A judoka since the age of seven, Kana Watanabe has gone from a member of the Japan Judo National Team to being one of the top women’s 125-pound fighters in the world today. A fourth-degree black belt, Watanabe enters with a 13-3-1 record, which includes a 4-2 stint in Bellator and a 1-1 PFL record. In last year’s women’s flyweight season, Watanabe scored a decision over Shanna Young before being submitted by Liz Carmouche.
Having only debuted in 2021, Jena Bishop has already made a quick name for herself at 125 pounds. Her jiu-jitsu abilities has helped lead her to a 7-2 pro record entering tonight, including four wins via submission. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt defeated Chelsea Hackett and lost to Taila Santos in the regular season, before a loss to eventual women’s flyweight world champion Dakota Ditcheva in the semifinals.
Which of these two names will earn their spot in the semifinals of the women’s flyweight tournament?
Round 1
Watanabe starts with hooks as they circle around. Bishop misses a left overhand. She connects with a right though. Combination by Bishop. Strong left hand by Bishop. Bishop pressuring Watanabe with one-twos. Bishop gets Watanabe to the fence and we’ve got a clinch battle. Bishop continues to land with combinations and a knee to the body. Bishop gets her back against the fence quickly and continues to do work. Bishop with another knee. Watanabe with a knee to the body now. Right hand from Bishop. Watanabe presses Bishop to the fence now, but Bishop lands a strong knee. Another strong knee from Bishop. They break. Watanabe drops Bishop with a right hand! Bishop lands a pair of upkicks. Another upkick and Bishop lands hammerfists from the bottom position.
Left hand from Bishop. Right hook by Bishop. Bishop pushes Watanabe forward. Watanabe narrowly blocks a takedown attempt, and we’re back to the fence. Knees from Bishop again. Watanabe reverses the position. Bishop reverses it again and looks for a single-leg takedown. A pair of right hands from Bishop. Blood coming from Watanabe’s nose. Bishop continues with the dirty boxing. Watanabe reverses the position and works Bishop on the fence with her own strikes. Another knee to the midsection. A pair of right hands from Watanabe. Watanabe with a flurry. Bishop fires one back! Bishop gets Watanabe to the fence again before the end of the round.
Round 2
One-two from Bishop. Right hand from Watanabe, A one-two from Watanabe. Right hand from Watanabe is blocked. The two trade, and Watanabe briefly goes off balance. A couple of left hands from Bishop land. Bishop brings Watanabe to the fence again. Watanabe works her way out, but not without eating a knee. Left hand from Watanabe. Bishop goes in for a takedown, but Watanabe stops it and pins Bishop to the fence. Watanabe with a foot stomp. Watanabe rips to the body. Right hand stumbles Bishop.
Bishop looks to stay active with a one-two. Bishop with a takedown attempt, but Watanabe negates that, ending on top in Bishop’s guard. Bishop looks for an armbar, but Watanabe gets out of the guard and stands. Watanabe lands some leg kicks as Bishop looks for upkicks again. The referee stands the two up. Left hand from Bishop. Right hand from Watanabe. Both miss hooks. Lead right hook from Watanabe. Left and a right from Watanabe. Right hand from Watanabe misses. Good knee to the body by Bishop. Bishop with uppercuts. Bishop pins Watanabe to the fence and unleashes some dirty boxing. Watanabe works off the fence and the two trade before the end of the round.
Round 3
A pair of right hands from Watanabe. Front kick from Watanabe. Low kick from Watanabe. Right hands from Bishop. Watanabe with a low kick. Front kick to the body from Watanabe. Bishop misses a jumping kick. Right hand from Watanabe. And again. And again. Left hand from Bishop. Right hand from Bishop. Another right hand from Bishop. Bishop lands a left hand. Bishop coming forward and landing. Watanabe answers back. Bishop rips to the body. Knee to the body by Watanabe. Bishop misses a high kick. Round kick to the body by Watanabe to end a combination. Watanabe with a lead hook. Right hand from Watanabe. Low kick from Watanabe.
Right hand from Watanabe, and Bishop responds in kind. Right hand is blocked. Counter shot from Bishop. Bishop presses forward, and Watanabe answers. Body shot from Bishop. Front kick from Watanabe. Left hand from Bishop. One-two from Watanabe. Small flurry from Bishop, but Watanabe clinches and brings Bishop to the fence — only for Bishop to reverse the position. Bishop lands a trip and gets to Watanabe’s back. Bishop throws right hands as she looks for a choke. Bishop continues to land. Bishop gets an arm around the neck. Watanabe tucks the chin to fend it off for now. Bishop looking for a bulldog choke. Watanabe throwing punches and elbows with the left arm until the bell.
OFFICIAL RESULT
Jena Bishop def. Kana Watanabe via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
