PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Johnson
vs
Watanabe

175 cm
23
147 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

172 cm
26
145 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anthony Johnson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kenji Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Watanabe.
Watanabe listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kenji Watanabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Watanabe swivels and escapes.
Watanabe lands a jab.
Watanabe moves out of range of the body kick.
Donk. Watanabe catches Johnson right on the button with a cross.
Watanabe throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnson on the side of the head.
Watanabe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Watanabe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Watanabe misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Watanabe keeps it at a distance.
Watanabe misses with an attempted mid kick.
Watanabe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Watanabe tries a low kick but Johnson avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Watanabe avoids the elbow strike from Johnson, against the cage.
Watanabe lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.

Johnson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Watanabe can't fight it off and eventually Johnson manages to take the fight to the floor. Watanabe looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Watanabe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watanabe controlling Johnson's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Watanabe.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Watanabe tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Watanabe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Watanabe.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Watanabe. That's going to slow Johnson down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Watanabe as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Johnson walks into a stiff left hand from Watanabe.
Some wild striking there from Watanabe.
Watanabe throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Watanabe keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Watanabe is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe has control of Johnson's left arm, preventing Johnson from doing any damage.
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!

Anthony Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Watanabe.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Watanabe keeps it at a distance.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Watanabe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Watanabe which made him look bad.
A telegraphed right hand from Watanabe misses the target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watanabe throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johnson tries to bum rush Watanabe with a series of wild strikes but Watanabe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Watanabe is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Watanabe circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kenji Watanabe will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Johnson avoids a kick to the body.
Watanabe throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Watanabe punishes Johnson's body with a nice straight punch.
Watanabe throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Watanabe misses the shot to the body.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Watanabe.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Watanabe connects with a looping right hand.
Kenji Watanabe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Watanabe looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Watanabe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Watanabe throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson thumps Watanabe with a low kick.
Kenji Watanabe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Watanabe lands a jab-cross combination.
Watanabe keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Watanabe throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Watanabe misses the body punch

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Watanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watanabe lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Watanabe pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Watanabe as Johnson shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watanabe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Watanabe finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Watanabe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Watanabe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watanabe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson walks into a stiff left hand from Watanabe.
Watanabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson misses with an attempted mid kick.
The fighters circling - Watanabe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Watanabe throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses.
Watanabe avoids a kick to the body.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Watanabe misses with a straight left.
Watanabe fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Johnson.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Watanabe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Watanabe misses with a looping right.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
Watanabe lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Watanabe lands with an overhand left.
Johnson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Watanabe is able to avoid easily.

Johnson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Watanabe tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Johnson is in Watanabe's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Watanabe keeps moving.
Watanabe controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Watanabe has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Watanabe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sloppy strikes from Watanabe. Those never looked like landing.
Watanabe is looking to slow Johnson down with leg kicks.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Watanabe.
Watanabe avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Danga de danga de dang - Watanabe scores with a four punch combination!
Johnson blocks a leg kick.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Watanabe.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Watanabe.
Johnson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Watanabe throws out the jab.
Watanabe cracks a nice hook into Johnson's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Watanabe as he avoids it easily.
Johnson staying out of range there.
Watanabe scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Watanabe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Watanabe.
Johnson is looking to land body kicks.
Watanabe uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Johnson has time to react.
A big right from Watanabe misses.
Watanabe keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watanabe scores with a one two! Johnson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Johnson throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Watanabe throws a shot to the body.
Johnson gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Watanabe makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watanabe throws a quick inside leg kick.
Johnson takes one on the button.
Sloppy strikes from Watanabe. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Watanabe tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Watanabe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Watanabe sprawls well. Watanabe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson defending well as Watanabe loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson staying out of range there.
Watanabe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Watanabe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watanabe keeps the fight on the outside.
Watanabe misses with an uppercut.
Johnson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Watanabe can pounce on him.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Watanabe sprawls well. Watanabe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Watanabe moves out of range of the body kick from Johnson.
Good exchange - Watanabe coming out on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
An inside leg kick lands from Watanabe.
Watanabe swings widly with a right hand
and Johnson counters with an outside leg kick.
Watanabe lands with an uppercut that bounces Johnson off the cage and back into range.
Johnson slips a straight right by Watanabe.
Watanabe moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Watanabe connects with an inside leg kick.
Johnson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Watanabe.
Watanabe bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johnson's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson throws a push kick but Watanabe slaps the foot to one side.
Watanabe throws a nice inside leg kick.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Watanabe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Watanabe really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Watanabe misses with a looping left.
A leg kick checked by Johnson.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Watanabe tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Watanabe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Watanabe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watanabe missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Watanabe connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Johnson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Watanabe attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Watanabe circles away.
Watanabe jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Johnson throws out a leg kick but Watanabe moves out of range and Johnson only half commits.
Johnson walks into a stiff left hand from Watanabe.
Watanabe lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Johnson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Watanabe misses with a straight right.
Watanabe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Watanabe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Watanabe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson throws a half hearted mid kick.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Watanabe.
Watanabe misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Watanabe dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Watanabe throws a combination. Johnson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Johnson drops his hands momentarily and Watanabe takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Watanabe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Watanabe which made him look bad.
Both fighters circling a little - Watanabe finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Johnson throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Watanabe dodges an elbow strike from Johnson.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
A shot in the inside from Watanabe.
Watanabe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A shot in the inside from Watanabe.
Watanabe softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Johnson misses with a knee strike.
Watanabe dodges an elbow strike from Johnson.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Johnson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Watanabe walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch lands to the side of Johnson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Watanabe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Watanabe lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Watanabe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Watanabe lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watanabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Watanabe connects with a solid leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Watanabe takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Watanabe trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Watanabe creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Watanabe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Watanabe lands an uppercut.
Watanabe misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Watanabe fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Watanabe dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Watanabe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Watanabe moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Watanabe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Watanabe stuffs the takedown.
Johnson moves forwards but Watanabe connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Watanabe throws a big shot that misses.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Watanabe which made him look bad.
Watanabe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Watanabe thumps Johnson with a low kick.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Watanabe circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Watanabe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Watanabe scores with a head kick. Johnson tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Watanabe thows a leg kick but Johnson checks it
and Johnson counters with a body kick that stops Watanabe in his tracks momentarily.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Watanabe.
Watanabe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Watanabe misses the target.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watanabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson 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.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Watanabe sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Johnson moves out of range as Watanabe strikes.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Watanabe.
Anthony Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenji Watanabe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Watanabe throws a shot to the body.
Watanabe misses with a body shot.
Johnson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Watanabe. Watanabe obviously looking to wear him down.
Johnson fails with the takedown.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe regains half guard there - taking advantage of Johnson's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Watanabe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe is trying to get back to full guard.
Watanabe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Watanabe is keeping the position for now.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Watanabe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Anthony Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Watanabe trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson is looking for a triangle here but Watanabe uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watanabe has knee on belly and moves into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Watanabe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Watanabe winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 45:50
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 45:50
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Watanabe! Kenji Watanabe retains his bantamweight title!
A relieved looking Kenji Watanabe thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.