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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Efriam Haldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!
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| 172 cm
30
145 lbs
17 - 8 - 1 |
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167 cm
24
144 lbs
8 - 6 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin |
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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
17 - 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
8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Efriam Haldi!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haldi takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Watanabe catches Haldi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Haldi crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Watanabe - the referee stops the clock and Haldi gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Watanabe. Haldi manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Watanabe takes a kick to the side of the head.
Haldi avoids the head kick by Watanabe.
Watanabe sizes up Haldi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
It looks like Efriam Haldi has been cut.
Haldi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watanabe connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A head kick misses from Haldi.
Watanabe delivers a nice body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haldi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Watanabe's head backwards.
Haldi throws a sloppy head kick and Watanabe moves out of range easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Haldi if he has to take too many more of those.
Haldi throws a sloppy head kick
and Watanabe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Haldi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Watanabe's head.
A punch combination from Watanabe misses.
Haldi 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.
Watanabe clinches with his opponent.
Watanabe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Haldi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Watanabe avoids the elbow strike from Haldi, against the cage.
Watanabe tries to land a knee to the head but Haldi blocks with his arms.
Watanabe blocks the elbow strike.
Watanabe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Come on Haldi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haldi working Watanabe over with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watanabe looking to throw knees to the head but Haldi is blocking nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Watanabe.
A nice left hand lands by Watanabe.
Haldi lands an elbow that stopped Watanabe in his tracks for a moment.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Haldi taking a breather.
Watanabe avoiding damage as Haldi throws knees to the body.
Watanabe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Watanabe with a knee to the head.
Haldi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Watanabe's face.
Haldi taking a breather.
Haldi misses with an elbow over the top.
Haldi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Haldi throws an elbow but misses.
Haldi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Watanabe.
Watanabe scores with a hook to the body.
Watanabe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe avoiding damage as Haldi throws knees to the body.
Watanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Haldi slowing the pace effectively.
Haldi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watanabe leaning against his opponent.
Haldi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Watanabe throws a head punch that misses.
Watanabe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watanabe looking to throw knees to the head but Haldi is blocking nicely.
A short uppercut from Haldi.
Watanabe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Haldi lands an elbow inside that Watanabe shrugs off.
It looks like Kenji Watanabe has been cut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Watanabe creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Haldi trying to stall but Watanabe improves his position.
Watanabe tries to land knees in the clinch but Haldi avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Watanabe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe tries a knee to the head but Haldi blocks it.
Watanabe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Haldi blocks it with crossed arms.
Watanabe managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.
Haldi lands a right hand.
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!
Watanabe connects with a knee to the head.
Haldi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Haldi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Watanabe.
Haldi lands an elbow inside.
Watanabe misses with a knee to the head.
Haldi trying to land knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Haldi tries to land knees in the clinch but Watanabe avoids the damage to the body.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Watanabe misses with a knee strike.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Haldi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Haldi looking to stall.
Haldi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Efriam Haldi will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Haldi tries a head kick but it misses.
Watanabe throws a leg kick
and Haldi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Watanabe is looking to chop away at Haldi's legs.
Haldi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Haldi throws a head kick that misses.
Watanabe lands a nice shot to the body.
Watanabe is looking to clinch but Haldi is avoiding it.
Haldi throws a sloppy head kick and Watanabe moves out of range easily.
Haldi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Haldi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Watanabe.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Haldi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Watanabe's head.
Haldi throws a head kick that misses.
Haldi misses with a head kick.
Watanabe cracks Haldi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Watanabe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Haldi throws out the jab.
Haldi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Watanabe throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Haldi on the side of the head.
Watanabe tries a head kick but it misses.
Watanabe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Haldi.
Watanabe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Haldi.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Watanabe.
Watanabe throws a shot to the body.
Haldi throws a lazy head kick
and Watanabe counters with an outside leg kick.
Watanabe takes a swing at Haldi's ribcage but misses.
Watanabe is looking to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watanabe avoids the head kick by Haldi.
Watanabe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Haldi manages to avoid it.
Watanabe lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Watanabe lands a jab to Haldi's midsection.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haldi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Haldi tries a head kick but it misses.
Watanabe blocks a head kick by Haldi.
Watanabe is looking to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Watanabe.
Haldi walks into a jab.
Haldi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Haldi throws a head kick that half lands.
Nice jab there from Watanabe.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haldi throws a head kick but Watanabe moves out of range.
Watanabe thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Haldi if he has to take too many more of those.
Haldi throws a head kick that misses.
Watanabe throws a nice outside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Haldi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watanabe's corner calls for a 1-2. Watanabe obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Haldi misses with a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick by Haldi misses
and Watanabe counters with a nice uppercut.
Watanabe throws a sloppy head kick and Haldi moves out of range easily.
Watanabe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kenji Watanabe dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Watanabe avoids the head kick by Haldi.
Good work by Haldi as he checks the leg kick.
Kenji Watanabe is winning the standup battle so far.
Watanabe just misses with a punch to the body.
Haldi avoids the head kick by Watanabe.
Haldi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Watanabe wants to land a leg kick but Haldi is out of range.
Watanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haldi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watanabe connects with a nice looking jab.
Watanabe throws a leg kick but Haldi sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Haldi checks a low kick from Watanabe.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Haldi throws a lazy head kick
and Watanabe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Haldi 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.
Watanabe misses with a low kick.
Watanabe fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Haldi on the side of the head.
Watanabe thows a leg kick but Haldi checks it
and Haldi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Haldi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Haldi lands a damaging elbow.
Watanabe lands with a light punch inside.
Haldi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Watanabe dodges an elbow strike from Haldi.
Haldi looking to throw knees to the head but Watanabe is blocking nicely.
Haldi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Watanabe avoids the elbow strike from Haldi, against the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Haldi swings wildly with an uppercut but Watanabe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Watanabe is working Haldi over against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Watanabe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Haldi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Watanabe's brow.
Haldi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watanabe misses with some punches.
Watanabe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Watanabe connects with a knee to the head.
Watanabe landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Haldi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Watanabe obliges.
Haldi is trying to maintain a safe position but Watanabe gets an underhook and turns Haldi into the cage.
Watanabe misses with a knee strike.
Watanabe avoids the elbow strike from Haldi, against the cage.
Watanabe blocks the elbow strike.
Watanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Haldi.
Haldi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Efriam Haldi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Watanabe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Haldi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Haldi stalling in the clinch but Watanabe improves position.
Watanabe misses with a knee to the head.
Haldi lands an elbow that stopped Watanabe in his tracks for a moment.
Watanabe working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Watanabe displaying some good clinch control by pressing Haldi up against the cage.
Haldi will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Watanabe up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Watanabe.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Haldi.
Watanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Haldi is looking to control Watanabe's arms but Watanabe gets an underhook and turns him. Now Haldi has his back to the cage.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Haldi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the head but Watanabe blocks with his arms.
Watanabe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Watanabe lands with a left to the head.
Haldi is trying to maintain a safe position but Watanabe gets an underhook and turns Haldi into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A knee to the head by Watanabe.
Haldi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watanabe tries a knee to the head but Haldi blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haldi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Haldi lands an elbow just above Watanabe 's eye.
Watanabe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Watanabe showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki 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.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
77% |
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