PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Walter Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Songswat Watana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Songswat Watana is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gomez
vs
Watana

165 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
24
145 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Walter Gomez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Songswat Watana!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watana darts in and clinches Gomez up against the cage.
Watana just leaning against Gomez, taking a breather.

Gomez has clasped his hands together around Watana's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
A lull in the action here.

Gomez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Watana knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gomez in side control, throwing shots but Watana defends.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gomez content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gomez staying calm.
Gomez'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gomez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Watana sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Gomez decides to stand up, so the ref orders Watana to his feet.

Watana drives through and clinches with Gomez against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Watana is trying to force a seperation but Gomez has the dominant position.
Watana taking a breather.
The referee is keeping an eye on Gomez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Watana tries a knee to the head but Gomez blocks it.

Gomez successfully pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez pulls Watana in close to prevent any damage.
Gomez 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.
Gomez wants to sweep here but Watana controlling him for the moment.
Gomez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watana trying to control the position from guard on top but Gomez 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 four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Watana avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Watana wants to stand but Gomez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gomez has Watana up against the cage in a clinch.
Watana with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
With the fighters up against the cage, Watana throws an elbow but misses.
Watana content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Watana lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Walter Gomez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Watana misses with a two punch combination.

It looks like Walter Gomez has been cut.

Watana closes the distance and clinches.

Gomez jumps guard and drags Watana to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Watana really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gomez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gomez pulls Watana in close to his closed guard and prevents Watana from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gomez 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.
Gomez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watana would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Watana is fighting to break Gomez's control of his arms but Gomez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gomez continues to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gomez is looking to clinch.
Gomez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Watana tries to clinch there but Gomez circles away.
Gomez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Watana manages to circle out of the way.
Gomez has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Gomez closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Watana looking to slow down the pace here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gomez as Watana tries to tie him up.
Gomez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Watana has had enough of the clinch but Gomez keeps him there for the moment.
Gomez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gomez tries to pull guard but Watana won't allow it.
Gomez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Gomez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watana is looking to break free of the clinch but Gomez has double underhooks.
Gomez is working for takedown but Watana is calmly controlling the position for now.
Watana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gomez is defending well for now.

Gomez jumps into guard, dragging Watana to the mat.
Gomez trying to control the position here.
Gomez is trying to keep Watana in close.
Watana throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gomez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gomez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gomez working for submissions but it's allowed Watana to get to half guard.
Gomez is controlling Watana's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Gomez is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gomez is pressing down on Watana's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Songswat Watana will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Walter Gomez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gomez shoots in but Watana avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gomez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gomez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Gomez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomez throws a series of punches but Watana moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gomez is defended easily by Watana.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gomez or perhaps it was just good defense by Watana, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watana throws a combination that misses
and Gomez counters with a one-two to the body.

Watana forces Gomez back against the cage and clinches.
Gomez blocks an elbow strike.
Gomez looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Watana takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez takes an elbow to the temple.
Watana lands a knee to the head.
Watana throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gomez is trying to force a seperation but Watana has the dominant position.

Watana breaks the clinch.
Watana pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Watana doesn't manage to clinch there - Gomez circles away.
Walter Gomez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Watana gets a clinch.
Watana looking to throw knees to the head but Gomez is blocking nicely.
Watana is pressed up against the cage. Gomez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Watana down to the mat. Watana avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Watana throws a head kick but Gomez moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Watana scores with a four punch combination!
Songswat Watana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Watana clinches up against the cage.
Watana throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watana misses with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Watana's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Watana just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gomez's brow.
Songswat Watana seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gomez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Watana looking to slow down the pace here.
Watana using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gomez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Watana trying to land knees to the body.
Watana working aggressively here.
Gomez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gomez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Watana lands a knee to the head.
Gomez jumps guard but Watana turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watana dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Watana has Gomez pressed against the cage, preventing Gomez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gomez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Watana is trying to force a seperation but Gomez has the dominant position.
Watana is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Gomez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gomez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Watana pinned against the cage. Watana gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Watana fails to land with a series of punches.

Gomez closes the distance and clinches.
Gomez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Watana prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez lands a right hand that snaps the head of Watana backwards.
Watana content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Watana throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Watana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Watana moves into range and clinches up with Gomez.
Watana letting Gomez take a breather here.
Watana lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Watana tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Gomez gets control of Watana's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gomez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
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!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gomez is on top in guard.

Watana is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gomez is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Songswat Watana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Watana 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Songswat Watana!