Watanabe vs Arteaga

Who won Watanabe vs Arteaga?

Kana Watanabe beat Veta Arteaga by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest during the main card of Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN 2, on Saturday 29th July 2023 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama.

The scorecards were announced as 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of the winner Kana Watanabe.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Women’s Flyweight division, which meant the weight limit was 125 pounds (8.9 stone or 56.7 KG).

Watanabe vs Arteaga stats

Kana Watanabe stepped into the octagon with a record of 11 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw, 3 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 4 by submission.

Veta Arteaga made her way to the cage with a record of 7 wins, 5 losses and 0 draws, 1 of those win coming by knock out and 2 by submission.

Kana Watanabe's Bellator record stood at 4-2-0, while Veta Arteaga's came in at 6-6-0.

The stats suggested Watanabe had an advantage in power over Arteaga, with a 27% knock out percentage over Arteaga's 14%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Watanabe had a slight advantage over Arteaga, with a 36% submission rate over Arteaga's 29%.

Kana Watanabe was the younger woman by 1 year, at 35 years old.

Watanabe had a height advantage of 2 inches over Arteaga. That also extended to a 2-inch reach advantage.

Watanabe was arguably the less experienced fighter, having had 2 more fights, and made her debut in 2017, 1 year and 9 months later than Arteaga, whose first professional fight was in 2016. She had fought 2 less professional rounds, 35 to Arteaga's 37.

Watanabe vs Arteaga form

Kana Watanabe had beaten 3 of her last 5 opponents.

In her last fight leading up to this contest, she had won against Veta Arteaga at Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN 2 on 31st July 2023 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan.

Previous to that, she had lost to Ilima Lei Macfarlane at Bellator 295 on 22nd April 2023 by split decision in their 3 round contest at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, United States.

Going into that contest, she had beaten Denise Kielholtz at Bellator 281 on 13th May 2022 by submission in the 2nd round at SSE Arena, London, United Kingdom.

Before that, she had been beaten by Liz Carmouche at Bellator 261 on 25th June 2021 by knockout in the 1st round at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, United States.

She had defeated Alejandra Lara at Bellator 255 on 2nd April 2021 by split decision in their 3 round contest at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville.

Veta Arteaga had beaten 2 of her last 5 opponents.

In her last fight before this contest, she had been defeated by Sumiko Inaba at Bellator 295 on 22nd April 2023 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, United States.

Previous to that, she was victorious against Vanessa Porto at Bellator MMA on 22nd July 2022 by submission in the 2nd round at Emerald Queen Casino and Hotel, Tacoma.

Going into that contest, she had won against Desiree Yanez at Bellator 257 on 16th April 2021 by majority decision in their 3 round contest at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville.

Before that, she had lost to Alejandra Lara at Bellator 235 on 20th December 2019 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu.

She had been beaten by Ilima Lei Macfarlane at Bellator 220 on 27th April 2019 by knockout in the 3rd round in their Bellator Women’s Flyweight championship fight at SAP Center, San Jose.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Kana Watanabe had been fighting more than Veta Arteaga.

Going to this contest, Kana Watanabe had last fought 8 months and 18 days ago, while Veta Arteaga's last outing had been 11 months and 27 days ago.

Watanabe's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years and 16 days, meaning she had been fighting on average every 7 months and 10 days. In those fights, she fought a total of 12 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.4 rounds on average.

Arteaga's last 5 fights had come over a period of 4 years, 11 months and 22 days, meaning she had been fighting on average every 11 months and 29 days. In those fights, she fought a total of 14 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.8 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Watanabe vs Arteaga?

Kana Watanabe was a 1/6 (-590) favourite going into the contest, while Veta Arteaga made her way into the ring at 7/2 (+350) with oddsmakers.