PBP Commentary

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

Diaz
vs
Ruxpin

183 cm
25
168 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

180 cm
22
164 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nate Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Theodore Ruxpin!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Ruxpin is just out of range.
Diaz swings for the body but Ruxpin moves out of range.
Ruxpin has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Diaz is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Ruxpin moves into the clinch successfully.
Ruxpin misses with a knee strike.
Diaz lands with a right to the head.
Ruxpin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Diaz is trying to break free.
Diaz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Ruxpin.
Ruxpin prevents a body shot from Diaz.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Shark Tank in the buildup to the fight.
Diaz lands a really nice looking cross but Ruxpin seems unphased.
Ruxpin throws a jab when Diaz was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruxpin moves away.
Ruxpin misses with a hook.
Ruxpin is looking to score with low kicks.
Diaz swings for the body but Ruxpin moves out of range.
Ruxpin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ruxpin throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruxpin takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ruxpin scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The fighters circling - Diaz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz lands with a good body shot.
Ruxpin ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ruxpin. Diaz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Ruxpin.
Ruxpin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz misses with a straight left.

Ruxpin moves into the clinch successfully.
Ruxpin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Diaz is trying to push Ruxpin away but Ruxpin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Diaz can't find room to land a body shot as Ruxpin controls the action.
Ruxpin tries to work over Diaz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Ruxpin is controlling him.
Diaz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ruxpin digs a right hand underneath Diaz's ribcage. Diaz let out a lung full of air as it connected.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ruxpin.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left hand lands to the body for Ruxpin.
Diaz lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ruxpin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Diaz's efforts to push away.
Ruxpin blocking some punches.
Ruxpin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Diaz's face.

It looks like Nate Diaz has been cut.
Ruxpin has Diaz pressed against the cage, preventing Diaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Diaz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ruxpin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A short right from Ruxpin on the inside.
Diaz takes a shot to the head.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Ruxpin is controlling him.
Ruxpin scores with a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Ruxpin scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ruxpin prevents a body shot from Diaz.
Ruxpin scores with a nice hook to the head.

Diaz is rocked!
Ruxpin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Oh Diaz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is working Ruxpin over against the cage.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Ruxpin misses with a looping left.
Diaz seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters circling - Ruxpin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz throws a sloppy head kick and Ruxpin moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ruxpin throws an overhand right that lands on Diaz's shoulder, as Diaz tries to avoid the shot.
Ruxpin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Ruxpin.
Diaz was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A punch combination from Ruxpin misses.
Ruxpin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Diaz checks it well.

Ruxpin has Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruxpin presses Diaz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ruxpin avoiding damage.
Ruxpin lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruxpin is working Diaz over against the cage.
Diaz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ruxpin throws a head punch that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruxpin lands a shoulder strike.
Ruxpin prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.
Ruxpin misses with a punch to the body.
Ruxpin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Diaz.
A short uppercut from Ruxpin.
Diaz wants to break the clinch but can't.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
A combination from Ruxpin does no damage.
Diaz misses with a leg kick
and Ruxpin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ruxpin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ruxpin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sloppy strikes from Ruxpin. Those never looked like landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Diaz misses its target.
Diaz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theodore Ruxpin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nate Diaz's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ruxpin clinches with his opponent.
Ruxpin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Diazs head.
Diaz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ruxpin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ruxpin.
Nice body punch from Ruxpin.
Ruxpin can't find room to land a body shot as Diaz controls the action.
Ruxpin stalling.
Ruxpin lands an uppercut.
Ruxpin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruxpin has him pressed against the cage.
Ruxpin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Diaz tries a body shot but Ruxpin blocks it.
Ruxpin crunches a lovely knee into Diaz's ribcage.
Ruxpin throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Diaz tries to break the clinch but Ruxpin is controlling the position.
Ruxpin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Diazs head.
Diaz wants to break free but Ruxpin has control.
Ruxpin stalling in the clinch but Diaz improves position.
Ruxpin lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Diaz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ruxpin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ruxpin looking to slow down the pace here.
Diaz prevents a body shot from Ruxpin.
Diaz managing to block the knees to the body from Ruxpin.
Diaz lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ruxpin backwards.
Ruxpin tries to throw a body punch but Diaz avoids it by throwing Ruxpin back against the cage.
Diaz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diaz lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ruxpin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Ruxpin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Ruxpin misses with a few strikes there.
Ruxpin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Diaz scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good exchange - Diaz coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruxpin looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
Ruxpin slips under a jab from Diaz.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruxpin moves away.
Ruxpin loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.

