PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mat Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Art Ist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Art Ist has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Diaz
vs
Ist

185 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

172 cm
19
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear
KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mat Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Art Ist!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Ist shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Diaz's guard.
Ist preventing the sweep.
Ist throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Diaz looking to control.
Ist has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Ist is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ist in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ist postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Diaz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Diaz has his foot on Ist's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ist works his way back into a safe position though.
Diaz looking to control.
Ist advances to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ist seems to be looking for submissions.

Ist 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.

Ist 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 Ist.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ist pulls his head out easily.
Ist is pressing down on Diaz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Diaz is holding on for now.

Ist is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Diaz has managed to free his arm - good work.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.

Ist is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Diaz sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ist is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Diaz's coaches at Nonprofit Vegas Elite $50 ($1000 value) have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Diaz is defending against the submission attempts here by Ist.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.
Diaz pushes Ist off looking to stand but Ist dives back in and keeps control.

Ist is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Diaz is trying to stand up here but Ist is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz is in trouble now - Ist has advanced to mount!
Ist lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ist.
Ist should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Diaz in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Ist working for a submission but Diaz is keeping him at bay.
Diaz is in a horrible position here. Ist smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Diaz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ist.
Diaz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Diaz bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Ist looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diaz is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ist keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

Ist is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Diaz is aware though and is defending well.
Ist keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

Ist throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diaz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Diaz works over Ist with some ground and pound from guard.
Ist doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ist lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Ist postures up and lands a big shot to Diaz's brow.
Ist working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ist walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ist moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diaz misses with a combination

and Ist counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Diaz!

Ist has hold of Diaz's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Diaz seems comfortable defending it but Ist has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Diaz is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Diaz is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Ist couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Art Ist!