PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neftali De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hans Maier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hans Maier has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

De La Cruz
vs
Maier

193 cm
21
250 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Neftali De La Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hans Maier!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maier misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jab by De La Cruz.

De La Cruz instigates a clinch.

Maier has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics De La Cruz uses from the top position.
De La Cruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Maier is trying to control the position but De La Cruz postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Maier's guard.
Maier looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
De La Cruz preventing the sweep.
De La Cruz trying to control but Maier is working from the bottom.
De La Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maier on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De La Cruz is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maier is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maier has escaped and now he's on top!

De La Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maier can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
De La Cruz keeping moving, preventing Maier from controlling successfully.
Maier sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

De La Cruz is looking for a triangle here but Maier uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
De La Cruz taking a bit of punishment here - Maier scoring with strikes.
De La Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Maier drags him back down.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
De La Cruz is looking for a sweep.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Maier should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Maier thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
De La Cruz is trying to control Maier's posture but Maier avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maier throws a strike aimed at the side of De La Cruz's head but De La Cruz avoids it well.
De La Cruz is pushing Maier's head away, looking to escape. Maier manages to hold on to the position though.
Maier wants to control but De La Cruz is keeping him busy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
De La Cruz is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Maier asserts his dominance and retains side control.
De La Cruz tries to buck Maier off but Maier is having none of it.
De La Cruz wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
De La Cruz tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
De La Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Maier, looking for a takedown. De La Cruz pushes Maier against the ropes but Maier circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maier tries to clinch up but De La Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
De La Cruz takes one to the side of the head.
De La Cruz leaves Maier with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Maier looks winded!
De La Cruz throws a right and a left that Maier avoids nicely.

De La Cruz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
De La Cruz trying to land knees to the body.
De La Cruz taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Maier wants to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De La Cruz tries to work over Maier's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De La Cruz looking to slow down the pace here.
Maier's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Maier dominated that round.
That's time! De La Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

De La Cruz clinches up with Maier and pushes him back against the ropes.
Maier tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. De La Cruz just stands there and leans against the ropes.
De La Cruz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maier avoids it.

De La Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
De La Cruz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Maier back to the ropes. De La Cruz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The fight stays on the outside here - De La Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maier keeps the fight on the outside.
Neftali De La Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maier throws a series of punches but De La Cruz moves out of range.
De La Cruz's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and De La Cruz duly obliges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maier fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
De La Cruz dives in and grabs Maier's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maier pushes down on De La Cruz's head and hops out.
De La Cruz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
De La Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maier defends it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz scores with a three punch combo!

De La Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.
De La Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Maier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
De La Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maier can do to turn this around?
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
De La Cruz pushes Maier back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
De La Cruz misses with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Maier as De La Cruz tries to tie him up.

De La Cruz lands a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maier is trying to control the position but De La Cruz postures up.
De La Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maier has a closed guard, preventing De La Cruz from standing up.
De La Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Maier has wrist control.

Maier is working an open guard so De La Cruz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
De La Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Maier pushes him off.
De La Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Maier pushes him off.
Maier throws a big counter head kick but De La Cruz avoids it with no problem.
Maier on the wrong end of a nice hook.
De La Cruz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De La Cruz scores with a one two! Maier had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De La Cruz clinches.
De La Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Neftali De La Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Maier.
De La Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but Maier has double underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Maier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite De La Cruz's efforts to push away.
De La Cruz is working Maier over against the ropes.
De La Cruz lands a nice uppercut.
De La Cruz digs a right hand into Maier's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Maier's gas tank.

De La Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Neftali De La Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
De La Cruz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Maier takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
De La Cruz lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
De La Cruz jabs Maier right on the nose. Maier blinks but takes it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
De La Cruz tries to clinch but Maier is having none of it.

De La Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
Maier tries to pull guard but De La Cruz holds him up against the ropes and eventually Maier drops back down to his feet.
De La Cruz scores with a shot to the side of Maier's head.
De La Cruz tries to pull guard but Maier forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
De La Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
De La Cruz is trying to force a seperation but Maier has the dominant position.

De La Cruz breaks the clinch.
Maier throws a combination but it was largely blocked by De La Cruz.
De La Cruz stuns Maier with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
De La Cruz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neftali De La Cruz dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

De La Cruz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Maier backs up against the ropes.
Maier shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts De La Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Maier takes a body punch but keeps moving.

De La Cruz has closed the distance and engaged Maier in a clinch.

De La Cruz jumps guard.

De La Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maier is aware though and is defending well.
De La Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
De La Cruz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
De La Cruz wants to stand but Maier is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz looking to control.
De La Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Maier is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
De La Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Maier throws the kick towards the body but De La Cruz avoids it.
Maier with a lazy takedown attempt

and De La Cruz counters by moving into the clinch.
De La Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Maier won't allow it.
De La Cruz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Maier.

De La Cruz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Maier uses from the top position.
De La Cruz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maier is controlling him.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

De La Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hans Maier has got the better of the ground game so far.

De La Cruz is looking for a triangle here but Maier uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Maier lands an elbow.
De La Cruz is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz is trying to work for a sweep but Maier has mounted him!
De La Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Maier is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but De La Cruz is surviving well by controlling Maier's body position as best he can.
Maier can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as De La Cruz is looking to escape.
De La Cruz's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maier unloading with bombs!
De La Cruz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Maier looking to control but De La Cruz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
De La Cruz bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maier is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neftali De La Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think De La Cruz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neftali De La Cruz!
Neftali De La Cruz took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.