Watanabe vs. Kowalkiewicz

[The Sandmen]

Hisae Watanabe looks at the ground while she does her calming exercises. She knows she can not fail this night.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz glares at her opponent from the opposite corner.
This is the first time they meet inside the cage
The bets gives an equal chance to both fighters to score the win today.
The referee of the bout is Josh Rosenthal.

=========================================
Round 1
=========================================

Hisae Watanabe and Karolina Kowalkiewicz touch gloves in the center to get this fight started!
Kowalkiewicz avoids a dangerous strike from Watanabe
and fends her off with feel-out punches.
The clock says 0:25 in the 1 round
Kowalkiewicz tries some clinching in order to control the fight...
Well done. Kowalkiewicz is clinching with Watanabe.
The fighters are clinching.
Kowalkiewicz tries to break the clinch... Hisae Watanabe launches a great knee when she finds a narrow space!
Kowalkiewicz breaks the clinch and the knee goes wide!
The clock says 0:50 in the 1 round
Hisae Watanabe is in open guard over Kowalkiewicz
Watanabe is trying to better her position on the ground and launches a couple of elbows against Kowalkiewicz 's ribs.
Kowalkiewicz blocks Hisae Watanabe's moves and tries to reverse the situation.
Kowalkiewicz tries to get some advantage after her opponent miss move...
Kowalkiewicz tries to close her guard around Watanabe
She succeeds!
Hisae Watanabe is in closed guard over Kowalkiewicz
Watanabe is in closed guard... Kowalkiewicz tries to roll on the ground!
Nice reversal! She is now in full mount over Hisae Watanabe!
Karolina Kowalkiewicz is in full mount over Hisae Watanabe
Hisae Watanabe tries to roll to her side and trap Karolina Kowalkiewicz in her guard...
Karolina Kowalkiewicz keeps good control and remains in full mount.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz is in full mount over Hisae Watanabe
Hisae Watanabe tries to roll to her side and get to half guard...
Karolina Kowalkiewicz rolls Hisae Watanabe to her stomach and takes her back!
Kowalkiewicz is in rear mount over Watanabe
Karolina Kowalkiewicz slides her arm under Hisae Watanabe's chin and locks in a rear naked choke!
Hisae Watanabe pushes up and slides Karolina Kowalkiewicz 's arm over her chin.
Watanabe tries to get some advantage after her opponent miss move...
Watanabe has Kowalkiewicz controlling her back while on the ground. She tries to roll and find an escape...
Showing some ground skills Watanabe manages to escape from that position and climb to her feet along Kowalkiewicz
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in Air Canada Centre (Toronto, Ontario) are cheering for the fighters.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Watanabe engage in a wild exchange of punches!
Karolina Kowalkiewicz is getting the best of the exchange as she lands a few blows.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz steps forward and fires a high kick!
Watanabe blocks decisively, as if to say, "No KO for me, thanks!"
Kowalkiewicz launches a solid middle kick
that wrenches Watanabe!
Kowalkiewicz pushes Hisae Watanabe and moves away from her. She seems to be recovering her breath.
Kowalkiewicz dodges a strike and counters with a crushing hook
that almost lifts Watanabe from the ground!
The clock says 2:40 in the 1 round
Karolina Kowalkiewicz fakes a punch and shows some footwork moving aside.
Watanabe and Kowalkiewicz circle around the center of the cage.
Both fighters circle around the center of the cage.
Surprise roundhouse punch by Kowalkiewicz .
It looks like Watanabe was hit by a bus!
A wicked punch by Karolina Kowalkiewicz
rocks Watanabe!
These two fighters are showing each other a ton of respect.
The clock says 3:45 in the 1 round
Kowalkiewicz decides to launch some tentative punches
Karolina Kowalkiewicz takes the best of a brief punching exchange.
There is a small laceration on Hisae Watanabe's Left eye
Kowalkiewicz moves forward looking for some action
Karolina Kowalkiewicz shows some wrestling skills as she put her opponent in a double overhook!
Hisae Watanabe tries to shrug her way out of the clinch.
Kowalkiewicz is determined to work from the clinch. She pummeled through and managed to retain her position.
The fighters are clinching.
Kowalkiewicz takes a break to breathe while holding Hisae Watanabe.
Josh Rosenthal separates the fighters and tells them to continue fighting.
Not a desiderable position that Kowalkiewicz is in now. Hisae Watanabe is well knowed for her strong and relentless GnP.
Hisae Watanabe takes a few seconds to recover her breath...
Solid shot from Hisae Watanabe to the body.
Kowalkiewicz blocks in time.
Hisae Watanabe jabs at Kowalkiewicz
to no visible effect.
Kowalkiewicz is trying to counter now!
Karolina Kowalkiewicz throws a looping left hand...
That lands on Watanabe's chin! That stops Watanabe in her tracks!
The two exchange wildly
Kowalkiewicz is connecting with a few punches
Josh Rosenthal separates the fighters as the round concludes. The fighters shake hands as they head back to their corners.
That round was a toss up.



