PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Neidhart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Neidhart
vs
Diaz

174 cm
27
166 lbs
4 - 11 - 0

183 cm
28
168 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Fast

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 4 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Thomas Neidhart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nate Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Neidhart throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.

Diaz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Neidhart to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Neidhart stands up and waves to Diaz to follow him.
Neidhart tries a head kick but it misses.
Diaz misses with a wild combination.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Neidhart.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neidhart swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diaz fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Neidhart checks it well.
Neidhart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've been hearing reports that Neidhart has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Neidhart bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Neidhart looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neidhart tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Diaz is trying to improve his position.
Neidhart working away.
Diaz is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Neidhart is staying active.

Neidhart looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.

That's two 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.
Neidhart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.
Diaz is looking to reverse the position.

Neidhart tries for a kimura but Diaz is defending well.
Diaz gets back to half guard.
Neidhart trying to control from half guard but Diaz is working away.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diaz regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neidhart postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neidhart wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Neidhart wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Diaz is on top in guard.

Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Neidhart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Neidhart looking to control.
Diaz forces his way into half guard.

Diaz seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neidhart keeping hold of Diaz's head, controlling as best he can.
Neidhart trying to control here.
Neidhart is looking for a sweep. Diaz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neidhart trying to control from the bottom.
Diaz is keen to just control but Neidhart is a slippery customer.
Neidhart is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neidhart trying to control here.
Neidhart is holding on to half guard well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Neidhart dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sloppy strikes from Diaz. Those never looked like landing.
Diaz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Neidhart misses with the combination.
Diaz throws a right hand that Neidhart ducks under and follows up with a left that Neidhart also avoids with ease.
Thomas Neidhart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neidhart takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Diaz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Neidhart tries to bum rush Diaz with a series of wild strikes but Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diaz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Neidhart bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz is not content to let Neidhart control the position.
Diaz regains half guard.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Neidhart pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.
Diaz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Neidhart is working away from the top position though.
Neidhart trying to control from half guard but Diaz is working away.
Neidhart content to control rather than advance.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

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.

Diaz actively working from the bottom here.

Neidhart 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 Neidhart.
Neidhart slips a nice elbow through Diaz's hands, connecting with Diaz's forehead.
Neidhart stalling.
Diaz trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is staying active underneath Neidhart, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neidhart is working for an americana but Diaz has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Neidhart was thinking about the submission.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Neidhart.
Diaz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Neidhart on the side of the head.
Neidhart misses with a double jab
and Diaz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Diaz has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Neidhart is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Nate Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Diaz swinging wildly here.
Neidhart throwing a counter right hand but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Thomas Neidhart is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Neidhart misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz unleashes a big counter combination but Neidhart bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Neidhart throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz defending well as Neidhart loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz blocks the body kick.
Diaz scores with a three punch combo!
Diaz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Neidhart throws a right hand that Diaz ducks under and follows up with a left that Diaz also avoids with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Neidhart cracks Diaz with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Neidhart throws a head kick that misses
and Diaz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Neidhart closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.
Neidhart wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.
Neidhart in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Neidhart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nate Diaz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Neidhart's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Neidhart gets the takedown into side control.
Diaz avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Neidhart.
Diaz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Neidhart perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Neidhart trying to control from half guard but Diaz is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neidhart is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Diaz defends it well.
Neidhart moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Diaz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.
Neidhart controlling the pace.
Diaz trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Neidhart controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two 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.
BOOM! Neidhart connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Diaz tries to hold on but Neidhart pushes him away.
Neidhart landing strikes from the mount and Diaz is in trouble!
Diaz is squirming around, avoiding Neidhart's attempts to control the action.
Neidhart takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Neidhart cracks Diaz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Diaz is desperately trying to improve his position but Neidhart has a good base and remains in mount.

Neidhart looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Diaz manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neidhart is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Neidhart is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Diaz keeping control of the position.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Neidhart performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Neidhart winds up and cracks Diaz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Diaz is in trouble now - Neidhart has advanced to mount!

Neidhart wants to finish this one by submission but Diaz is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Neidhart.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diaz manages to regain half guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Neidhart showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Neidhart 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Neidhart!