PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Cardoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cardoso comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Samba de Janeiro kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Renato Cardoso has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Nick Diaz's chin.

Diaz
vs
Cardoso

187 cm
19
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
21
172 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Australian Xtreme - All 159 Video Proof.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Renato Cardoso!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardoso scores with a nice right hand.
Diaz fails with the takedown.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cardoso counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Diaz.
Diaz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Diaz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt
and Cardoso counters with a solid body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardoso misses the shot to the body.
Diaz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cardoso counters with a low kick, right behind Diaz 's knee.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Cardoso shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cardoso throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Cardoso gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cardoso postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

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

Cardoso is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Diaz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Diaz is trying to get back to half guard.

Cardoso thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cardoso works to advance to full mount. Diaz defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Diaz is holding on tight.
Cardoso tries to control but Diaz wriggling away.

Diaz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Cardoso.
Cardoso punching from mount but Diaz doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Diaz regains half guard.
Diaz is staying active underneath Cardoso, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cardoso pulls his head out easily.
Diaz is refusing to be controlled, as Cardoso sits in half guard.

Cardoso seems to be looking for submissions.
Cardoso slips a nice elbow through Diaz's hands, connecting with Diaz's forehead.
Cardoso moves into full mount! Diaz won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso looking to control and managing it successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardoso is trying to take his opponent's back.

Cardoso with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Diaz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Cardoso jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Diaz manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cardoso is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Diaz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz sneaks back into half guard.

Cardoso is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cardoso throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Diaz is looking for a sweep. Cardoso is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Diaz manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardoso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cardoso trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cardoso wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Cardoso slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is trying to get back to half guard.

Cardoso working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Diaz is looking to reverse the position.
Diaz manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cardoso's best efforts.
Cardoso looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cardoso is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Diaz misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Cardoso is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Cardoso dominated that round.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A big right from Cardoso misses.

Cardoso drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cardoso stands and throws Diaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Diaz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Cardoso is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Diaz defends it well.
Cardoso wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.
Diaz misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cardoso moves nicely into side control.
Diaz sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cardoso pulls his head out easily.

Cardoso is trying to work for a kimura but Diaz is defending well.

Cardoso seems to be looking for submissions.
Cardoso is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Cardoso has control of Diaz's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Diaz regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Cardoso wants to take Diaz's back but he can't do it this time.

Cardoso has hold of Diaz's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Diaz manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Diaz throwing hammer fists to the chest of Cardoso. What's that going to do exactly?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso prevents Diaz from getting the reversal.
Diaz sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cardoso not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Cardoso is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cardoso wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.

Cardoso is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Diaz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cardoso.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Cardoso is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardoso is trying to work for a kimura but Diaz is defending well.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Diaz is refusing to be controlled, as Cardoso sits in half guard.

Cardoso is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Diaz punching from the bottom.
Diaz is refusing to be controlled, as Cardoso sits in half guard.
Cardoso throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.

Cardoso 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Cardoso is controlling well.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Cardoso is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Diaz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cardoso.
Cardoso works his foot free and advances to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cardoso tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Cardoso 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. This is the final round!

Diaz shoots for a takedown but Cardoso saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Cardoso, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Cardoso against the cage but Cardoso circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cardoso scores with a hook.
Diaz misses with the combination.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cardoso, as that shot connected.
Cardoso throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz slips a straight right by Cardoso.
Diaz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cardoso tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Cardoso thows a body shot but no joy.
Cardoso cracks a nice hook into Diaz's ribs.
Cardoso fakes the leg kick and cracks Diaz in the body.
Cardoso goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Cardoso lands a high kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Diaz enables Cardoso to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Diaz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso stands and throws Diaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.

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

Cardoso is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diaz has escaped the position, nice work there.

Cardoso is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Diaz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso advances to mount.
Diaz regains half guard.
Cardoso has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cardoso is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Diaz to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Diaz shrugs it off.
Cardoso blocks Diaz's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Diaz swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Cardoso looking to secure an arm triangle but Diaz defends it well.
Cardoso can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Diaz is looking to escape.
Diaz throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardoso looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Diaz prevents Cardoso from taking his back.
Cardoso wants to control the pace but Diaz is squirming around nicely.
Diaz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nick Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cardoso misses with a head shot.
Cardoso looking to finish with strikes here!
Cardoso has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz is trying to escape the mount.
Cardoso trying to control but Diaz is having none of it.
Cardoso throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Diaz sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Diaz is looking for a sweep. Cardoso is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Diaz missing with punches from the bottom.

Cardoso is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardoso thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cardoso tries to pass the half guard into mount. Diaz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Cardoso is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Cardoso is looking for a kimura here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Cardoso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cardoso has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Cardoso!
Renato Cardoso very nearly forgot to thank F.ighters U.nlimited K.lothing C.ompany ☯ amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.