PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taz Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Fort Minor-Remember The Name. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaz
vs
Rutten

185 cm
25
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

182 cm
29
171 lbs
19 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Convicted Trap House

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taz Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Columbo Gatti and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rutten moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rutten connects with a looping right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Diaz misses the target.

Rutten has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rutten lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Diaz avoiding damage as Rutten throws knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Rutten.
Rutten throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Diaz blocks it with crossed arms.
Diaz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Rutten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rutten tries to clinch up.
Rutten attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rutten throws a low kick but it's checked well by Diaz.
Diaz looks to land a combination but Rutten avoids it well.
Diaz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rutten buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten throws a half hearted mid kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rutten. That's going to slow Diaz down.
Rutten lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rutten works Diaz's body with a nice hook.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Diaz takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Diaz is breathing heavily.

Rutten clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rutten working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Rutten has him pressed against the cage.
Rutten lands a left hand.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
Diaz takes a shot to the head.
Rutten lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rutten tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diaz's elbow.

Rutten has picked Diaz up - he's going for a ride! Rutten dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rutten not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rutten is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
Rutten is trying to control. Diaz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Rutten is working for a submission of some sort.
Rutten lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten with the ground and pound but Diaz uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rutten throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Diaz is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rutten looking to control.
Diaz throwing strikes from guard but Rutten blocks nicely.
Rutten 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaz manages to get himself to full guard.
Rutten missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diaz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rutten is controlling him.

Diaz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rutten defends well.
Rutten must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rutten pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rutten lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taz Rutten dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rutten avoids a punch combination nicely.
Diaz throws an off balance right hand

and Rutten counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rutten.
Taz Rutten has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rutten is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rutten with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rutten throws a big elbow that misses.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Rutten tries to pass.
Rutten engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rutten throws a big elbow that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rutten sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Diaz's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to improve his position.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rutten wants to pass to mount but Diaz is defending the position.
Rutten wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rutten working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rutten sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.

Rutten is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Diaz sees it coming and defends easily.
Diaz is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz moves into full guard.
Rutten preventing the sweep.
Rutten sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rutten is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Diaz looking for a sweep. Not yet Diaz, not yet.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Taz Rutten was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Diaz misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A good leg kick by Rutten.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rutten lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice shot lands for Rutten.

Diaz is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rutten dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diaz. That did some damage!
Oh Diaz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rutten has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rutten lands with a massive overhand right! Stick a fork in Diaz - he's out cold! Ermm... I think I just mixed my metaphors but yeah... That was a nice KO! Big win for Rutten!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Taz Rutten!
An out of breath Taz Rutten thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.