PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Neal Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neal Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Ward
vs
Diaz

175 cm
26
150 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

168 cm
26
150 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neal Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neal Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Franklyn Lucas and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Diaz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ward to the ground. Diaz is now in Ward's guard.

Diaz has gone for a leg lock! Ward slips out almost immediately though and dives into Diaz's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward stands and throws Diaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Diaz can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ward wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Diaz, who protects the arm well.

Ward is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Diaz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward working away.
Diaz is not content to let Ward control the position.

Ward tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Diaz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Diaz is not content to let Ward control the position.

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.
Diaz is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Diaz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaz wants to control but Ward is keeping busy.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz works his way to full guard. Good work.

Diaz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ward defends it easily.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Ward tries to pass.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.

Diaz looking for a triangle here. Ward is fighting it but it looks tight! Diaz pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Ward is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Neal Diaz!