PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yoshiriro Itsuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshiriro Itsuma has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Itsuma
vs
Diaz

158 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshiriro Itsuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz scores with a hook.
Itsuma doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Itsuma has a takedown stuffed.
Diaz cracks Itsuma with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Itsuma shoots in but Diaz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Itsuma does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Diaz shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Itsuma eats them both and turns towards Diaz to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice straight punches there by Diaz. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Diaz.
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Itsuma. Itsuma gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshiriro Itsuma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Itsuma. Itsuma gets slowly back to his feet.
Itsuma walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Diaz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itsuma closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diaz circles away.
Itsuma is breathing heavily.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Itsuma.
Itsuma has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Diaz clobbers Itsuma with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Diaz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Itsuma takes one on the button.
A nice combination there by Diaz.
Diaz works over Itsuma's head and body with a nice combination.
Itsuma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diaz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Diaz does it's job there.
Itsuma rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diaz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab from Diaz.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Itsuma's head backwards.
Itsuma fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.
Diaz scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Itsuma on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Diaz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Itsuma had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Nice sprawl there from Diaz as Itsuma shoots in.
Diaz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Diaz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A nice combination there by Diaz.
Itsuma takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diaz lands with an uppercut that bounces Itsuma off the cage and back into range.
Diaz scores with a nice right hand.
Diaz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Diaz.
Sloppy strikes from Itsuma. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Itsuma takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Itsuma is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Diaz.
Diaz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Itsuma's head.
Itsuma wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
A nice combination there by Diaz.
Diaz cracks Itsuma with a good jab.
Diaz throws a combination. Itsuma tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Diaz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Itsuma fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Itsuma looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Diaz is working the combinations to good effect here.
Diaz works the jab nicely.
Nick Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Itsuma takes a jab right on the kisser.
Jab by Diaz.
Diaz with a nice cross.
Itsuma moves forwards but Diaz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Diaz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Diaz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Itsuma wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Itsuma throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Itsuma is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Diaz.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Danga de danga de dang - Diaz scores with a four punch combination!
Itsuma pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Diaz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Diaz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Itsuma looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Itsuma persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz cracks Itsuma with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Itsuma takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Diaz tests Itsuma's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Itsuma is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A cross from Diaz lands.
Itsuma tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. Diaz darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diaz connects with a good right hand that stumbles Itsuma. Itsuma circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Itsuma fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Diaz scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Itsuma gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Itsuma looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itsuma dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Itsuma's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshiriro Itsuma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Itsuma walks into a jab.
Good shot there by Diaz.
Diaz leaves Itsuma with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Diaz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Diaz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A right-left combo lands from Diaz.
Diaz feints a jab promting Itsuma to slip. Diaz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Itsuma slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Nice shot lands for Diaz.
Good shot there by Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands a jab-cross combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Diaz, as that shot connected.
Diaz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Yoshiriro Itsuma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Itsuma's head.
Diaz with a jab.
Itsuma looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Itsuma persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz scores with a decent looking hook.
Diaz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Diaz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Itsuma's head backwards.
Itsuma takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Diaz scores with a nice head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Itsuma tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Itsuma. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diaz connects with a jab.
Itsuma drops his hands momentarily and Diaz takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Diaz thuds his right hand into Itsuma's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Danga de danga de dang - Diaz scores with a four punch combination!
Itsuma ducks right into an uppercut from Diaz.
Diaz lands a glancing blow to the side of Itsuma's head.
Diaz dips to his left and cracks Itsuma with an uppercut!
Itsuma fails with a takedown attempt.
Diaz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nick Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diaz scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz feints a jab promting Itsuma to slip. Diaz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Itsuma slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Diaz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Diaz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Diaz goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Diaz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Itsuma back to the cage. Diaz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Itsuma walks into a straight right hand from Diaz.
Itsuma misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Itsuma walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Diaz's corner calls for a 1-2. Diaz obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Itsuma throws a low kick but Diaz moves out of range easily.
Itsuma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Diaz.
Diaz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Itsuma's head.
Diaz lands the left hand.
Itsuma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
Itsuma pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Itsuma rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz tries to break the clinch but Itsuma is controlling the position.
Diaz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short left from Diaz.

Itsuma ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Itsuma no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Itsuma seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Itsuma is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diaz defends well.
Itsuma keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Itsuma works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz postures up in Itsuma's guard and throws a big left but Itsuma blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz trying to control but Itsuma is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Diaz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Diaz connects with a right hand. Itsuma shakes it off.
Itsuma thows a body shot but no joy.
Itsuma wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Diaz might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Diaz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Diaz with a jab.
Diaz tests Itsuma's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Diaz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A jab lands there for Diaz.

Itsuma scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
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!
Diaz trying to control but Itsuma postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Itsuma has control of the leg.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Itsuma is very close to passing his half guard.
Nick Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Itsuma. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nick Diaz.
Diaz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Itsuma backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Diaz. No joy for Itsuma on that attempt.
Itsuma is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Diaz.
Itsuma throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz lands with an uppercut that bounces Itsuma off the cage and back into range.
Diaz scores with a jab. Itsuma acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Diaz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Itsuma backs up against the cage.
Diaz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Diaz.
Nice jab there from Diaz.
Diaz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Itsuma moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Diaz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Itsuma.
Yoshiriro Itsuma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Itsuma's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Diaz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Diaz!