PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan ORourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Watanabe
vs
ORourke

172 cm
26
145 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

180 cm
31
143 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

xXx - Voodoo Labs - 159++ Energy - $50
Valhalla Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kenji Watanabe!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ivan ORourke!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ORourke tries to clinch but Watanabe moves away
and Watanabe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
ORourke tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Watanabe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
ORourke checks a leg kick nicely.
ORourke moves out of range as Watanabe strikes.
Watanabe connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Watanabe bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps ORourke's head backwards.
ORourke tries to clinch but Watanabe moves out of range.
ORourke closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Kenji Watanabe has been cut.
A left lands for Watanabe.
A nice inside leg kick there by ORourke. That's going to slow Watanabe down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watanabe misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from ORourke.
Watanabe lands a jab to the nose.
ORourke throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Watanabe throws a sloppy head kick and ORourke moves out of range easily.
ORourke takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
ORourke misses with a low kick.
Watanabe jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe throws a sloppy head kick
and ORourke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
ORourke chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Watanabe can pounce on him.
Watanabe tests ORourke's chin there with a solid looking shot.
ORourke lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Watanabe scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
ORourke throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Watanabe stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
ORourke is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
ORourke lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
ORourke throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from ORourke.
Watanabe scores with a sloppy right hand. ORourke should have avoided that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
ORourke throws a leg kick but Watanabe sees it coming and checks it nicely.
ORourke throws a body kick that misses.
Watanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but ORourke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
ORourke misses with a head kick.
ORourke moves out of range as Watanabe throws a body kick.
Watanabe moves out of range of the leg kick from ORourke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe connects with a single shot there.
Watanabe misses with an uppercut
and ORourke counters with a three punch combo that has Watanabe backing up. Watanabe nods at ORourke to acknowledge the strikes.
Watanabe thumps ORourke with a low kick.
ORourke doesn't manage to clinch there - Watanabe circles away.
ORourke doesn't manage to clinch there - Watanabe circles away.
ORourke drops his hands momentarily and Watanabe takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Watanabe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
ORourke throws a series of punches but Watanabe avoids them all with ease.
Watanabe blocks a leg kick.
ORourke scoring well with a low kick there.
ORourke tries to clinch there but Watanabe circles away.
Watanabe lands a nice leg kick that just misses ORourke's sensitive parts.
A head kick by Watanabe misses
and ORourke counters with a nice leg kick.
ORourke misses with a few strikes there.
Watanabe slips under a jab.
ORourke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Watanabe blocks the leg kick.
ORourke connects with a crisp jab.
ORourke tries to clinch there but Watanabe circles away.
ORourke tries to clinch there but Watanabe circles away.
A nice combination there by Watanabe.
ORourke throws a head kick that misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Watanabe darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
ORourke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Watanabe throws a nice looking combination but ORourke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice uppercut lands for Watanabe. That snapped ORourke's head back.
Kenji Watanabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

ORourke gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Watanabe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Watanabe lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of ORourke backwards.
ORourke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from ORourke.
ORourke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but ORourke uses good head movement to avoid it.
ORourke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Watanabe on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
ORourke blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
ORourke pushes Watanabe back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Watanabe has a couple of punches blocked by ORourke.
ORourke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
ORourke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watanabe landing knees to the head.
ORourke struggles to land a body shot inside as Watanabe controls his hands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
ORourke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
ORourke misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watanabe prevents a body shot from ORourke.
Watanabe lands a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan ORourke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kenji Watanabe's cut.
That's time! Watanabe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Watanabe tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Watanabe is looking to land body kicks.
No joy there for Watanabe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Watanabe lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Watanabe misses with a wild combination.
Watanabe looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
ORourke is looking to land body kicks.
ORourke slips a jab from Watanabe.
ORourke drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

