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). Watanabe comes to the cage accompanied by Love Hate Love. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Watanabe
vs
Haldi

172 cm
31
145 lbs
19 - 8 - 1

167 cm
25
144 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 19 - 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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Efriam Haldi!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watanabe shoots in looking for a takedown. Haldi tries to sprawl out of it but Watanabe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Haldi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Watanabe lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Watanabe connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Haldi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Watanabe counters with a stiff right hand.
Watanabe slips under a jab from Haldi.
Watanabe misses with an uppercut. Haldi saw that one coming.
Haldi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Haldi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Haldi throws a front kick aimed at Watanabe's knee but Watanabe avoids it well.
Haldi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Haldi throws a head kick that misses

and Watanabe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Haldi lands a good knee to the midsection. Watanabe won't want to take too many of those.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the head but Watanabe blocks with his arms.
Haldi tries to stall but Watanabe uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Watanabe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Haldi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
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!
Haldi just leaning against Watanabe, taking a breather.
Watanabe throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Watanabe scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Watanabe has a couple of punches blocked by Haldi.
Haldi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Watanabe lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Watanabe misses with a knee to the head.
Watanabe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Haldi blocking some punches.
Watanabe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Watanabe misses with a short punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Watanabe as Haldi tries to tie him up.
Haldi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Watanabe's elbow.
Watanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watanabe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watanabe misses with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Haldi as Watanabe tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe misses with a short punch on the inside.
Haldi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watanabe avoiding damage as Haldi throws knees to the body.
Good body shot from Watanabe.
Haldi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Haldi to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watanabe avoids a wild elbow strike from Haldi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watanabe.
Haldi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Haldi prevents a body shot from Watanabe.
Haldi blocks a body shot from Watanabe.
Haldi looking to stall.
Haldi scores with a shoulder strike.
Watanabe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Watanabe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Watanabe - that landed with a thud.
Haldi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Haldi is stalling here.
Haldi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Watanabe.
Haldi connects with a knee to the head.
Haldi misses with a knee strike.
Watanabe lands a left hand.
Haldi using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Watanabe avoids it.
Haldi is trying to maintain a safe position but Watanabe gets an underhook and turns Haldi into the cage.
Haldi misses with a knee strike.
Watanabe lands a hook to the side of the head.
Watanabe lands a right hand that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Watanabe with a knee to the head.

It looks like Efriam Haldi has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haldi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Haldi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Haldi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Watanabe lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Watanabe.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Watanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Haldi.
Haldi leaning his opponent against the cage.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Watanabe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Watanabe digs a right hand underneath Haldi's ribcage. Haldi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Watanabe gets through Haldi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Haldi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Watanabe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Watanabe lands a body shot.
Watanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Haldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Haldi lands an elbow that stopped Watanabe in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Kenji Watanabe has been cut.
Haldi trying to land knees to the body.
Watanabe avoiding damage as Haldi throws knees to the body.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Watanabe dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Watanabe slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Haldi misses with a leg kick