=========================================
Round 2
=========================================

The clock says 0:10 in the 2 round
The fighters size each other up in the center of the cage.
Kowalkiewicz studies her opponent looking for a hole in her defense.
Kowalkiewicz studies her opponent looking for a hole in her defense.
These two fighters are showing each other a ton of respect.
Low kick by Hisae Watanabe to maintain her distance.
Bad move. That was far from landing.
Watanabe shows no signs of slowing down. She's in great shape.
Watanabe throws a low kick
Karolina Kowalkiewicz blocks.
Watanabe clumsily fails here and it's time for Karolina Kowalkiewicz to fight back!
Watanabe follows Karolina Kowalkiewicz
only to get counter punched in a big way! Watanabe needs to stop playing Karolina Kowalkiewicz 's game or she'll get knocked out!
Watanabe's Left eye is bruised after the punishement she's received!
There is a small laceration on Hisae Watanabe's Left eye
Hisae Watanabe and Kowalkiewicz engage in a wild exchange of punches!
Karolina Kowalkiewicz is getting the best of the exchange as she lands a few blows.
Tremendous strikes from Watanabe!
Kowalkiewicz blocks with confidence
The clock says 1:35 in the 2 round
A bad move from Hisae Watanabe
allows Kowalkiewicz to land a solid head kick.
Watanabe's Forehead is bruised after the punishement she's received!
There is a small laceration on Hisae Watanabe's Forehead
That punishment by Karolina Kowalkiewicz has left Watanabe staggered! Karolina Kowalkiewicz should try push forward now and finish this!
Hisae Watanabe continues to bleed from that cut. It could be affecting her vision.
Hisae Watanabe throws a combo
Karolina Kowalkiewicz ducks under and catches her with a counter straight! Watanabe swings again, only to get countered once more! Watanabe is looking bad here!
Hisae Watanabe seems hurt! She stumbles backwards and she's an easy target for Karolina Kowalkiewicz !
A wicked punch by Karolina Kowalkiewicz
rocks Watanabe!
That brutal impact left Watanabe laid out on the mat! Karolina Kowalkiewicz 's corner pours in to congratulate her!
Watanabe's Forehead is bruised after the punishement she's received!
There is a small laceration on Hisae Watanabe's Forehead

Winner is Karolina Kowalkiewicz by KO (Punch) at 2:06 Round 2

Statistics: Hisae Watanabe
Punches 0/13 (0%)
Kicks 0/2 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/1 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/2 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 58 s

Statistics: Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Punches 21/26 (81%)
Kicks 2/3 (67%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 1/1 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 1/1 (100%)
Time on the ground 58 s

I thought Watanabe had more work than she showed here. She was not in decent shape for this one, and got North Karolina’ed, Southside style..