PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Malone has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Malone
vs
Diaz

184 cm
25
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Malone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nick Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malone staying out of range there.

Malone looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Still in half guard, Malone seems content to control.

Malone is working for a submission of some sort.

Malone is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.
Diaz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Malone 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 Malone.

Malone wants to work for an arm triangle but Diaz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Malone is very close to passing his half guard.
Malone is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Malone is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malone is controlling the pace.

Malone 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. Malone eventually gives up the hold.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malone is working for a submission of some sort.

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

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

Malone 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 Malone.

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

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malone seems to be working for a kimura but Diaz defends the submission attempt.

Malone is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Diaz punching from the bottom.
Diaz is looking to control Malone's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diaz avoid being mounted?
Malone wants to pass to mount but Diaz is defending the position.
Diaz is staying active underneath Malone, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Malone missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diaz looks like he's trying to stand up.

Malone seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.

Malone is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Malone is breathing heavily.
Diaz is looking to improve his position.

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

Malone is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malone looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Diaz is trying to stand up here but Malone is controlling him well.
Diaz wants to control but Malone is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Malone dominated that 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.

Diaz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Diaz misses with the combination.
Diaz swinging wildly here.
Diaz misses with a series of wild punches.
Diaz misses with a double jab

and Malone counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.

Diaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Malone doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Malone manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Malone is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Malone stays in close to Diaz's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.
Malone works over Diaz with some ground and pound from guard.
Malone stands and throws Diaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Malone wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Diaz, who protects the arm well.
Diaz tries to bench press Malone off him but Malone keeps the position.

Malone is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Diaz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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

Malone wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Diaz, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Diaz sneaks back into half guard.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sam Malone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malone moves into full mount! Diaz won't be happy about that!
Malone landing punches.
Diaz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Malone lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Malone won't let Diaz get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Diaz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Malone is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Diaz has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is squirming around, avoiding Malone's attempts to control the action.
Diaz tries to hold on but Malone pushes him away.
Diaz is trying desperately to improve position.
Malone cracks Diaz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Malone wants to control the pace but Diaz is squirming around nicely.

Malone working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Diaz is looking to get to half guard.
Malone lands a heavy elbow.
Malone looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is trying to escape the mount.
Diaz is squirming around, avoiding Malone's attempts to control the action.
Diaz wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
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!
Malone is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Diaz can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Diaz regains half guard.
Diaz taking some punishment here, with Malone in his half guard.
Malone lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Malone seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Malone 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.
Diaz is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Malone dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Malone dodges the punch combination from Diaz.
Malone dodges the punch combination from Diaz.
Some wild striking there from Diaz.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Malone manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Malone counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Malone seems to be looking for submissions.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Malone is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Diaz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Diaz tries to roll over but Malone keeps him under control.
Malone looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Malone lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Malone controlling the pace.
Nick Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malone is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Diaz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Malone seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Malone is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz is looking to escape.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.

Malone is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Diaz tries to kick Malone off but Malone keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malone is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Malone trying to pass the guard but Diaz defending well.

Malone is trying to work for a kimura but Diaz is defending well.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Malone wants to take a breather but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Malone.
Diaz misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Malone is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to roll over but Malone keeps him under control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Malone connects with a nice short shot to Diaz's temple.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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

Malone is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Malone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Malone, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Malone!