nice strikes from Harper there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Watanabe moves into the clinch successfully.
Harper wants to get back to striking at distance but Watanabe won't allow it.
Harper can't break the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Harper is trying to force a seperation but Watanabe has the dominant position.

Harper manages to break the clinch.

Watanabe moves into the clinch successfully.
Watanabe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Harper has had enough of the clinch but Watanabe keeps him there for the moment.
Harper holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harper breaks from the clinch.

Harper has Watanabe up against the cage in a clinch.
Harper working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Watanabe takes a shot to the head.

Watanabe tightens his grip and picks Harper up, before dumping him to the ground. Harper manages to land in guard.
Watanabe advances to half guard.
Harper manages to get to full guard.
Harper striking off his back but it's not causing Watanabe any problems.
Harper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Watanabe wants to improve his position but Harper is controlling well.
Harper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper working over Watanabe with some ground and pound. Watanabe looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Harper working Watanabe over with strikes.
Harper winds up and cracks Watanabe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Watanabe wants to get back to full guard but Harper has mounted him!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Harper looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Harper breaks from Watanabe's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Harper lands a heavy elbow.
The referee warns Watanabe that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Harper is landing with some decent strikes but Watanabe is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Watanabe wants to hold on but Harper pushes him away.

Harper is working for a guillotine from mount but Watanabe frees his head quite easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Watanabe tries to hold on but Harper postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Harper cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe tries to hold on but Harper postures up.
Harper working Watanabe over with strikes here.
Harper pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Watanabe tries to lock up and control but Harper gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Harper with a couple of short strikes.
Harper lands a big elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harper looking to control and managing it successfully.
Harper with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Harper dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Watanabe throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Harper tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Watanabe is in Harper's guard.
Harper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Watanabe manages to get himself to full guard.

Harper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harper accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harper postures up.
Watanabe wants to control the position but Harper says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Watanabe trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Harper manages to pass to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harper lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Harper fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Harper.
Harper breaks from Watanabe's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Harper raining down hammerfists from mount.
Harper prevents Watanabe from getting the reversal.
Harper avoids the attempt from Watanabe to control.
Watanabe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Harper in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Watanabe takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Harper cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Harper lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper raining down shots from the mount!
Harper scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Watanabe?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Harper pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Watanabe defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Harper.
Harper lands a big shot there that rocks Watanabe but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Harper working Watanabe over with strikes here.
Harper lands a nice shot to the head.
Harper is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Watanabe can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Watanabe has given up his back here. Will Harper look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Harper throwing damaging strikes from the back! Watanabe could be in trouble here!

Harper has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Watanabe has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The referee is taking a good look at Watanabe as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Harper!
Harper gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harper working for the choke.
Harper scores with punches from the back.
Watanabe is covering up but some of the strikes from Harper are getting through and doing damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harper gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Watanabe tries to escape the position.
Harper has Watanabe flattened out and is raining down punches.
Takeshi Watanabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jack Harper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harper controlling from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Harper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Harper has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Harper!