PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruud Blaylock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Diaz
vs
Blaylock

177 cm
26
180 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
178 lbs
12 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ruud Blaylock!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaylock takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Good shot there by Diaz.
Diaz misses with a series of wild punches.
Diaz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Diaz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Blaylock.
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Diaz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Blaylock to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diaz throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Blaylock stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blaylock decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A big left from Diaz misses.
Diaz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Diaz scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz cracks a nice hook into Blaylock's ribs.
Diaz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Diaz misses with a shot to the body

and Blaylock decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diaz's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Blaylock trying to stand up but can't free himself from Diaz's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blaylock is one step ahead there.
Diaz wants to control the position but Blaylock says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Diaz is looking to control Blaylock's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diaz avoid being mounted?
Diaz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaylock won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.
Blaylock tries to stand but Diaz is controlling from the bottom.
Blaylock won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.

Diaz is working an open guard so Blaylock takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A shot to the body from Diaz misses

and Blaylock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Diaz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Diaz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blaylock is aware though and is defending well.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Diaz working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Blaylock has passed into half guard!

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Blaylock has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Diaz dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Blaylock shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Diaz as he avoids it easily.
Blaylock tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz looks to land a combination. Blaylock sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Diaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blaylock uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diaz.
Nice body punch from Diaz.
Blaylock showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diaz.
Blaylock uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz misses with a few strikes there.
Blaylock shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Diaz as he avoids it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Diaz. Those never looked like landing.

Blaylock clinches with his opponent.
A right handed body shot lands from Blaylock.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaylock misses with a knee to the head.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Blaylock has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blaylock smiles and moves away.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz takes a swing at Blaylock's ribcage but misses.
Diaz loads up on a big right hand but Blaylock slips the punch.
Blaylock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaz paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Blaylock closes the distance and clinches.
Blaylock swings wildly with an uppercut but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blaylock misses with a punch to the body.
Blaylock is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Diaz is defending well for now.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Blaylock turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blaylock with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaylock tries a knee to the head but Diaz blocks it.
Diaz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blaylock smiles and moves away.
Diaz is looking to wear down Blaylock with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Blaylock takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Blaylock is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Diaz.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blaylock moves away.
Diaz looks to land a combination but Blaylock avoids it well.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Blaylock moved out of range.
Blaylock doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Blaylock wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Diaz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Blaylock counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Blaylock.
Diaz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Blaylock pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Blaylock lands with a short shot to the head.
Diaz fails to pull guard.
Blaylock tries a knee to the head but Diaz blocks it.
Diaz misses with some punches.
Blaylock landing knees to the body.
Diaz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Blaylock after a bit of a struggle.
Blaylock tries to land a knee to the head but Diaz blocks with his arms.
Blaylock lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blaylock lands a body punch in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Blaylock.
Blaylock comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blaylock misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blaylock throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Diaz blocks it with crossed arms.
Blaylock lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Blaylock gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Diaz avoiding damage as Blaylock throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
Blaylock lands a nice knee to the body.
Blaylock throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Diaz blocks it with crossed arms.

Diaz pulls guard successfully.

Diaz throws his legs up looking for a submission but Blaylock uses it to pass to side control.

Blaylock stands up.
Nick Diaz is winning the standup battle so far.
Blaylock avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nick Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blaylock tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ruud Blaylock will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Blaylock instigates a clinch.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Blaylock won't allow it.
Diaz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blaylock walks away with a smile on his face. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Blaylock uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Blaylock wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Blaylock fails in his attempt to clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Diaz.

Blaylock manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Diaz on his heels. He'll look to pass Diaz's guard now, I'm sure.
Blaylock preventing the sweep.

Diaz is working an open guard so Blaylock takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Blaylock looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Diaz is looking to control Blaylock's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diaz avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz tries to kick Blaylock off but Blaylock keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Diaz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Diaz.

