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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shun Watanabe (ranked 3352 p4p, 428 weight class) and Vlad Darko (ranked 4545 p4p, 526 weight class). Darko comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Toccata & Fugue kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Shun Watanabe has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.
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| 174 cm
28
172 lbs
11 - 7 - 0 |
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178 cm
22
176 lbs
2 - 1 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shun Watanabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vlad Darko!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darko looks to throw a body kick
and Watanabe counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Darko swings away with a body shot that misses
and Watanabe counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Darko closes the distance and clinches.
Watanabe taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Watanabe has Darko pushed against the cage.
Watanabe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Darko misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've been informed that Darko has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Watanabe breaks from the clinch.
Darko throws a lazy right hand but Watanabe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Watanabe throws a big counter combination but Darko scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Darko moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko tries to throw a body punch but Watanabe avoids it by throwing Darko back against the cage.
Darko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Watanabe's elbow.
Watanabe manages to break the clinch.
Watanabe tries to clinch but Darko is having none of it.
Darko wants to land a leg kick but Watanabe is out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Darko.
Darko misses with a leg kick.
Darko tries to work over Watanabe's front leg with a kick but Watanabe checks it.
Watanabe takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Darko throws a lazy body kick
and Watanabe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Watanabe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Darko.
Watanabe drops down looking for a counter takedown but Darko sprawls and moves away.
Darko misses with a body punch
and Watanabe makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Darko gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Watanabe counters with a nice uppercut.
Darko connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Watanabe takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Darko throws a leg kick
and Watanabe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darko throws a body kick that misses
enabling Watanabe to counter with a crisp jab.
Watanabe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Darko.
Watanabe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Darko manages to circle out of the way.
Watanabe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darko manages to avoid it.
Darko flicks out a counter leg kick but Watanabe steps away.
Darko misses with a kick to the body
so Watanabe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Darko 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.
Watanabe throws a big elbow that misses.
Watanabe lands a couple of digs.
Darko 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.
Watanabe wants to control from the top but Darko keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Darko holds on and takes a little breather.
Watanabe postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Darko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Watanabe 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.
Darko is controlling Watanabe's posture.
Watanabe postures up in Darko's guard and throws a big left but Darko blocks it.
Darko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Darko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Watanabe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Darko has momentary wrist control but Watanabe slips an elbow through the middle.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe is in close to Darko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Darko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Watanabe cracks Darko with a solid left hand.
Watanabe is in close to Darko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Watanabe working some strikes from top position.
Watanabe throwing strikes but missing.
Darko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Darko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Watanabe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Darko working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Watanabe has passed into half guard!
Watanabe is stalling here. Darko is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Watanabe seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Darko has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Shun Watanabe dominated that round.
That's time! Watanabe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Watanabe looks to throw the jab but Darko is out of range.
Darko is trying to counter with his kicks.
Darko rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Watanabe makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Watanabe with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Darko to score with a decent uppercut.
Darko uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Watanabe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Darko can do to turn this around?
Watanabe throws a hook but Darko blocks it.
Darko misses with an uppercut
and Watanabe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Watanabe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Darko.
Darko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko takes a swing at Watanabe's ribcage but misses.
Watanabe walks into a left hand.
Darko loads up on a big right hand but Watanabe slips the punch.
Watanabe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Watanabe was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe avoids the body shot from Darko.
It looked like Watanabe was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Darko misses with a looping left.
Watanabe is looking to counter the offense by Darko and move into the clinch.
Watanabe takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
As Darko tries to get set, Watanabe tries to push him back and clinch up but Darko manages to avoid the attempt.
Darko looks to land a left hand but Watanabe moved out of range nicely.
Darko lands a jab.
Darko pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Darko tries a head kick but it misses.
Watanabe is looking to wear down Darko with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Darko looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A jab from Darko misses.
Darko connects with the punch.
Darko connects with a solid leg kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Darko.
A counter left hand to the body from Watanabe misses its target.