and Watanabe counters by clinching up.
Watanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watanabe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watanabe scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Watanabe managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.
Watanabe working aggressively here.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Watanabe.
Haldi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Watanabe is keeping busy.
Watanabe working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Haldi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Watanabe is defending well for now.
Watanabe lands with a right to the head.
Watanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Haldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
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!
Haldi is trying to stall.
Watanabe misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe misses with some punches.
Haldi tries to land knees in the clinch but Watanabe avoids the damage to the body.
Watanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Haldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Watanabe managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.
A short right from Watanabe.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Haldi.
Haldi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Watanabe blocks it with crossed arms.
Watanabe gets through Haldi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Watanabe with a knee to the head.
Haldi takes a knee right on the jaw!
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Haldi trying to land knees to the body.
Watanabe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Watanabe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watanabe blocks an elbow strike from Haldi.
Haldi misses with an elbow strike.
Watanabe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Haldi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Haldi misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haldi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Watanabe's elbow.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Haldi tries a knee to the head but Watanabe blocks it.
Haldi stalling in the clinch but Watanabe improves position.
Watanabe avoiding damage as Haldi throws knees to the body.
Haldi is trying to maintain a safe position but Watanabe gets an underhook and turns Haldi into the cage.
Watanabe throws a head punch that misses.
Watanabe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Haldi tries to stall but Watanabe uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Haldi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Watanabe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Haldi throws an elbow but misses.
Haldi just leaning against Watanabe, taking a breather.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Haldi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Still in the clinch, Watanabe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Watanabe dodges an elbow strike from Haldi.
Watanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Haldi.
Watanabe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Haldi.
Haldi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Watanabe scores with a shoulder strike.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Watanabe avoids it.
A shot in the inside from Watanabe.
Watanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Haldi.
Watanabe working aggressively here.
Haldi tries a knee to the head but Watanabe blocks it.
Watanabe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watanabe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A hook to the body from Haldi.
Haldi misses with an elbow strike.
Watanabe letting Haldi take a breather here.
Haldi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Watanabe lands with a light punch inside.
Still in the clinch, Watanabe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Haldi.
Haldi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haldi throws an elbow that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Haldi.
Haldi trying to land knees to the body.
Watanabe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Watanabe avoids it.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Watanabe lands with a left to the head.
Watanabe lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Haldi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Watanabe is keeping busy.
Watanabe lands with a short shot to the head.
Haldi stalling.
A short right from Watanabe.
Haldi throws an elbow that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Watanabe fails to land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice right hand lands inside from Watanabe.
Watanabe gets through Haldi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Haldi.
Haldi blocks an uppercut.
Watanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Watanabe lands a lovely overhand right.

Watanabe pushes Haldi up against the cage in a clinch.
Watanabe misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watanabe.
Watanabe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Watanabe cracks Haldi with a nice body shot.
Watanabe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Haldi blocks it with crossed arms.
Watanabe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Haldi blocks an uppercut.
Watanabe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watanabe tries to stall but Haldi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Haldi lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Watanabe fails to land.
Watanabe working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watanabe lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Haldi throws an elbow but it misses.
Watanabe lands a nice shot to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Watanabe on the inside.
Haldi tries a knee to the head but Watanabe blocks it.
Haldi tries a body shot but Watanabe blocks it.
A body shot lands from Watanabe.
Watanabe throws a head punch that misses.
Watanabe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Watanabe managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.
Haldi misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Haldi.
Watanabe lands with a left to the head.
Haldi working Watanabe over with knees to the body.
Watanabe blocks the elbow strike.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Haldi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Watanabe blocks it with crossed arms.
Watanabe misses with some punches.
Watanabe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kenji Watanabe has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haldi tries to stall but Watanabe uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Haldis head.
Haldi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Watanabe's elbow.
Watanabe managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.
Haldi tries to work over Watanabe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watanabe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Haldi tries a knee to the head but Watanabe blocks it.
Haldi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watanabe working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Watanabe pushes Haldi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Haldi misses with a body punch.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Watanabe scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Watanabe.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Haldi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watanabe.
Haldi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watanabe avoids the elbow strike from Haldi, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe lands a hook that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Haldi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Haldi tries to work over Watanabe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watanabe misses with some punches.
Watanabe throws a head punch that misses.
Haldi trying to stall but Watanabe improves his position.
Watanabe lands a hook to the side of the head.
Watanabe scores with a shoulder strike.
Watanabe lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Watanabe blocks an elbow strike from Haldi.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Watanabe lands a left hand that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Knees in the clinch landing for Haldi.
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 lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Haldi misses with an elbow over the top.
Watanabe lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haldi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Watanabe fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haldi trying to land knees to the body.
Watanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watanabe avoids the elbow strike from Haldi, against the cage.
Watanabe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Watanabe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Watanabe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Haldi blocks it with crossed arms.
Haldi tries to throw a body punch but Watanabe avoids it by throwing Haldi back against the cage.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the head but Watanabe blocks with his arms.
Watanabe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the head but Watanabe blocks with his arms.
Haldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Watanabe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Watanabe lands with a light punch inside.
Watanabe lands a left hand.
Efriam Haldi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Haldi throws an elbow that misses.
Watanabe working aggressively here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Watanabe showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Watanabe!
A victorious Kenji Watanabe thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.