PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and babalu alla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz's entrance music is Voices - Rev Theory. A fine choice. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Diaz
vs
alla

183 cm
19
169 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nate Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, babalu alla!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

alla scores a takedown into full mount!
Diaz prevents alla from taking his back.
alla thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
alla is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Diaz is in real trouble.

Diaz is having to fend off submission attempts from alla, who is looking to sink in the choke. alla doesn't have the hooks in though and Diaz manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

alla throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.
alla has Diaz pulled in close to control his posture.
Diaz trying to stand up but can't free himself from alla's guard.
alla has his hands on Diaz's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
alla wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but alla is keeping the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
alla utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz postures up in alla's guard and throws a big left but alla blocks it.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but alla is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
alla is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
alla throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Diaz has his takedown stuffed

and alla counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by alla.
Diaz wants to stand and escape but alla is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
alla preventing the sweep.

alla drops back, looking for a kneebar! Diaz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Diaz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Diaz!
alla is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
alla tries to buck Diaz off but Diaz is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on alla's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
alla is trying to work for a sweep but Diaz has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
alla tries to reverse the position but Diaz maintains control.
Diaz lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Diaz is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Diaz with the ground and pound from mount.
Diaz controlling his opponent.
Diaz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Diaz lands with some strikes.
Diaz putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but babalu alla will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Diaz is looking to clinch but alla is avoiding it.

alla shoots in and bounces Diaz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
alla throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
alla trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
alla trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. babalu alla hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

alla feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Diaz being controlled here, momentarily.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by alla, who protects the arm well.
alla manages to work his way to half guard, despite Diaz's best efforts.
alla has hold of Diaz's hands but Diaz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Diaz stalling away here and it's allowed alla to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
babalu alla has got the better of the ground game so far.
alla is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

alla is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Diaz is just riding it out for now. alla eventually gives up the hold.

Diaz makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Diaz darts in trying to clinch

and alla counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Diaz!
Diaz is looking to get to half guard.
alla controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
alla has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Diaz's face.
Diaz is trying to escape the mount.

alla goes for an armbar but Diaz turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Diaz.

Diaz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

babalu alla showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

alla drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
alla trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
alla wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.

alla stands up from Diaz's guard - alla perhaps looking for a knockout.
Diaz's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Diaz duly obliges.
Diaz moves in looking to clinch but alla pushes him off.
Diaz misses with a takedown

and alla counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
alla works his foot free and advances to mount.
Diaz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! alla connects with a massive shot to the dome!

alla jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Diaz manages to avoid the submission attempt.
alla prevents Diaz from escaping the position.
alla wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.
alla moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that alla has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
alla tries to move to full mount but Diaz actually manages to regain half guard.
alla throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
alla performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. babalu alla was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Diaz tries to clinch but alla moves away

and alla counters with a takedown into side control.

alla looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

alla thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

alla decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Diaz fails with the takedown

and alla counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by alla.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as alla accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
alla is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nate Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

alla drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says alla as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Diaz screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with alla! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). babalu alla!