PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nickolas Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emunn Samvesu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nickolas Diaz had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaz
vs
Samvesu

185 cm
28
200 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

195 cm
24
190 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

The Dark Side

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nickolas Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Emunn Samvesu!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Samvesu enables Diaz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Samvesu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Samvesu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diaz defends well.

Samvesu looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Samvesu trying to keep a closed guard but Diaz is proving a slippery customer.
Diaz is pushing down on Samvesu's leg trying to pass to half guard. Samvesu is fighting to maintain full guard but Diaz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Diaz prevents Samvesu from improving his position.
Samvesu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Diaz is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samvesu punching from the bottom.
Diaz is pressing down on Samvesu's thigh, looking to free his foot. Samvesu is holding on for now.
Samvesu trying to control but Diaz postures up.
Samvesu gets full guard.
Diaz preventing the sweep.

Samvesu has his foot on Diaz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diaz works his way back into a safe position though.
Diaz scoring with some ground and pound.

Samvesu looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Diaz has picked Samvesu up and slammed him! Samvesu can't keep hold of the triangle and Diaz manages to pass to side control!
Samvesu is looking for a sweep.
Diaz wants to control but Samvesu is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samvesu tries to improve position but can't.
Samvesu is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.
Samvesu is not content to let Diaz control the position.
Samvesu is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.
Samvesu is looking for a sweep.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Samvesu throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Samvesu sneaks back into half guard.
Still in half guard, Diaz seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samvesu trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Samvesu keeps working.

Samvesu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diaz wants to pass to mount but Samvesu is defending the position.
Diaz seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Samvesu is trying to control but Diaz manages to pass to mount!
Samvesu is desperately trying to improve his position but Diaz has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samvesu is still trying to improve position.
Diaz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Samvesu is looking to escape.
Samvesu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Samvesu wants to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.
Diaz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Samvesu can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Samvesu is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working the ground and pound effectively.
Samvesu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Diaz controlling his opponent.

Diaz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Diaz scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Samvesu?
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Samvesu can do anything to dispel that myth.
Diaz blocks Samvesu's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Diaz punishing his opponent with strikes.
Diaz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Samvesu looks a forlorn figure.
Diaz trying to control but Samvesu is having none of it.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Samvesu is looking to improve his position but Diaz isn't that keen on the idea.
Diaz avoids the attempt from Samvesu to control.
Diaz is landing with some decent strikes but Samvesu is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Samvesu tries to lock up and control but Diaz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Samvesu working to try and regain half guard.
Samvesu tries to hold on but Diaz postures up.
Samvesu throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Samvesu wants to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.
Samvesu is squirming around, avoiding Diaz's attempts to control the action.
Samvesu bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Diaz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Samvesu!
Samvesu regains half guard.
Samvesu missing with punches from the bottom.

Samvesu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Samvesu trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.
Diaz trying to control the action but Samvesu is working from the bottom.
Samvesu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Samvesu keeps working.

Samvesu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Diaz 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.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Samvesu trying to control but Diaz postures up.
Diaz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Samvesu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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

Samvesu is trying to control Diaz's posture. Diaz takes advantage of the lull and advances to side control. He also appears to have an arm triangle here! Uh oh, big trouble for Samvesu! Diaz is rotating here... this could be the end... Samvesu is out! Diaz has ended this one emphatically! Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Nickolas Diaz!