ORourke is rocked!
Watanabe fakes the leg kick and cracks ORourke in the body.
ORourke lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
ORourke scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
ORourke throws a nice looking combination but Watanabe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
ORourke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Watanabe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Watanabe checks the leg kick.
ORourke avoids a kick to the body.
Watanabe misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe lands a head shot.
Watanabe takes a jab right on the kisser.
Watanabe avoids the head kick by ORourke.
Watanabe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - ORourke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
ORourke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
ORourke chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Watanabe can pounce on him.
ORourke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ivan ORourke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
ORourke misses with an attempted mid kick.
Good leg kick by Watanabe there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A swing and a miss from ORourke.
Ivan ORourke seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Watanabe has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Watanabe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from ORourke.
Watanabe looks to land a right hand but ORourke moved out of range.
Watanabe checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws an overhand right that lands on ORourke's shoulder, as ORourke tries to avoid the shot.
ORourke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Watanabe listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
That kick from Watanabe tenderised ORourke's leg. ORourke is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watanabe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
ORourke stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Watanabe.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Watanabe scoring well with a low kick there.
Watanabe misses with a wild body shot.
Watanabe misses with a few strikes there.
ORourke misses with a low kick.
ORourke lands a leg kick that knocks Watanabe off balance momentarily.
Watanabe misses with a jab, cross combination.
ORourke wants to clinch
and Watanabe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
ORourke throws a nice looking combination but Watanabe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice body kick there by Watanabe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe blocks a head kick by ORourke.
The fighters circling - ORourke throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
ORourke has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Watanabe is looking to score with low kicks.
Watanabe uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
ORourke scores with a jab. Watanabe acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
ORourke wants to clinch up but Watanabe keeps it at a distance.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Watanabe, right into the meat.
ORourke checks a leg kick.
ORourke dodges the punch combination from Watanabe.
ORourke moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
ORourke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Watanabe.
Watanabe scores with a nice head shot.
Watanabe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Watanabe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws out a leg kick but ORourke moves out of range and Watanabe only half commits.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Watanabe as ORourke tries to tie him up.
Watanabe landing knees to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
ORourke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
ORourke tries a body shot but Watanabe blocks it.
ORourke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Still in the clinch, Watanabe scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right hand to the body from ORourke.
ORourke misses with a body punch.
ORourke lands a left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
ORourke working aggressively here.
ORourke misses with a punch on the inside.

Watanabe gets control of ORourke's arms and successfully pulls guard. Watanabe will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Watanabe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. ORourke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. ORourke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kenji Watanabe will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kenji Watanabe's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Watanabe fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
ORourke throws the kick towards the body but Watanabe avoids it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Watanabe, right into the meat.
Some wild striking there from ORourke.
Watanabe scores with a nice strike.
Watanabe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from ORourke.
ORourke dips to his left and cracks Watanabe with an uppercut!
ORourke misses with a jab, cross combination.
ORourke takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Watanabe blocks a head kick by ORourke.
ORourke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
ORourke thumps Watanabe with a low kick.
ORourke misses with a wild combination.
ORourke fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ORourke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Watanabe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but ORourke was well out of range. Poor timing from Watanabe.
ORourke tries a head kick but it misses.
Watanabe scores with a punch to the head.

ORourke has Watanabe up against the cage in a clinch.
Watanabe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Watanabe scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Watanabe blocks a body shot from ORourke.
Watanabe tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Watanabe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of ORourke backwards.
ORourke is still on wobbly legs! Can Watanabe finish him?
ORourke tries to work over Watanabe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Watanabe.
Ivan ORourke seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Watanabe softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Watanabe is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Watanabe.
Watanabe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
ORourke's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
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!
ORourke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watanabe stalling.
Watanabe pushes ORourke against the cage. Watanabe is working some dirty boxing. Watanabe pushes off with a quick right hook! ORourke goes down! ORourke tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Watanabe moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kenji Watanabe!
Kenji Watanabe is the new bantamweight champion!
Kenji Watanabe seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.