PBP Commentary

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

Gracie
vs
Diaz

183 cm
20
180 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

188 cm
23
179 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Demonic Clothing
Convicted

Syndicate Drugs

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Romero Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.

Diaz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Diaz cracks Gracie with a big elbow.
Gracie gets back to half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie 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.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

Gracie 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Diaz preventing the sweep.
Diaz lands a couple of elbows.
Diaz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Diaz cracks Gracie with a solid left hand.

Gracie working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Diaz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Diaz with a nice head shot there.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Diaz cracks Gracie with a solid left hand.
Diaz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Diaz pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Diaz is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Diaz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Diaz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie is pressing down on Diaz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gracie is looking for a triangle here but Diaz uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie tries to buck Diaz off but Diaz is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working the head and body with strikes.

Diaz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie throws a few strikes from the bottom but Diaz takes advantage and mounts!
Gracie swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Diaz working the ground and pound effectively.
Diaz lands a big shot there that rocks Gracie but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gracie can't escape the position.
Diaz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gracie looks a forlorn figure.
Diaz avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Gracie gets back to half guard.

Diaz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Diaz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gracie trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.

Diaz seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
Gracie trying to control here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracie misses with some strikes from the bottom.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Gracie as Diaz shoots in.
Diaz lands the left hand.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Romero Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Diaz.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Diaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie scoring with some ground and pound.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Gracie lands with a punch from half guard.
Diaz gets full guard.
Gracie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz 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.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Diaz's guard.
Nick Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie working Diaz over with strikes.
Gracie landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
Diaz is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diaz avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Diaz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diaz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Diaz scoring with some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Diaz's guard.
Diaz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Diaz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Diaz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Diaz!
Gracie takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie struggling a bit here.

Diaz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Diaz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Diaz's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

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

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Diaz is in a horrible position here. Gracie smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Diaz wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gracie.
Diaz blocking the ground and pound.
Gracie prevents Diaz from getting the reversal.
Gracie landing strikes from the mount and Diaz is in trouble!
Diaz is trying to escape the mount.
Diaz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie unloading with bombs!
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
Diaz gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romero Gracie dominated that second 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.

Gracie takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Diaz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.

Gracie 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.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Diaz slips an elbow through the middle.
Diaz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz chips away with some ground and pound.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Gracie doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Diaz advances position into side control!
Diaz scoring with punches and elbows.
Diaz working the body and head with strikes.
Gracie tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Gracie is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.
Gracie takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gracie is working to avoid the ground and pound but Diaz connects with a decent elbow.
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Gracie is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Gracie throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Diaz lands a couple of digs.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gracie scores a takedown into full mount!
Diaz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Diaz throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gracie. What's that going to do exactly?
Gracie landing punches.
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Diaz is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie with the ground and pound from mount.
Diaz throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Gracie landing strikes, looking to finish!
The referee warns Diaz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gracie breaks from Diaz's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gracie punching from mount but Diaz doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Diaz blocking the ground and pound.
Diaz tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Diaz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracie lands a heavy elbow.
Diaz taking shots to the head.
Gracie prevents Diaz from getting the reversal.
Gracie landing punches.
Diaz working to try and regain half guard.
Gracie is landing with some decent strikes but Diaz is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Diaz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Gracie misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Diaz is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Diaz avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romero Gracie clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Diaz feints and as Gracie raises his hands in defense, Diaz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Diaz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Diaz landing with the ground and pound.

Gracie is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Diaz knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Diaz for a finish.
Gracie punches the canvas rather than the man.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Diaz breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gracie doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
Diaz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.

Diaz rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Diaz creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Diaz.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Diaz landing knees to the head.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Diaz won't allow it.
Diaz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Diaz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Gracie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diaz.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Diaz pushes his legs off easily.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Diaz is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Diaz's back instead.
Gracie misses with an elbow to the head.
Diaz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz taking some punishment here, with Gracie in his half guard.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Diaz dodges it nicely.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie walks into a jab.

Diaz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Diaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Diaz postures up.
Diaz distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaz manages to get himself to full guard.

Diaz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie lands a couple of elbows.
Diaz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.
Diaz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie striking off his back but it's not causing Diaz any problems.
Diaz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diaz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Diaz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gracie throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Diaz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Diaz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Diaz!
Diaz swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Diaz dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Diaz!
Gracie landing strikes from the mount and Diaz is in trouble!
Diaz can't escape the position.
The referee warns Diaz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.
Diaz flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
Diaz has decided that throwing punches whilst being mounted is the best he can manage just now.
Gracie lands a big shot there that rocks Diaz but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gracie punching from mount but Diaz doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
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.
Diaz holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Diaz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie raining down shots from the mount!
Diaz blocking the ground and pound.
Diaz can't escape the position.
Diaz throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Diaz is in no mood to give up.
Gracie thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Gracie looking to finish with strikes here!
Diaz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie is landing with some decent strikes but Diaz is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Diaz is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie cracks Diaz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Diaz working to try and regain half guard.
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gracie landing shots from mount.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
Diaz wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Diaz taking shots to the head.
Diaz is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie raining down shots from the mount!
Gracie landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gracie prevents Diaz from getting the reversal.
Gracie cracks Diaz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Diaz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gracie breaks from Diaz's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Diaz throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Gracie in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Diaz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie landing shots from mount.
Diaz manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Diaz actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Diaz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Diaz moves into full guard.
Diaz trying to strike off his back.
Diaz looking to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Diaz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Diaz in side control lands a decent elbow.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Diaz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romero Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romero Gracie!
Romero Gracie retains his welterweight title!