PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tebato Nakara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maria Ozawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nakara
vs
Ozawa

177 cm
30
169 lbs
10 - 11 - 1

175 cm
31
155 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tebato Nakara!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maria Ozawa!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ozawa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nakara counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nakara with a nice head shot there.
Ozawa keeping moving, preventing Nakara from controlling successfully.
Nakara definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nakara throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ozawa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nakara trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nakara throwing strikes from guard but Ozawa blocks nicely.
Nakara is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nakara missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakara scoring with some ground and pound.
Nakara pushing down on Ozawa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nakara is just content to waste time from the top position. Ozawa takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ozawa is trying to control the position but Nakara postures up.
Nakara won't allow Ozawa to get back to his feet.
Nakara pushes down on Ozawa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nakara has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ozawa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nakara is working away from the top position though.

Nakara is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakara trying to mount his opponent but Ozawa defends it.
Ozawa felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Nakara lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nakara is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nakara takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nakara thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ozawa's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ozawa moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ozawa keeping moving, preventing Nakara from controlling successfully.
Ozawa controlling Nakara's posture.
Nakara with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nakara in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ozawa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa has momentary wrist control but Nakara slips an elbow through the middle.
Nakara trying to control but Ozawa is working from the bottom.
Nakara pushing down on Ozawa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nakara lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nakara works his way into full mount!
Nakara is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ozawa can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakara sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Nakara cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tebato Nakara dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ozawa gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Nakara connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ozawa shoots in for a double leg but Nakara sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nakara throws a series of punches but Ozawa avoids them all with ease.
Nakara misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nakara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nakara wants it to stay on the feet.
Ozawa misses with a takedown attempt
and Nakara counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tebato Nakara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maria Ozawa.
Ozawa misses with a takedown

so Nakara counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ozawa is wriggling around but Nakara manages to pass to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ozawa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nakara.
Nakara has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ozawa is in a horrible position here. Nakara smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakara tries to control but Ozawa wriggling away.
Nakara lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Nakara looking to control but Ozawa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nakara scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ozawa?
Nakara is landing with some decent strikes but Ozawa is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Ozawa is rocked!
Nakara drops a big elbow. That's hurt Ozawa! More shots from Nakara and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tebato Nakara!
Tebato Nakara retains his lightweight title!