PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoshiaki Noda (ranked 219 p4p, 5566 weight class) and Danny Spence (ranked 28 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshiaki Noda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Noda
vs
Spence

189 cm
27
263
8 - 1 - 0

210 cm
22
280
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Knockout power

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yoshiaki Noda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Danny Spence!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spence tries to close the distance and clinch but Noda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Noda misses with a body shot.
Noda throws a shot from downtown. Spence moves away and avoids it.
Spence blocks a jab.
Spence wants to counter with a clinch but Noda pushes him away.
Noda looks to land a left hand but Spence moved out of range nicely.
Noda keeps the fight on the outside.
Noda is looking to counter punch.
Yoshiaki Noda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Noda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Spence.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spence rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Noda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Spence takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Spence tries to clinch
and Noda counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spence tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Noda manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spence moves out of range of the strikes.
Noda fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Spence's coach down at Cherokees Island Elite Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Spence's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Spence looks for a takedown but Noda sprawls well.
Spence walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Noda definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Spence moves into the clinch.
Noda pushes Spence back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Noda on the inside.
Noda works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Spence looks winded!
Noda works on Spence's body with a couple of short punches.

Noda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A left lands for Noda.

Spence is rocked!
Noda connects with a body shot that sends Spence's belly button to the back.
Spence is still on wobbly legs! Can Noda finish him?
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Spence drops his hands momentarily. Noda doesn't need a second invitation, landing a shot to the temple. Spence staggers and falls to the mat and the ref dives in to save him from any more punishment. Spence doesn't seem happy with the stoppage but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Yoshiaki Noda!