PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luigi Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Master Chuin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watanabe's entrance music is Bad Man A Step. A fine choice. Chuin has chosen Remo WIlliams Theme as his entrance music. Master Chuin will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Watanabe
vs
Chuin

175 cm
23
164 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

173 cm
25
168 lbs
8 - 8 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luigi Watanabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Master Chuin!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watanabe bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Watanabe misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Chuin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Chuin tries to buck Watanabe off but Watanabe is having none of it.
Watanabe fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Chuin tries to improve position but can't.
Watanabe scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Chuin to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chuin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Watanabe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Watanabe cracks Chuin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Watanabe trying to control the action but Chuin is working from the bottom.
Watanabe is putting a hurting on Chuin here, landing some big shots from side control.
Watanabe working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chuin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Watanabe off and has taken his back!

Chuin has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Watanabe has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Chuin has his opponent's back but Watanabe is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Chuin.
Chuin throws a head kick that misses.
Chuin swings for the body but Watanabe moves out of range.
Watanabe throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Master Chuin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chuin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Chuin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Chuin pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chuin lands a head kick. Watanabe smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Chuin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watanabe moves out of range of the leg kick from Chuin.
The fighters circle momentarily. Chuin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watanabe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Chuin pinned against the cage. Chuin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A head kick misses from Chuin.
Chuin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Chuin pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chuin is looking to land body kicks.
Chuin throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Chuin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watanabe shoots in but no luck this time.
Watanabe lets loose with a powerful body kick. Chuin will feel that in the morning.
Chuin looks gassed!
A head kick misses from Chuin.
Watanabe blocks a head kick by Chuin.
Chuin throws a head kick that misses

so Watanabe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watanabe pushes down on Chuin's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Chuin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Watanabe lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe thows a huge punch but Chuin dodges it nicely.
Watanabe passes the guard and advances to mount!
Watanabe working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Chuin is squirming around, avoiding Watanabe's attempts to control the action.

Watanabe is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Chuin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Chuin as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luigi Watanabe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watanabe fails to land the takedown.
Chuin lands a nice leg kick that just misses Watanabe's sensitive parts.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Chuin throws a head kick but Watanabe moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Chuin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice body punch from Chuin.
Watanabe blocks a head kick by Chuin.
Watanabe dives in and grabs Chuin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Chuin pushes down on Watanabe's head and hops out.
Chuin has his takedown stuffed

and Watanabe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Watanabe.

Chuin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Chuin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chuin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Watanabe.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Watanabe is looking to work some ground and pound but Chuin has wrist control.
Chuin is breathing heavily.
Chuin wants to sweep but no luck.
Watanabe stands and throws Chuin's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Chuin parries the strikes from Watanabe easily there. Watanabe is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Chuin to escape.
Chuin takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Watanabe landing a few strikes.
Chuin tries to bench press Watanabe off him but Watanabe keeps the position.
Watanabe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chuin keeps working.
Chuin is looking to regain half guard here but Watanabe keeps moving and retains side control.
Watanabe is chipping away with strikes.
Watanabe lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Chuin down.
Watanabe tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Luigi Watanabe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Watanabe cracks Chuin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Chuin is looking for a sweep.
Chuin is trying to escape the position but Watanabe is controlling the position.
Chuin tries to buck Watanabe off but Watanabe is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Watanabe working the head and body with strikes.
A lull in the action here.
Watanabe cracks Chuin with a big elbow.
Chuin is trying to control Watanabe's posture but Watanabe avoids it.
Chuin gets back to half guard.
Chuin taking some punishment here, with Watanabe in his half guard.
Watanabe winds up and cracks Chuin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Watanabe seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Chuin is looking for a sweep. Watanabe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Watanabe trying to control from Chuin's half guard. Chuin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chuin is on top in guard.
Watanabe keeping full guard, as Chuin tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chuin stops Watanabe from standing up.

Chuin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Watanabe manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Chuin has Watanabe in his guard.
Watanabe is pushing down on Chuin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Chuin is fighting to maintain full guard but Watanabe has managed to sneak the leg through.
Watanabe wants to free his trapped foot but Chuin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Watanabe is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chuin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Watanabe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chuin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Chuin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watanabe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Watanabe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Chuin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Chuin 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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chuin is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Watanabe passes Chuin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watanabe is keen to just control but Chuin is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Watanabe dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Watanabe tries for a takedown but Chuin circles away easily
and Chuin counters with a nice kick to the body.
Chuin connects with a looping right hand.
Chuin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chuin lands a high kick!
Watanabe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Watanabe fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luigi Watanabe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watanabe closes the distance and clinches up with Chuin, looking for a takedown. Watanabe pushes Chuin against the cage but Chuin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chuin delivers a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chuin lands a nice leg kick that just misses Watanabe's sensitive parts.
Chuin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A head kick misses from Chuin.
Watanabe takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Chuin throws a sloppy head kick and Watanabe moves out of range easily.
Chuin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Chuin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Master Chuin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Watanabe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Chuin fakes the leg kick and cracks Watanabe in the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chuin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Watanabe.
Chuin throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown but Chuin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Chuin throws a push kick but Watanabe slaps the foot to one side.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Watanabe shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Chuin has hold of Watanabe's hands but Watanabe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Chuin is looking to improve his position.
Watanabe slips a nice elbow through Chuin's hands, connecting with Chuin's forehead.
Watanabe throwing shots but Chuin is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Watanabe is trying to control. Chuin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Watanabe is pressing down on Chuin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Chuin is holding on for now.
Chuin works his way to full guard. Good work.

Chuin working for a triangle but Watanabe defends it easily.
Watanabe wants to control from the top but Chuin keeps moving.
Watanabe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Watanabe tries to free his leg and advance position but Chuin is retaining full guard.

Chuin working for a triangle but Watanabe defends it easily.
Watanabe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe pushes down on Chuin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Watanabe is keen to just control but Chuin is a slippery customer.
Chuin is looking to control Watanabe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Chuin avoid being mounted?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chuin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Watanabe's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Watanabe's back!

Chuin working for the choke.
Master Chuin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Chuin is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Watanabe is defending well though. Chuin let's go of the attempt for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Master Chuin 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luigi Watanabe!
In his post fight interview, Luigi Watanabe started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.