Diaz is working an open guard so Blaylock takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Blaylock closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Diaz quickly recovers to half guard.
Diaz gets back to full guard.
Diaz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blaylock's guard.
Diaz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz with a nice head shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Blaylock is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Diaz advances to full mount.
Diaz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Blaylock manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Diaz goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Blaylock has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Diaz but great work by Blaylock.
Diaz is looking to regain half guard here but Blaylock keeps moving and retains side control.
Diaz wants to control but Blaylock postures up.
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blaylock decides to stand back up. Blaylock steps back and let's Diaz get back to his feet.
Nice body punch from Diaz.
Blaylock avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blaylock fails in his attempt to clinch.
Diaz lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Blaylock doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blaylock shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Blaylock's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blaylock walks into a straight right hand from Diaz.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Diaz swings for the body but Blaylock moves out of range.
Blaylock wants to clinch but Diaz slips to the side
enabling Diaz to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Diaz clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blaylock tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Diaz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice body punch from Diaz.
Blaylock tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Diaz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz misses with a combination

and Blaylock counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Blaylock tries to stand and escape but Diaz actually recovers to full guard.

Diaz pushes Blaylock off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaylock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Blaylock avoids them all with ease.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz scores with a hook to the body. Blaylock takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Diaz throws a one two combo.
Diaz misses with a looping right.

Blaylock scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diaz controlling the position for now.

Diaz kicks Blaylock off and gets back to his feet.
Nick Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a right hand that Blaylock ducks under and follows up with a left that Blaylock also avoids with ease.
Blaylock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Blaylock gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Diaz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Diaz wants a takedown.
Blaylock lands a hook that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Blaylock is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Diaz is defending well for now.
Blaylock lands a left hand.
A short right from Blaylock on the inside.
Blaylock scores with a knee to the head.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Blaylock turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blaylock is pressed up against the cage. Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Blaylock down to the mat. Blaylock avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diaz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Blaylock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Diaz takes an elbow to the temple.
Blaylock with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Blaylock pushes off an throws an elbow but Diaz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Blaylock throws an elbow but misses.
Blaylock looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Blaylock keeps control of Diaz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Blaylock obliges.
Blaylock tries to land knees in the clinch but Diaz avoids the damage to the body.
Blaylock misses with a knee strike.
Blaylock misses with a knee strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Blaylock throws an elbow but misses.
Diaz dodges an elbow strike from Blaylock.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaylock lands an elbow inside that Diaz shrugs off.
Blaylock pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Diaz is looking for a takedown.

Diaz jumps into guard, dragging Blaylock to the mat.
Diaz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Blaylock puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Diaz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Blaylock must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Blaylock puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Blaylock pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blaylock tries to stand but can't do so whilst Diaz controls his leg.
Diaz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Diaz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Ruud Blaylock will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Blaylock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz misses with a straight left.
Diaz throws a predictable looking body shot

and Blaylock counters by clinching up.
Blaylock is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Blaylock throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Diaz blocks it with crossed arms.
Blaylock tries to land knees in the clinch but Diaz avoids the damage to the body.
Blaylock tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Diaz jumps into guard, dragging Blaylock to the mat.

Diaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blaylock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blaylock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Blaylock wanted to stand there but Diaz had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaylock wants to stand and escape but instead Diaz has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Blaylock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Blaylock is keeping the position.
Diaz trying to control but Blaylock is working from the bottom.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Diaz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Diaz sizes up Blaylock with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Blaylock wants to clinch.
Diaz feints a jab promting Blaylock to slip. Diaz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Blaylock slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Blaylock tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz swinging wildly here.
Diaz tries to bum rush Blaylock with a series of wild strikes but Blaylock uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Blaylock showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Blaylock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Diaz managing to block the knees to the body from Blaylock.
Blaylock lands an elbow just above Diaz 's eye.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Blaylock has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz is trying to drag Blaylock to the mat but Blaylock just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Blaylock lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaylock gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Diaz blocks an elbow strike from Blaylock.
Blaylock unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Diaz is working for takedown but Blaylock is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Blaylock to keep the fight standing.
Blaylock lands a nice uppercut.
Blaylock misses with a knee to the head.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Blaylock to keep the fight standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blaylock lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Diaz is rocked!
Blaylock has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head that stumbles Diaz - he's in trouble! Another big knee to the head from Blaylock, and another! Diaz is out on his feet - the ref jumps in to save him and ends the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Ruud Blaylock!
Ruud Blaylock is the new welterweight champion!
A very excited looking Ruud Blaylock made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.