PBP Commentary

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

Ozawa
vs
Nero

163 cm
22
139 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
146 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Yuki Ozawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lenny Nero!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ozawa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Nero.
Nero throws a leg kick but Ozawa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nero looks to score with a jab to the body but Ozawa is just out of range.
Nero lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ozawa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nero counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ozawa throws a head kick that misses.
Nero lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ozawa at a distance.
Ozawa tries to clinch but Nero moves away
and Nero counters with a nice body shot.
Ozawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ozawa tries to close the distance and clinch but Nero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ozawa. That's going to slow Nero down.
Ozawa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nero finds it's way round the side to connect with Ozawa's head.
Nero misses with a straight left.
Nero blocks a head kick by Ozawa.
Nero lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Ozawa as he connects with a hook.
Nero tries to bum rush Ozawa with a series of wild strikes but Ozawa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A punch combination from Nero misses.
Ozawa throws a quick inside leg kick.

Ozawa moves into the clinch.
Ozawa keeps control of Nero as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nero managing to block the knees to the body from Ozawa.
Ozawa trying to land knees to the body.
Nero blocks an elbow strike.
Ozawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nero blocks it with crossed arms.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ozawa.
Ozawa tries to land knees in the clinch but Nero avoids the damage to the body.
Nero stalling against the cage.
Ozawa with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ozawa to keep the fight standing.
Nero prevents a body shot from Ozawa.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ozawa leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nero blocking some punches.
Nero wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nero blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa trying to control the position but instead, Nero has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ozawa into the cage.
Ozawa wants to get back to striking at distance but Nero won't allow it.
Ozawa lands a hook to the side of the head.

Ozawa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ozawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Nero drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nero throws a strike aimed at the side of Ozawa's head but Ozawa avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes there by Nero.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nero working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nero in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Ozawa parries the strikes from Nero easily there. Nero is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ozawa to escape.
The ground and pound from Nero seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nero creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ozawa sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Nero stands up and we're back to a striking position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ozawa staying out of range there.
Nero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lenny Nero will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nero waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ozawa.
Ozawa closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nero counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Ozawa has Nero up against the cage in a clinch.
Ozawa has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Nero avoids a wild elbow strike from Ozawa.
Nero is trying to pull guard but Ozawa turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nero is trying to break free.

Ozawa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yuki Ozawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nero shoots in for a double leg but Ozawa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ozawa takes a swing at Nero's ribcage but misses.

Nero gets tackled into the cage by Ozawa. Ozawa maintains the clinch.
Nero prevents a body shot from Ozawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nero can't find room to land a body shot as Ozawa controls the action.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ozawa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Nero's brow.
Nero taking a breather.
Ozawa trying to land knees to the body.
Ozawa is looking to control Nero's arms but Nero gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ozawa has his back to the cage.
Ozawa tries to break the clinch but Nero is controlling the position.
Ozawa is pushing Nero up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ozawa misses with a punch on the inside.
Ozawa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ozawa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ozawa trying to stall but Nero improves his position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ozawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ozawa controlling the action here for a moment.

Ozawa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ozawa misses with a body shot
and Nero counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nero misses with a wild body shot.
Ozawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nero misses with a jab to the body
and Ozawa makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Nero really felt that one!
Nero avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nero lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Ozawa has Nero up against the cage in a clinch.
Ozawa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ozawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nero's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nero is stalling here.
Nero keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ozawa's efforts to push away.
Ozawa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ozawa missing with knees to the body.
Nero blocks an elbow strike from Ozawa.
Yuki Ozawa has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nero has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ozawa is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yuki Ozawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Nero.
Nero is trying to pull guard but Ozawa has him pressed against the cage.
Ozawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ozawa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Ozawa fails to land.

Ozawa breaks from the clinch.
Nero has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Ozawa rushes Nero and presses him up against the cage.
Ozawa misses with a punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ozawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ozawa has a couple of punches blocked by Nero.
Ozawa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nero misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Ozawa dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nero pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nero is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Ozawa tries to clinch
letting Nero counter with a right hand.
Yuki Ozawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nero lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ozawa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nero counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nero lands a really nice looking cross but Ozawa seems unphased.
Ozawa wants to clinch.
Ozawa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ozawa scores with a body shot.
Nero bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ozawa throws a sloppy head kick and Nero moves out of range easily.
Ozawa wants to clinch
and Nero counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ozawa lands with a slapping head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ozawa looks to land a left hand but Nero moved out of range nicely.
Lenny Nero seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozawa closes the distance but Nero moves to the side
and Nero counters with a three punch combo that has Ozawa backing up. Ozawa nods at Nero to acknowledge the strikes.
Ozawa moves in looking to clinch but Nero pushes him off.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Ozawa here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Nero avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ozawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yuki Ozawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ozawa is looking to clinch.

Nero gets tackled into the cage by Ozawa. Ozawa maintains the clinch.
Nero is trying to pull guard but Ozawa turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ozawa has had enough of the clinch but Nero keeps him there for the moment.
Nero is looking for a takedown.
Ozawa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nero has him pressed against the cage.
Ozawa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ozawa scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ozawa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nero scores with a jab.
Ozawa throws a head kick but Nero moves out of range.
Ozawa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ozawa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nero counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Nero misses with a low kick.
Ozawa throws a hook but Nero avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ozawa closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nero counters with a right hand to the body.
Ozawa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nero throws a sloppy head kick and Ozawa moves out of range easily.
Nero lands a nice shot that snaps Ozawa's head back.
Nero misses with a low kick.
Nero misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nero scores with a jab to the body.
Nero throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ozawa.
Nero misses with a wild combination.
Nero circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ozawa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nero throws a jab when Ozawa was well out of range.
Ozawa is looking to clinch.
Ozawa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nero swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nero takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A head kick misses from Nero.
Ozawa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nero avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nero fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yuki Ozawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Nero.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozawa misses with a head kick.

Ozawa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nero, pushing him back against the cage.

Ozawa manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Nero.
Nero throws a hook to the side of Ozawa's head but Ozawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ozawa tries to clinch there but Nero circles away.
Nero misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ozawa throws a head kick that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ozawa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Nero counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nero's corner calls for a 1-2. Nero obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ozawa fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lenny Nero.
I think Nero 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Yuki Ozawa!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Yuki Ozawa made sure he mentioned Hell's Balls Recovery (160), along with how happy he was to win his fight.