Darko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Watanabe throws a right hand that Darko ducks under and follows up with a left that Darko also avoids with ease.
Vlad Darko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Darko misses with an uppercut
and Watanabe counters with a right hand to the body.
Watanabe looks to score with a jab to the body but Darko is just out of range.
Watanabe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darko lands a leg kick that knocks Watanabe off balance momentarily.
Vlad Darko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Darko throws a poor cross that misses
and Watanabe counters with a nice body shot.
Darko misses with a kick to the body
enabling Watanabe to counter with a crisp jab.
Darko throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Darko. Watanabe shrugs it off though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Darko throws a push kick but Watanabe slaps the foot to one side.
Darko misses with a leg kick.
Darko connects with a solid leg kick.
A big left from Darko misses.
Darko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Darko misses with a shot to the body
and Watanabe counters with a leg kick.
Darko misses with an uppercut.
Watanabe drops down looking for a counter takedown but Darko sprawls and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Darko. Watanabe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Watanabe lands a slapping body shot.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Darko.
Darko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Watanabe avoids the body shot from Darko.
Watanabe takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Watanabe scores with a hook to the body. Darko takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Darko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Watanabe.
Darko scores with the left hand. Watanabe knows he should have avoided that one.
Darko tries to land a front kick but Watanabe steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Watanabe is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Darko throws a hook to the side of Watanabe's head but Watanabe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Watanabe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Darko thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Vlad Darko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Darko throws a chopping leg kick but Watanabe manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Darko throws a body kick that misses.
Watanabe swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Watanabe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Darko.
Watanabe takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Darko closes the distance and clinches.
Darko misses with some punches.
Darko prevents a takedown attempt there.
Watanabe drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Darko misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko throws a punch but it's blocked by Watanabe.
Darko prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shun Watanabe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Darko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe fails to pull guard.
Darko lands a nice shot to the body.
Darko misses with a punch on the inside.
Watanabe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Darko does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Darko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Watanabe was well out of range. Poor timing from Darko.
Watanabe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Darko manages to circle out of the way.
Darko chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Watanabe looks to score with a jab to the body but Darko is just out of range.
Darko lands a slapping body shot.
Darko is looking to slow Watanabe down with leg kicks.
Watanabe misses with a wild body shot.
Darko tries to clinch but Watanabe moves out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darko lands a nice hook to Watanabe's body. Watanabe takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Darko swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Watanabe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Darko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Darko looks to score with a jab to the body but Watanabe is just out of range.
Darko misses with a double jab.
Watanabe avoids the body shot from Darko.
Watanabe appears to be looking for a big counter.
Darko tries to score with a low kick but Watanabe moves his leg out of the way.
Watanabe half committed to a counter leg kick.
Darko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watanabe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Darko looks to land a left hand but Watanabe moved out of range nicely.
Watanabe appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Darko.
Darko swings away with a body shot that misses
and Watanabe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Darko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Darko throws a jab when Watanabe was well out of range.
Watanabe seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Darko wants to slow Watanabe down by chopping away at his legs.
Watanabe lands with a straight right. Darko didn't see that one coming.
Darko avoids the body shot from Watanabe.
Watanabe takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It looks like Watanabe has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Watanabe checks a leg kick.
Darko throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Watanabe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws a body punch but Darko moves out of range.
Darko moves into the clinch successfully.
Darko manages to pull guard.
Darko looking for a sweep. Not yet Darko, not yet.
Darko throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Watanabe escapes and throws Darko's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watanabe working the ground and pound.
Watanabe wants to control but Darko is keeping him busy.
Darko defending against the ground and pound.
Shun Watanabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Watanabe cracks Darko with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Darko wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Watanabe working the body and head with strikes.
And that's the end of the fight!
Vlad Darko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Darko 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Shun Watanabe!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Vlad Darko!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Vlad Darko!
Vlad Darko wins by split decision!
A relieved looking Vlad Darko thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
53% |
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