PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iain Durrant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Watanabe
vs
Durrant

172 cm
30
145 lbs
16 - 8 - 1

170 cm
38
148 lbs
26 - 29 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kenji Watanabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iain Durrant!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watanabe throws an off balance right hand
and Durrant counters with a one-two to the body.
Kenji Watanabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Durrant gets a double leg takedown into Watanabe's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Watanabe holds on and takes a little breather.
Durrant trying to control the position from guard on top but Watanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watanabe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Durrant manages to get himself to full guard.
Watanabe controls from within his opponent's guard.
Watanabe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Watanabe pushes down on Durrant's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durrant looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Durrant is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Watanabe pulls his head out easily.
Watanabe is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Durrant has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Watanabe escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Watanabe!
Watanabe is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Durrant's shoulder. That is not cool.

Watanabe stands up.
Watanabe swings for the body but Durrant moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Watanabe tries to close the distance and clinch but Durrant swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Durrant tries for a takedown but Watanabe circles away easily
and Watanabe counters with a nice low kick that buckles Durrant's knee momentarily.
Durrant shoots in and drives through. Watanabe sprawls well.
Kenji Watanabe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Watanabe throws a head kick but Durrant moves out of range.
Watanabe misses with a lunging right hand
and Durrant counters with a straight right hand.
Watanabe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Durrant.
Kenji Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iain Durrant.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe misses with a looping left.
Watanabe buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Watanabe connects with a looping right hand.
Watanabe lands with a shot to the body.
Watanabe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Watanabe looks to score with a jab to the body but Durrant is just out of range.
Durrant shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Watanabe defends it nicely.
Watanabe swings for the body but Durrant moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Durrant misses with a takedown attempt - Watanabe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Durrant checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Watanabe thows a body shot but no joy.
Iain Durrant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Durrant changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Watanabe tries to avoid it but Durrant manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Watanabe to the ground. Watanabe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Watanabe gets a clinch.
Durrant wants to get back to striking at distance but Watanabe won't allow it.
Durrant wants to break the clinch but can't.
Durrant wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Durrant wants to get back to striking at distance but Watanabe won't allow it.
Watanabe scores a nice knee to the body.
Watanabe using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Watanabe lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Watanabe lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Watanabe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Watanabe lands a hook to the side of the head.
Watanabe lands a knee to the body.
Durrant wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Watanabe has him pressed against the cage.
Watanabe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Durrant blocks it with crossed arms.
Watanabe lands a shoulder strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Watanabe obliges.
Watanabe landing knees to the head.
Watanabe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Watanabe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Watanabe keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Durrant's efforts to push away.
Watanabe has Durrant pressed against the cage, preventing Durrant from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Watanabe works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Watanabe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watanabe lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watanabe has Durrant pressed against the cage, preventing Durrant from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Watanabe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Durrant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Watanabe misses with a kick to the body.
Watanabe lands with a slapping head kick.
Durrant takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Durrant is rocked!
Durrant misses with a takedown attempt

and Watanabe counters with a shoot takedown. Durrant fights it but they end up in guard.
Durrant is still in real trouble! Can Watanabe finish him?
Kenji Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iain Durrant.
Watanabe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Durrant looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Watanabe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Durrant seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kenji Watanabe.
A head kick misses from Watanabe.
Watanabe throws a looping overhand right but Durrant ducks down to avoid it.
No luck for Durrant with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Durrant dodges the punch combination from Watanabe.
Watanabe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Watanabe cracks Durrant with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Watanabe misses with a hook
and Durrant counters with a two punch combo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durrant misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kenji Watanabe is winning the standup battle so far.
Watanabe tried to score with a low kick but Durrant checks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Watanabe dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Durrant shoots in looking for a takedown but Watanabe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Durrant's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Durrant moves out of range as Watanabe throws a body kick.
Durrant keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Durrant throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Watanabe.
Watanabe tries to land a leg kick but Durrant saw it coming and moves away.
Watanabe dodges the punch combination from Durrant.
Watanabe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Durrant throws a combination that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A combination from Durrant does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrant avoids the head kick by Watanabe.
Watanabe closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A nice inside leg kick there by Watanabe. That's going to slow Durrant down.
Watanabe sizes up Durrant with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Watanabe scores with a nice right hand.
Watanabe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Durrant was well out of range. Poor timing from Watanabe.
An inside leg kick lands from Watanabe.
Watanabe throws a sloppy head kick and Durrant moves out of range easily.
Durrant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Iain Durrant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenji Watanabe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durrant throws a sloppy body shot

and Watanabe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Watanabe.
Durrant can't find room to land a body shot as Watanabe controls the action.
Still in the clinch, Watanabe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Durrant is trying to push Watanabe away but Watanabe has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Durrant wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Durrant is trying to break free.
Durrant can't break the clinch.
Durrant looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Durrant struggles to land a body shot inside as Watanabe controls his hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A knee to the head by Watanabe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durrant is trying to break the clinch but Watanabe has him pressed against the cage.
Durrant is trying to break the clinch but Watanabe is controlling him.
Kenji Watanabe has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Durrant is trying to push Watanabe away but Watanabe has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on Durrant's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Durrant working hard to break the clinch.
Durrant misses with some punches.
A knee to the head by Watanabe.
Durrant has had enough of the clinch but Watanabe keeps him there for the moment.
Durrant wants to break the clinch but can't.
Durrant is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Watanabe lands a hook that snaps the head of Durrant backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe pushes Durrant back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Durrant tries to circle away but Watanabe has him pinned against the cage.
Durrant is trying to break free.
Watanabe blocks an uppercut.
Durrant is looking to break free of the clinch but Watanabe has double underhooks.
Durrant is trying to force a seperation but Watanabe has the dominant position.
Durrant looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Watanabe prevents Durrant from breaking the clinch.
Durrant wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Durrant manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Watanabe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Iain Durrant.
Well Watanabe has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Watanabe!
A very excited looking Kenji Watanabe made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.