Diaz gets tackled into the cage by Ruxpin. Ruxpin maintains the clinch.
Ruxpin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ruxpin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Diaz.
Good body shot from Ruxpin.
Diaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Ruxpin controls his hands.
Diaz tries to break free but Ruxpin pushes him back against the cage.
Ruxpin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ruxpin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ruxpin tries to work over Diaz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Diaz lands a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Diaz fails to land.
Ruxpin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Diaz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Theodore Ruxpin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Diaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Ruxpin controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Ruxpin.
Diaz tries to break the clinch but Ruxpin is controlling the position.
Diaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Ruxpin has double underhooks.
Diaz misses with a punch on the inside.
Ruxpin tries to land knees in the clinch but Diaz avoids the damage to the body.
Ruxpin lands a nice shot to the body.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.
Ruxpin slows down the pace here.
Ruxpin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ruxpin lands a right hand.
A head punch on the inside from Diaz fails to land.
Diaz misses with a body punch.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Ruxpin.
Ruxpin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruxpin misses with a combination
and Diaz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ruxpin tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Diaz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ruxpin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ruxpin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ruxpin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruxpin moves out of range as Diaz strikes.
Ruxpin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nate Diaz is winning the standup battle so far.
Ruxpin throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Ruxpin darts in and clinches Diaz up against the cage.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Ruxpin checks a leg kick.
Theodore Ruxpin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some bone on bone action there as Ruxpin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Diaz throws a leg kick that is checked
and Diaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ruxpin throws a left and a right that both miss
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theodore Ruxpin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nate Diaz's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ruxpin closes the distance but Diaz moves to the side
and Diaz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diaz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Diaz moves out of range as Ruxpin throws a body kick.
Diaz works the jab nicely.
Ruxpin throws a leg kick
and Diaz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ruxpin moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.

Ruxpin clinches with his opponent.
Ruxpin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Diaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Ruxpin has double underhooks.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz blocks an elbow strike.
Diaz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ruxpin.
A short right from Ruxpin on the inside.
Ruxpin looking to throw knees to the head but Diaz is blocking nicely.
A short right from Ruxpin on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruxpin can't find room to land a body shot as Diaz controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruxpin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Diaz works on Ruxpin's body with a couple of short punches.
Ruxpin throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ruxpin controlling the action here for a moment.
Diaz lands with a left to the head.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruxpin has him pressed against the cage.
Ruxpin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Diaz wants to break free but Ruxpin has control.
Diaz wants to break free but Ruxpin has control.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ruxpin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Diaz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ruxpin throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.
Ruxpin lands a right hand.
A short right from Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruxpin working aggressively here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ruxpin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Diaz blocks it with crossed arms.
A nice left hand lands by Ruxpin.
Ruxpin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruxpin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruxpin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ruxpin.
Ruxpin throws a nice looking combination but Diaz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Ruxpin.
Diaz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A big right from Ruxpin misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruxpin.
A counter left hand to the body from Diaz misses its target.
Ruxpin takes one on the button.
Ruxpin throws a body shot but no joy.
Ruxpin takes one on the button.
Nice shot lands for Diaz.
Diaz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ruxpin on the side of the head.
A big left from Ruxpin misses.
Ruxpin misses with an uppercut
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ruxpin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Diaz feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Ruxpin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ruxpin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz connects with a nice looking jab.
Diaz throws a hook but Ruxpin blocks it.
Diaz misses with a low kick.
Ruxpin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Ruxpin is looking to score with low kicks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A cross from Diaz lands.
Diaz uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruxpin manages to avoid it.
Ruxpin steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Diaz.
A slow jab from Ruxpin misses its intended target.
Diaz swings widly with a right hand
and Ruxpin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Theodore Ruxpin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz cracks a nice hook into Ruxpin's ribs.
Ruxpin tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Diaz.
Nate Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruxpin lands a glancing blow to the side of Diaz's head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Diaz.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nate Diaz.
I think Ruxpin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Theodore Ruxpin!
Theodore Ruxpin seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.