PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akira Watanabe (ranked 4164 p4p, 3898 weight class) and Kris Holdenfold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kris Holdenfold was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Watanabe
vs
Holdenfold

192 cm
25
271
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
265
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Watanabe !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kris Holdenfold!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holdenfold is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watanabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Watanabe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Watanabe .
Holdenfold moves in looking to clinch but Watanabe pushes him off.

Watanabe closes the distance and clinches.

Watanabe breaks from the clinch.
Holdenfold looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Watanabe is fending him off so far but Holdenfold persists. Nope, Watanabe circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Watanabe . No joy for Holdenfold on that attempt.
Akira Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kris Holdenfold.
Holdenfold takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watanabe throws a low kick but it's checked well by Holdenfold.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Watanabe .
Watanabe closes the distance and clinches up with Holdenfold, looking for a takedown. Watanabe pushes Holdenfold against the cage but Holdenfold circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holdenfold moves into range and clinches up with Watanabe .
Holdenfold tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Watanabe prevents a takedown attempt there.

Watanabe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Holdenfold has closed the distance and engaged Watanabe in a clinch.
Watanabe will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Holdenfold up against the cage.
Watanabe gets underhooks to prevent Holdenfold's takedown attempt.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Watanabe tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holdenfold tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watanabe just stands there and leans against the cage.

Watanabe breaks from the clinch.
Holdenfold shoots in for a double leg but Watanabe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Watanabe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Holdenfold sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A little jabbing left from Holdenfold on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Watanabe doesn't manage to clinch there - Holdenfold circles away.

Holdenfold darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Watanabe keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Holdenfold wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watanabe keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holdenfold is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Holdenfold wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watanabe keeps working.
Watanabe wants to improve his position but Holdenfold is controlling well.
Holdenfold trying to control the pace.
Holdenfold working over Watanabe with some ground and pound. Watanabe looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Watanabe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Holdenfold is working away from the top position though.
Watanabe taking some punishment here, with Holdenfold in his half guard.
Watanabe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Watanabe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Holdenfold got a little sloppy there for a moment and Watanabe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Holdenfold has managed to get both his arms back between Watanabe 's legs - danger averted.

Holdenfold drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Holdenfold jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
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 Akira Watanabe will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Holdenfold throws a body kick that misses.
Holdenfold shoots in for a double leg but Watanabe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Holdenfold throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Watanabe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watanabe leaves Holdenfold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Holdenfold tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Watanabe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Watanabe .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watanabe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Watanabe clinches up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Watanabe .
Knees in the clinch landing for Watanabe .
Holdenfold is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watanabe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Watanabe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holdenfold can do to turn this around?
Watanabe moves out of range of the leg kick from Holdenfold.

Holdenfold instigates a clinch.
Holdenfold is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Watanabe crunches a lovely knee into Holdenfold's ribcage.
Watanabe stalling against the cage.
Watanabe is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Watanabe manages to break the clinch.
Holdenfold shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Watanabe defends it nicely.
Akira Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kris Holdenfold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Holdenfold is trying to force a seperation but Watanabe has the dominant position.

Watanabe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watanabe tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Holdenfold defends well and Watanabe ends up having to push Holdenfold into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Watanabe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Holdenfold tries to clinch there but Watanabe circles away.
Watanabe fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watanabe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Holdenfold, pushing him back against the cage.
Holdenfold has Watanabe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Watanabe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Watanabe keeps control of Holdenfold as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Holdenfold tries to break free but Watanabe pushes him back against the cage.
Watanabe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Watanabe manages to break the clinch.
Holdenfold circles away from the clinch attempt.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown but Holdenfold shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Holdenfold is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Watanabe throws a nice looking combination but Holdenfold bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And Holdenfold responds with a good body kick, but Watanabe manages to step out the way in time.
Holdenfold avoids the body shot from Watanabe .

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Watanabe rushes Holdenfold and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Holdenfold tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Watanabe 's elbow.

Watanabe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akira Watanabe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Watanabe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Holdenfold.
Watanabe fails to land with a series of punches.

Holdenfold clinches with his opponent.
Watanabe stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Holdenfold is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Watanabe pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Watanabe breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Watanabe . Holdenfold does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Watanabe dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Holdenfold misses with a body kick.
Watanabe closes the distance and clinches up with Holdenfold, looking for a takedown. Watanabe pushes Holdenfold against the cage but Holdenfold circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Watanabe shoots in but no luck this time.

Watanabe gets tackled into the cage by Holdenfold. Holdenfold maintains the clinch.
Holdenfold is trying to drag Watanabe to the mat but Watanabe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Watanabe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watanabe misses with a takedown attempt - Holdenfold sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Watanabe . That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holdenfold dodges the punch combination from Watanabe .
Holdenfold misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Watanabe .
Watanabe throws a big counter combination but Holdenfold scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe tries to clinch but Holdenfold moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Watanabe .
Holdenfold looks for the body kick but Watanabe saw that one coming.
Akira Watanabe is winning the standup battle so far.
Watanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Holdenfold swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Watanabe .
Holdenfold throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Watanabe .

Holdenfold closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Watanabe did well to prevent Holdenfold getting side control.
Holdenfold winds up and cracks Watanabe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Holdenfold sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Watanabe tries to kick Holdenfold off in order to stand up. Holdenfold Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holdenfold decides to stand back up.

Holdenfold gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watanabe is looking to get back to is feet but Holdenfold passes into side control.
Holdenfold controlling the position from side mount.
Holdenfold cracks Watanabe with a big right hand but Watanabe just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holdenfold working the body and head with strikes.

Holdenfold has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Watanabe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Holdenfold tries to score a power double leg takedown but Watanabe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holdenfold somewhat.
Watanabe went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Watanabe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Holdenfold is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watanabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Holdenfold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Watanabe dives in and grabs Holdenfold's left leg, looking for a takedown. Holdenfold pushes down on Watanabe 's head and hops out.
Watanabe tries to clinch up.
Holdenfold slips under a jab from Watanabe .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe tries a head kick but it misses.
Watanabe avoids the head kick by Holdenfold.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Watanabe .
Holdenfold dives in and grabs Watanabe 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Watanabe pushes down on Holdenfold's head and hops out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Holdenfold.
Watanabe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Holdenfold tries to avoid it but Watanabe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Holdenfold to the ground. Holdenfold escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Holdenfold tries to counter with a clinch but Watanabe shakes him off and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holdenfold circles away from the clinch attempt.
Watanabe looks for a takedown but Holdenfold sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kris Holdenfold comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Watanabe has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Akira Watanabe !