PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaupe Akuapehuale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Boombastic (Mr Lover Lover) by Shaggy. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Diaz
vs
Akuapehuale

179 cm
20
169 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

175 cm
27
132 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Spartan Nutrition

Voodoo Nutrition
Arcticus University: London

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Fernando Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kaupe Akuapehuale!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Chad Campbell and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akuapehuale just misses with a punch to the body.
Akuapehuale throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Akuapehuale swings away with a body shot that misses

and Diaz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Diaz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Diaz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Diaz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Diaz postures up.
Akuapehuale 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.
Diaz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Akuapehuale is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Akuapehuale is keeping the position.
Diaz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Akuapehuale told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akuapehuale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akuapehuale swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz won't allow Akuapehuale to sweep him here.
Diaz forces his way into half guard.
Akuapehuale won't allow Diaz to pass to mount.
Diaz is controlling the pace.
Akuapehuale is trying to maintain the position but Diaz is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Diaz works his way into full mount!
Diaz controlling from the full mount.
Akuapehuale is trying to escape the mount.
Diaz controlling from mount.
Diaz moves to take his opponent's back.
Diaz keeps control of the position easily here as Akuapehuale tries to buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akuapehuale is really stuck here.
Diaz is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Akuapehuale tries to escape the position.
Diaz has good solid back control here.

Diaz looking for the choke but no joy.

Diaz has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Akuapehuale is in real trouble here. Diaz gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Akuapehuale is tapping out! Diaz wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Fernando Diaz!
Fernando Diaz decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.