PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ceasar Anthony (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maria Ozawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Anthony
vs
Ozawa

177 cm
21
157 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
28
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ceasar Anthony!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maria Ozawa!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anthony connects with a leg kick. Ozawa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ozawa doesn't manage to clinch there - Anthony circles away.

Anthony moves into the clinch.
Ozawa trying to stall but Anthony improves his position.

Anthony's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ozawa misses with the body kick
and Anthony cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Anthony takes the fight into the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Anthony has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anthony has Ozawa pressed against the cage, preventing Ozawa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Anthony lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ozawa or not.
Ozawa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Anthony is defending well for now.
Ozawa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ozawa looking to stall.

Ozawa gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Anthony regains guard.

Anthony had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ozawa defends it easily.

Anthony throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Anthony controlling the position.

Anthony is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ozawa throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ozawa lands a couple of digs.
Ozawa lands a couple of digs.
Ozawa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Anthony looking for a guillotine here but Ozawa defends easily.
Ozawa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ozawa working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ozawa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ozawa won't allow Anthony to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa throwing strikes but missing.

Anthony looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Anthony is looking for a triangle here but Ozawa uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ozawa working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ozawa working the head with strikes.
Anthony regains half guard.

Ozawa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Anthony trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa lands strikes from half guard.
Anthony is pressing down on Ozawa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Anthony working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ozawa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ozawa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ozawa trying to stand up but can't free himself from Anthony's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ozawa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Anthony's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anthony keeping moving, preventing Ozawa from controlling successfully.
Anthony controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ceasar Anthony dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Anthony gets tackled into the cage by Ozawa. Ozawa maintains the clinch.
A knee to the head by Ozawa.
Ozawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ozawa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ozawa connects with a knee to the head.
Ozawa taking a breather.
Ozawa missing with knees to the body.
Anthony slowing the pace effectively.
Ozawa misses with a knee to the head.
Anthony tries to pull guard but Ozawa forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ozawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Anthony blocks it with crossed arms.
Ozawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Anthony blocks it with crossed arms.
Anthony is leaning against Ozawa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Anthony wants the takedown. Ozawa is fighting it off but Anthony persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ozawa's guard against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ozawa keeping moving, preventing Anthony from controlling successfully.

Ozawa working for a triangle but Anthony defends it easily.

Ozawa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Anthony passes into half guard.
Ozawa is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozawa is staying active underneath Anthony, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ozawa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Anthony's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Anthony's back!

Ozawa has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Anthony has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Ozawa is looking for a rear naked choke here but Anthony reverses the position brilliantly into Ozawa's guard!
Ozawa keeping moving, preventing Anthony from controlling successfully.

Ozawa has an active guard here but Anthony has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Anthony takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ozawa trying to hold on to Anthony's head to control him but Anthony postures up.
Anthony seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ozawa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ozawa is trying to stand up here but Anthony is controlling him well.

We're going to have a standup here because Ceasar Anthony wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ozawa is looking to clinch but Anthony is avoiding it.
Ceasar Anthony is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Anthony breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa looks to land a body kick but Anthony moved away.

Ozawa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Anthony was covering up waiting for the punch and Ozawa finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Anthony had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ozawa defends it easily.

Anthony is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ozawa defends well.
Ozawa chips away with some ground and pound.

Ozawa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Anthony has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ozawa has managed to get both his arms back between Anthony's legs - danger averted.
Anthony managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anthony looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Anthony looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ozawa stands up over Anthony, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ozawa is looking to work some ground and pound but Anthony has wrist control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anthony working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ozawa.

Anthony throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ozawa throwing strikes from guard but Anthony blocks nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anthony avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ozawa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maria Ozawa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ozawa is looking to clinch.
Anthony fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Anthony has closed the distance and engaged Ozawa in a clinch.

Ozawa jumps guard and drags Anthony to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Ozawa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Anthony passes into side control.

Anthony decides to stand back up. Anthony steps back and let's Ozawa get back to his feet.

Ozawa drives through with a takedown into Anthony's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Maria Ozawa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ozawa throwing strikes but missing.
Ozawa advances to half guard.
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!
Ozawa is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Anthony!
Ozawa throws some wild stikes that Anthony manages to avoid easily.
Ozawa cracks Anthony with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony blocking the ground and pound.
Anthony keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ozawa lands with some strikes.
Ozawa scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ozawa avoids the attempt from Anthony to control.
Anthony is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ozawa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Anthony really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ozawa thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ozawa punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ozawa throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Anthony is desperately trying to improve his position but Ozawa has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ozawa.
Ozawa raining down shots from the mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anthony wants to control but Ozawa is having none of it.
Ozawa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Ozawa looking to finish Anthony with some ground and pound. This is bad for Anthony!
Ozawa lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony tries to reverse the position but Ozawa maintains control.
Ozawa thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Anthony keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Anthony wants to control but Ozawa is having none of it.
Ozawa with shots to the head and body - Anthony looks very uncomfortable down there.

Anthony is rocked!
Ozawa landing punches.
Oh Anthony is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ozawa avoids the attempt from Anthony to control.
BOOM! Ozawa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Anthony is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Anthony seems to have got his legs back now.
Poor strikes thrown by Ozawa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Anthony's face.
Ozawa putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ozawa scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Ozawa working for a guillotine from mount but Anthony is in no mood to give up.
Ozawa with the ground and pound from mount.
Ozawa raining down shots from the mount!
Anthony working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ozawa is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Anthony can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maria Ozawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ozawa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Maria Ozawa!
A victorious Maria Ozawa thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.