PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claude Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watanabe's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Love Hate Love. Thompson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Goldie - by ASAP Rocky. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Watanabe
vs
Thompson

172 cm
31
145 lbs
20 - 9 - 1

170 cm
32
158 lbs
20 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kenji Watanabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Claude Thompson!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watanabe finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Thompson shoots in for a double leg but Watanabe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Claude Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Watanabe circles away quickly and effectively.
Watanabe slips a jab from Thompson.

Thompson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Watanabe to the mat! Watanabe manages to get full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Watanabe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thompson looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watanabe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thompson wants to pass the guard but Watanabe is keeping the position.
Thompson told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Thompson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thompson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson trying to control but Watanabe is working from the bottom.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Watanabe has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe controls Thompson momentarily but Thompson frees himself.
Watanabe is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Watanabe is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Facebreaker Academy : Striking that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

Kenji Watanabe has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Watanabe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kenji Watanabe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A slow jab from Watanabe misses its intended target.
Thompson misses with a hook. Watanabe ducked under it nicely.
Thompson misses with the combination.
Watanabe lets loose with a powerful body kick. Thompson will feel that in the morning.
A swing and a miss from Thompson.
Thompson throws a head kick but Watanabe moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Watanabe's waist but Watanabe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thompson off to one side.
Thompson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thompson looks for a takedown but Watanabe sprawls well.
Kenji Watanabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claude Thompson.
Thompson throws a hook but Watanabe avoids it easily.
Thompson throws a shot from downtown. Watanabe moves away and avoids it.
Thompson swats away the attempt to clinch by Watanabe.
Thompson shoots in looking for a takedown but Watanabe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thompson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thompson shoots in but no luck this time.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Thompson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Watanabe's half guard.
Thompson looks winded!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watanabe controlling the position for now.
Thompson prevents Watanabe from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Watanabe is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Watanabe is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Watanabe trying to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Watanabe keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Watanabe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thompson fails to land the takedown.
Watanabe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thompson.
A good leg kick by Watanabe.
Watanabe throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Watanabe.
Thompson misses the jab.
Watanabe bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Thompson's head backwards.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Watanabe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thompson shoots in for a double leg but Watanabe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Watanabe feints and then cracks Thompson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thompson down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson blocks the body kick.
Thompson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Watanabe is looking to clinch but Thompson is avoiding it.
Thompson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Claude Thompson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thompson has his takedown stuffed

and Watanabe holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Thompson lands an elbow inside that Watanabe shrugs off.

It looks like Kenji Watanabe has been cut.
Watanabe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Thompson's face.

It looks like Claude Thompson has been cut.
Watanabe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Watanabe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thompson blocks it with crossed arms.
Watanabe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thompson blocks it with crossed arms.
Thompson lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Thompson wants the takedown. Watanabe is fighting it off but Thompson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Watanabe's guard against the cage.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Watanabe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Thompson pushing down on Watanabe's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thompson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thompson throwing shots but Watanabe is blocking nicely.
Thompson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Watanabe sees it coming and defends easily.
Watanabe makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Watanabe.
Watanabe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thompson's guard.
Watanabe trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Thompson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thompson wants to control but Watanabe passes easily into half guard.
Thompson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Thompson is looking to escape.
Thompson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Thompson is trying to maintain the position but Watanabe is very close to passing his half guard.
Thompson is looking for a sweep. Watanabe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Watanabe frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Thompson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thompson tries to hold on but Watanabe postures up.
Watanabe tries to control but Thompson wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is wriggling around trying to escape.

Watanabe working for a guillotine from mount but Thompson is in no mood to give up.
Watanabe fails to move to back control.
Thompson is trying desperately to improve position.
Watanabe controlling the position easily from mount.
Watanabe trying to control but Thompson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thompson is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watanabe can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thompson is looking to escape.
Thompson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Thompson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watanabe wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kenji Watanabe wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Watanabe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Watanabe wants it to stay on the feet.
Thompson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson throws a poor cross that misses
and Watanabe counters with a nice kick to the body.
A jab from Thompson misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Claude Thompson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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! This is the final round!

Thompson misses with a hook.
Claude Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Watanabe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thompson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Watanabe scores with a jab to the jaw.
Thompson throws a good cross that connects.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thompson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Watanabe - that will leave a mark!
Thompson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Watanabe makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Thompson really felt that one!
Watanabe lands a high kick!
Watanabe lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watanabe cracks Thompson with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Thompson tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Watanabe pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Thompson is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kenji Watanabe!
Kenji Watanabe seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.