PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Asahi Nozara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neftali De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nozara comes into the arena with Shing02 - Japonica blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nozara
vs
De La Cruz

205 cm
26
280 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
21
250 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Asahi Nozara!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Neftali De La Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De La Cruz misses with a wild combination.
Nozara was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
The fight stays on the outside here - De La Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've been told by Nozara's head coaches at Body Pain_12elite_599$+VM that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Nozara leaves De La Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
De La Cruz is looking to clinch but Nozara is avoiding it.
De La Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Nozara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Neftali De La Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from De La Cruz.
Nozara closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

De La Cruz gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nozara gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Nozara missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
De La Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
De La Cruz has momentary wrist control but Nozara slips an elbow through the middle.
Nozara trying to control but De La Cruz is working from the bottom.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Nozara 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nozara landing with the ground and pound.
Nozara working some strikes from top position.
Nozara wants to control from the top but De La Cruz keeps moving.
Nozara distracts De La Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Nozara got a little sloppy there for a moment and De La Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nozara has managed to get both his arms back between De La Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Nozara postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! De La Cruz covers up, he's hurt! Nozara keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Nozara and the ref steps in to end the fight! Nozara can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Asahi Nozara!
Asahi Nozara retains his heavyweight title!
Asahi Nozara thanked the fans post fight for their support.