PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tadashi Katsumoto (ranked 4889 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Watanabe (ranked 25828 p4p, 0 weight class). Tadashi Katsumoto looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Katsumoto
vs
Watanabe

180 cm
25
157 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

175 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Tadashi Katsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Katsumoto darts in and clinches Watanabe up against the cage.

Katsumoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Watanabe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Katsumoto circles away quickly and effectively.
Watanabe throws a head kick but Katsumoto moves out of range.
Watanabe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Katsumoto tries to avoid it but Watanabe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Katsumoto to the ground. Katsumoto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Katsumoto drops down looking for a counter takedown but Watanabe sprawls and moves away.
Watanabe fails with the takedown
and Katsumoto makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Watanabe really felt that one!
Watanabe wants to clinch up but Katsumoto keeps it at a distance.
Katsumoto fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katsumoto stuffs the takedown.
Tadashi Katsumoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Watanabe.
Katsumoto darts in looking for a takedown but Watanabe gets double underhooks and turns Katsumoto into the cage.
Katsumoto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Watanabe tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Katsumoto defends well and Watanabe ends up having to push Katsumoto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watanabe gets tackled into the cage by Katsumoto. Katsumoto maintains the clinch.
Watanabe fails to pull guard.
Watanabe is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Katsumoto pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Katsumoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Katsumoto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Watanabe swivels and escapes.
Watanabe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Katsumoto's waist but Katsumoto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Watanabe off to one side.
Watanabe looks winded!
Katsumoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Watanabe sprawls well. Watanabe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Katsumoto gets slowly back to his feet.
Watanabe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Katsumoto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Katsumoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe is looking to clinch.
Katsumoto seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Watanabe tries to clinch up.
Katsumoto throwing a counter right hand but Watanabe manages to avoid it.
Watanabe wants to clinch up but Katsumoto keeps it at a distance.
Watanabe leaves Katsumoto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Katsumoto fails with the takedown
and Watanabe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Watanabe is looking to clinch but Katsumoto is avoiding it.
Watanabe moves in looking to clinch but Katsumoto pushes him off.
Katsumoto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Watanabe wants to clinch up but Katsumoto keeps it at a distance.
Watanabe throws a combination that misses
letting Katsumoto counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown but Katsumoto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Katsumoto tries to counter by clinching up but Watanabe breaks away and moves out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Watanabe or perhaps it was just good defense by Katsumoto, which made it look bad.
A nice leg kick lands there from Watanabe.
Katsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Watanabe as he avoids it easily.
Watanabe is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Watanabe.
Katsumoto appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Katsumoto throws the kick towards the body but Watanabe avoids it.
Katsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Watanabe as he avoids it easily.
Katsumoto stuffs the takedown attempt from Watanabe. Watanabe gets slowly back to his feet.
Katsumoto lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Katsumoto pinned against the cage. Katsumoto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Watanabe with a poor takedown

and Katsumoto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Katsumoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Katsumoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watanabe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Katsumoto swivels and escapes.
Katsumoto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Watanabe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Katsumoto somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tadashi Katsumoto dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Katsumoto with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Watanabe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Katsumoto counters by moving into the clinch.
Watanabe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Watanabe wants to break free but Katsumoto has control.
Watanabe fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watanabe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Katsumoto smiles and moves away.
Tadashi Katsumoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Watanabe.
Watanabe tries for a takedown but Katsumoto circles away easily
and Katsumoto counters with a three punch combo that has Watanabe backing up. Watanabe nods at Katsumoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Watanabe is breathing heavily.
Watanabe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Katsumoto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe shoots for a takedown but Katsumoto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Watanabe can do to turn this around?
Katsumoto misses with a takedown attempt - Watanabe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Watanabe looks for a takedown but Katsumoto sprawls well.
Tadashi Katsumoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Katsumoto has Watanabe up against the cage in a clinch.

Katsumoto manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Katsumoto pulls Watanabe in close to his closed guard and prevents Watanabe from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Katsumoto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watanabe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Watanabe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Katsumoto striking off his back but it's not causing Watanabe any problems.
Katsumoto looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Katsumoto manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Katsumoto pulls guard successfully.
Katsumoto wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Katsumoto has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Katsumoto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Katsumoto stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Katsumoto as he jumps to the side.
Katsumoto shoots in but Watanabe avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Watanabe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Katsumoto sprawls well. Katsumoto wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Watanabe gets slowly back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Katsumoto fails with a takedown attempt.
Watanabe shoots and misses

and Katsumoto counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tadashi Katsumoto dominated that second round.
That's time! Katsumoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Watanabe doesn't manage to clinch there - Katsumoto circles away.
Watanabe fails with the takedown.
Watanabe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Katsumoto holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Watanabe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Katsumoto is keeping busy.

Katsumoto ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Katsumoto no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katsumoto pulls Watanabe in to control the position.

Katsumoto manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Watanabe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Katsumoto forces Watanabe back against the cage and clinches.
Watanabe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Katsumoto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tadashi Katsumoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Watanabe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Katsumoto smiles and moves away.

Katsumoto clinches up with Watanabe and pushes him back against the cage.

Katsumoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Katsumoto pushes Watanabe up against the cage in a clinch.
Katsumoto lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Watanabe or not.

Katsumoto pulls Watanabe into guard.
Watanabe wants to control from the top but Katsumoto keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto has control of Watanabe's left arm, preventing Watanabe from doing any damage.

Katsumoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Watanabe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Katsumoto is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Watanabe is looking to sweep but instead, Katsumoto has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Katsumoto with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Katsumoto moves nicely into side control.
Watanabe tries to buck Katsumoto off but Katsumoto is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Katsumoto moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Watanabe is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Katsumoto is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tadashi Katsumoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Katsumoto 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tadashi Katsumoto!