PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brazilian Experiment I (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kai Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watanabe has chosen Bombage by Tiësto as his entrance music. Kai Watanabe struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.9lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Experiment I
vs
Watanabe

178 cm
27
161 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

183 cm
27
170 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Revolution Fatigues

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 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian Experiment I!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kai Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Experiment I slips a jab and a cross from Watanabe.

Experiment I feints and as Watanabe raises his hands in defense, Experiment I changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Experiment I stopping the sweep attempt from Watanabe.

Watanabe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Experiment I defends well.

Watanabe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Experiment I can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Experiment I trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Watanabe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Experiment I 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 Experiment I has Watanabe in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Experiment I looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Experiment I 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.
Watanabe is pushing down on Experiment I's leg trying to pass to half guard. Experiment I is fighting to maintain full guard but Watanabe has managed to sneak the leg through.
Experiment I is trying to get back to full guard.
Watanabe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Experiment I keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Experiment I 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!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Experiment I is looking to control Watanabe but Watanabe is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Experiment I controlling well, preventing Watanabe from escaping the position.

Experiment I is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Watanabe defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Experiment I looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Experiment I is looking for the choke from the back position but Watanabe is controlling his hands well.
Watanabe breaks Experiment I's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Experiment I is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Watanabe defends well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Experiment I looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watanabe wants to control from the top but Experiment I keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brazilian Experiment I dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Watanabe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Watanabe lands a nice shot to the body.
Experiment I takes a swing at Watanabe's ribcage but misses.
Watanabe swings away with a body shot that misses
and Experiment I counters with an outside leg kick.
Watanabe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Watanabe fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Experiment I misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Watanabe throws a lazy right hand but Experiment I sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Watanabe throws a lazy uppercut

and Experiment I counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Watanabe trying to hold on to Experiment I's head to control him but Experiment I postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Experiment I looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Experiment I throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Experiment I is working for a kimura but Watanabe is defending it quite comfortably.
Experiment I takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Watanabe is trying to maintain the position but Experiment I is very close to passing his half guard.

Watanabe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Experiment I is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Watanabe has managed to free his arm - good work.
Brazilian Experiment I overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Experiment I 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. Experiment I eventually gives up the hold.
Watanabe keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Watanabe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Experiment I seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Watanabe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Experiment I working over Watanabe with some ground and pound. Watanabe looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Experiment I seems to be looking for submissions.
Watanabe wants to get back to full guard.
Experiment I is nestled in close to Watanabe, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

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

Experiment I is looking for a kimura but Watanabe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Experiment I to get the leverage.
Experiment I missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Watanabe is looking to control Experiment I's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Watanabe avoid being mounted?
Watanabe wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Experiment I throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Experiment I wants to lay and pray for a moment but Watanabe keeps working.

Experiment I 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. Experiment I eventually gives up the hold.

Experiment I is looking for a kimura but Watanabe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Experiment I to get the leverage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Experiment I looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Watanabe trying to hold on to Experiment I's head to control him but Experiment I postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brazilian Experiment I dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Experiment I moves away from the strike by Watanabe.
Experiment I tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Watanabe swivels and escapes.
Watanabe looks to land a right hand but Experiment I moved out of range.
Experiment I throws a right and a left that both miss.
Experiment I shoots in for a takedown but Watanabe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Watanabe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Experiment I sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Watanabe.
Watanabe lands with a cross.

Experiment I gets the takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Experiment I working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Watanabe tries to bench press Experiment I off him but Experiment I keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe prevents Experiment I from improving position.

Experiment I is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Watanabe knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Experiment I misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Watanabe wants to control but Experiment I postures up.
Kai Watanabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Experiment I's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Watanabe actively working from the bottom here.
Experiment I is thwarting Watanabe's attempts to control the position.
Watanabe is looking to improve his position.

Experiment I is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Experiment I is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Watanabe sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Experiment I controlling the action here.
Watanabe tries to get to full guard but Experiment I has control of the leg.

Watanabe is defending against the submission attempts here by Experiment I.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Experiment I connects with a nice short shot to Watanabe's temple.
Brazilian Experiment I is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Experiment I with the ground and pound but Watanabe uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Watanabe keeping moving, preventing Experiment I from controlling successfully.
Experiment I stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Watanabe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Experiment I postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Watanabe lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Experiment I!
Watanabe wants to control the pace but Experiment I is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kai Watanabe.
I think Experiment I 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 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brazilian Experiment I!
A less than humble Brazilian Experiment I misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.