PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Salem Kanno (ranked 3905 p4p, 25652 weight class) and Avery Watson (ranked 287 p4p, 355 weight class). Salem Kanno had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Avery Watson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kanno
vs
Watson

173 cm
22
150
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
24
150
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Salem Kanno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Avery Watson!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Watson gets tackled into the cage by Kanno. Kanno maintains the clinch.
Kanno swings wildly with an uppercut but Watson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kanno working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Kanno scores with a nice short uppercut.
Watson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kanno misses with some punches.
Kanno keeps control of Watson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kanno misses with a punch on the inside.
Watson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kanno working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kanno.
Kanno tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
I was talking to Kanno's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kanno has him pressed against the cage.
Watson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Watson swings wildly with an uppercut but Kanno uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kanno misses with some punches.
Watson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watson wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is looking to control Kanno's arms but Kanno gets an underhook and turns him. Now Watson has his back to the cage.
Watson misses with a punch to the body.

Watson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kanno has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kanno misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Kanno fails to land.
Watson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kanno.
Kanno digs a right hand underneath Watson's ribcage. Watson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kanno.
Kanno misses with a hook from the clinch.
Watson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Watson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kanno tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kanno throws a punch but it's blocked by Watson.
Kanno tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kanno misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson tries to work over Kanno's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kanno misses with the head strike.
Kanno swings wildly with an uppercut but Watson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Watson gets through Kanno's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kanno blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kanno backwards.

Watson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kanno shoots and misses
and Watson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kanno is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kanno tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Watson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Kanno gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kanno blocks a body shot from Watson.
Watson is trying to maintain a safe position but Kanno gets an underhook and turns Watson into the cage.
Watson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kanno can't find room to land a body shot as Watson controls the action.
Watson misses with a punch to the body.
Watson blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanno pushes Watson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kanno misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kanno blocking some punches.

Watson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kanno tries to clinch up
and Watson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kanno is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Watson misses with a takedown attempt - Kanno sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Watson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kanno momentarily.
Watson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanno on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Watson looks for a takedown but Kanno sprawls well.
Salem Kanno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Avery Watson.
Watson has a takedown stuffed.
Kanno tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Watson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Horrible takedown attempt by Watson or perhaps it was just good defense by Kanno, which made it look bad.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kanno tries to clinch but Watson is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Salem Kanno will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kanno closes the distance but Watson moves to the side
letting Watson counter with a right hand.
Kanno tries to clinch
and Watson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Watson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Kanno moves into the clinch.
Watson swings wildly with an uppercut but Kanno uses good head movement to avoid it.
Watson is trying to maintain a safe position but Kanno gets an underhook and turns Watson into the cage.
Kanno misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kanno pushes Watson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson is trying to break the clinch but Kanno has him pressed against the cage.
Watson tries to stall but Kanno uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Watson tries to throw a body punch but Kanno avoids it by throwing Watson back against the cage.
Watson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Watson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kanno lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is trying to break the clinch but Kanno has him pressed against the cage.
Watson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kanno blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kanno blocking some punches.
Watson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kanno throws a punch but it's blocked by Watson.
Kanno throws a head punch that misses.
Watson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watson.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kanno swings wildly with an uppercut but Watson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kanno misses with some punches.
Kanno throws a head punch that misses.
Watson has a couple of punches blocked by Kanno.
Watson tries to work over Kanno's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kanno is keeping busy.
A head punch on the inside from Watson fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanno fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watson prevents a body shot from Kanno.
Kanno misses with some punches.
Watson working aggressively here.
Watson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kanno can't find room to land a body shot as Watson controls the action.
Watson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Watson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kanno's elbow.
Watson throws a head punch that misses.
Watson tries to circle away but Kanno has him pinned against the cage.
Watson working aggressively here.
Kanno prevents Watson from breaking the clinch.
Kanno swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watson misses with some punches.
Watson misses with some punches.
Watson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Watson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Watson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kanno swings wildly with an uppercut but Watson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanno throws a punch but it's blocked by Watson.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Salem Kanno has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Watson blocking some punches.
Watson taking a breather.
Watson has a couple of punches blocked by Kanno.
Kanno misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kanno.
Kanno blocking some punches.
Kanno blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kanno misses with a punch on the inside.
Kanno has a couple of punches blocked by Watson.
Kanno lands a left hand that snaps the head of Watson backwards.
Kanno misses with some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Watson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Watson.
Kanno blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kanno misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Watson fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson swings wildly with an uppercut but Kanno uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kanno fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kanno tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Watson misses with some punches.
Watson wants to break free but Kanno has control.
Kanno keeps control of Watson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kanno fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watson wants to get back to striking at distance but Kanno won't allow it.
Watson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kanno misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Watson throws a head punch that misses.
Kanno has Watson pressed against the cage, preventing Watson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kanno working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watson.
Watson has had enough of the clinch but Kanno keeps him there for the moment.
Watson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watson lands an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Avery Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Watson misses with a double jab.

Kanno gets a clinch.
Watson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watson is looking to control Kanno's arms but Kanno gets an underhook and turns him. Now Watson has his back to the cage.
Kanno struggles to land a body shot inside as Watson controls his hands.
A frustrated look appears on Watson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kanno lands with a right to the head.
Kanno lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kanno misses with a hook from the clinch.
Watson lands a shot to the body.
Kanno blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kanno working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson wants to stall.
Watson misses with a punch on the inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Watson breaks the clinch.
Kanno tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Watson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanno is looking to clinch.
Watson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Watson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Watson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Watson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kanno sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Watson somewhat.
Kanno throwing a counter right hand but Watson manages to avoid it.
Kanno tries to clinch but Watson is having none of it.
A nice side step and Watson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kanno tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Watson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Danga de danga de dang - Watson scores with a four punch combination!
Watson cracks Kanno with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanno on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Watson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kanno walks into a jab.
Nice body punch from Watson.
Horrible takedown attempt by Watson or perhaps it was just good defense by Kanno, which made it look bad.
Salem Kanno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Avery Watson.
Watson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kanno avoids it really well and circles away.
Salem Kanno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kanno avoids the body shot from Watson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Watson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Watson with a nice cross.
Watson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kanno walks into a left hand.
Kanno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Watson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kanno wants to clinch
and Watson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Watson shoots in for a takedown but Kanno shows good takedown defense.
Watson shoots in and drives through. Kanno sprawls well.
Good shot there by Watson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanno takes a jab right on the kisser.
Watson lands with a good body shot.
Watson shoots in for a takedown but Kanno shows good takedown defense.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Watson circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Watson to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice takedown defense from Kanno. No joy for Watson on that attempt.
Kanno looks to clinch
and Watson counters with a nice uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Watson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Avery Watson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Watson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avery Watson!