PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nate Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naohiro Misaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Naohiro Misaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Misaki

170 cm
25
152 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nate Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Naohiro Misaki!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Misaki tries to clinch

and Cruz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Misaki's guard now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Misaki blocks nicely.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.
Cruz trying to control but Misaki is working from the bottom.
Misaki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cruz controls the pace.
Misaki is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cruz working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
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!
Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Misaki to see if he's OK.
Cruz wants to control but Misaki is keeping him busy.

Cruz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Misaki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cruz tries to advance to mount but Misaki denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz landing strikes.

Cruz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cruz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cruz trying to control the action but Misaki is working from the bottom.
Cruz works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Misaki is pushing Cruz's head away, looking to escape. Cruz manages to hold on to the position though.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Misaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Cruz is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Misaki looks calm but he's in trouble here. Cruz gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Misaki is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Cruz lets go of the hold and Misaki can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Nate Cruz!