PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kengo Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maki Kaze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Watanabe
vs
Kaze

182 cm
23
193 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
187 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kengo Watanabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maki Kaze!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watanabe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kaze's waist but Kaze gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Watanabe off to one side.
Watanabe doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kaze counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kaze throws a big elbow that misses.
Watanabe on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Watanabe tries to get out of the position.
Watanabe keeping full guard, as Kaze tries to pass.

Kaze drops back, looking for a kneebar! Watanabe looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Watanabe looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Watanabe!
Kaze is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe lands a few punches from side control.
Kaze regains half guard there - taking advantage of Watanabe's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Watanabe controlling the action here.
Watanabe's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Watanabe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Watanabe scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Watanabe working over Kaze with some ground and pound. Kaze looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Watanabe thows a huge punch but Kaze dodges it nicely.
Watanabe seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Watanabe is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watanabe scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Watanabe not doing much here.
Watanabe is thwarting Kaze's attempts to control the position.
Ground and pound from Watanabe.
Watanabe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watanabe working over Kaze with some ground and pound. Kaze looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Watanabe content to control rather than advance.
Watanabe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kaze keeps working.
Watanabe working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaze is trying to get back to full guard.
Watanabe thows a huge punch but Kaze dodges it nicely.
Watanabe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Watanabe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kaze wants to get back to full guard.

Kaze looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Watanabe trying to control from half guard but Kaze is working away.
Watanabe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Kaze looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kaze manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaze misses with a takedown attempt - Watanabe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kaze looks gassed!
Kaze has his takedown stuffed

so Watanabe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Watanabe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kaze on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Watanabe lands a couple of elbows.
Watanabe trying to control but Kaze is working from the bottom.
Watanabe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kaze's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Watanabe working some strikes from top position.
Watanabe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Watanabe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kengo Watanabe dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Watanabe shoots in looking for a takedown but Kaze manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Watanabe's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Watanabe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kaze.
Watanabe closes the distance and clinches up with Kaze, looking for a takedown. Watanabe pushes Kaze against the cage but Kaze circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kaze shoots in looking for a takedown but Watanabe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kaze's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Watanabe drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Kaze has his foot on Watanabe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Watanabe works his way back into a safe position though.
Watanabe seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kaze is breathing heavily.
Watanabe is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe trying to control but Kaze is working from the bottom.
Kaze is trying to keep Watanabe in close.
Watanabe connects with a couple of short punches.
Watanabe trying to control the position from guard on top but Kaze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kengo Watanabe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Watanabe throwing strikes from guard but Kaze blocks nicely.
Kaze is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaze working a defensive guard here.
Watanabe chips away with some ground and pound.
Watanabe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Watanabe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kaze's head.

Kaze is looking for a triangle but Watanabe pushes his legs off easily.
Kaze avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watanabe trying to control but Kaze is working from the bottom.
Watanabe postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Watanabe controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kaze keeping moving, preventing Watanabe from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws a strike but Kaze rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Watanabe wants to control but Kaze passes easily into half guard.
Watanabe wants to get back to his feet.
Watanabe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kaze.
Watanabe is looking for a sweep. Kaze is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kaze is trying to control. Watanabe wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kaze wants to work for an arm triangle but Watanabe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe is looking to escape.
Watanabe is trying to get back to full guard.

Kaze 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. Kaze eventually gives up the hold.
Watanabe is trying to stand up here but Kaze is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kengo Watanabe dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kaze is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watanabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaze shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Watanabe sprawls well. Watanabe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kaze gets slowly back to his feet.
Kaze looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Watanabe is fending him off so far but Kaze persists. Nope, Watanabe circles away and we're back to standing.
Kengo Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maki Kaze.
Kaze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watanabe with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kaze counters with a shoot takedown. Watanabe fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe pulls Kaze in close to prevent any damage.
Kaze trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaze is fighting to break Watanabe's control of his arms but Watanabe is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Watanabe keeping full guard, as Kaze tries to pass.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Watanabe trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kengo Watanabe just wasn't active enough.
Watanabe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kaze's waist but Kaze gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Watanabe off to one side.
Kaze shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kaze is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watanabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown but Kaze shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaze has his takedown stuffed

and Watanabe counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kaze's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaze is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Watanabe is aware though and is defending well.
Watanabe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kaze's head.
Kengo Watanabe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kaze is looking for a triangle but Watanabe pushes his legs off easily.
Watanabe's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Kaze is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Watanabe is aware though and is defending well.
Watanabe cracks Kaze with a solid left hand.
Watanabe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Watanabe is working Kaze over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Watanabe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kaze is trying to keep Watanabe in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe controlling from the top position.
Watanabe trying to control the position from guard on top but Kaze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maki Kaze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Watanabe throws a big elbow that misses.
Watanabe stands up over Kaze, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kaze has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Watanabe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watanabe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Watanabe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kengo Watanabe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Watanabe 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kengo Watanabe!