PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kotaro Fuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watanabe kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Tan Dun- Night Flight. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Watanabe
vs
Fuma

174 cm
29
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

169 cm
26
158 lbs
6 - 61 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Watanabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 61 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Kotaro Fuma!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watanabe has Fuma up against the cage in a clinch.

Fuma turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Watanabe is trying to control Fuma's posture but Fuma avoids it.
Watanabe is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Watanabe wants to get back to his feet but Fuma drags him back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Watanabe manages to get back to half guard.
Watanabe is trying to get back to full guard.
Watanabe manages to get to full guard.
Watanabe controlling the position.
Watanabe has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fuma keeps the fight on the outside.
Fuma takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Watanabe fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Watanabe closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Fuma's guard.
Fuma keeping full guard, as Watanabe tries to pass.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watanabe is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fuma working for a triangle but Watanabe defends it easily.
Watanabe stays in close to Fuma's body and controls the position.
Fuma wants to stand up but Watanabe is controlling him.
Watanabe looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hiro Watanabe.
Watanabe misses with a double jab.

Watanabe gets a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watanabe has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Fuma avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Watanabe wants to take the fight to the mat but Fuma manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Watanabe dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Watanabe bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fuma really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Watanabe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fuma tries to buck Watanabe off but Watanabe is having none of it.
Watanabe taking a breather here.
Watanabe advances nicely into full mount.
Watanabe controlling his opponent.
Watanabe with good strikes from the mount here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuma keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Watanabe controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuma wants to control but Watanabe is having none of it.
Watanabe controlling his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Hiro Watanabe wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fuma plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watanabe moves into the clinch.
Watanabe stalling.

Watanabe is trying to trip Fuma. He has hold of a leg but Fuma is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Watanabe persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Watanabe controlling from the top position.
Fuma is trying to hold Watanabe in close to prevent damage but Watanabe has managed to pass into half guard.
Watanabe content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Fuma!

Watanabe is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Watanabe extends the arm and Fuma is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hiro Watanabe!
During a confident post fight interview, Hiro Watanabe thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.