PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aydine Antona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antona comes to the cage accompanied by Laid to Rest by Lamb of God. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Antona
vs
Diaz

170 cm
45
156 lbs
42 - 35 - 0

183 cm
29
168 lbs
11 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 42 - 35 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aydine Antona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Nate Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Antona connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Diaz's hands.

It looks like Nate Diaz has been cut.
Antona misses with a series of wild punches.
Diaz changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Antona throws a head kick that misses.
Diaz feints the counter takedown.
Antona misses with a looping right.
Diaz changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Antona throws a good cross that connects.
Antona has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Aydine Antona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Antona.
Diaz with the counter takedown but Antona avoids it easily.
Antona misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz slips a jab from Antona.
Diaz changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Antona pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Antona fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antona misses with the combination.
Some bone on bone action there as Diaz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Diaz clobbers Antona with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Antona goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Diaz is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Antona lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Diaz looks for a takedown but Antona sprawls well.
Antona misses with a kick to the body.
Diaz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Antona defends well and Diaz ends up having to push Antona into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antona throws a low kick but it's checked well by Diaz.
A left and a right from Antona both land. Nice combination.
Aydine Antona is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Antona throws a hook but Diaz blocks it.
Antona clobbers Diaz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Antona looks to land a combination but Diaz avoids it well.
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.
Antona walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Diaz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Antona paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Antona tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Antona.
And Diaz tries to counter it with a takedown but Antona pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Antona missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antona tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Antona.
Diaz raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Diaz keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Antona displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diaz.
Aydine Antona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Diaz.
Antona throws a right hand that Diaz ducks under and follows up with a left that Diaz also avoids with ease.
Antona misses with a combination

and Diaz moves into the clinch.

Antona successfully pulls guard.
Antona keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Antona is controlling Diaz's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Antona keeps moving.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Antona is keeping the position.
Antona tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Antona is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Antona not doing much here.
Diaz is looking to escape.
Still in half guard, Antona seems content to control.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aydine Antona 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.

A head kick by Diaz misses
and Antona connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diaz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Antona stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Antona wants it to stay on the feet.
A little feinted left hand from Antona on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Antona is looking to counter punch.
Diaz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Antona.
Diaz tries to counter with a clinch but Antona shakes him off and moves away.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Antona.
And Diaz tries to counter it with a takedown but Antona pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Antona is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
A jab from Antona does it's job there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz throws a head kick that Antona semi-blocks.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Antona moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Antona circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antona misses with a few strikes there.
And Diaz tries to counter it with a takedown but Antona pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Antona swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Diaz wants to counter the offense by Antona and move into the clinch position.
Diaz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Antona.
Diaz blocks a leg kick.
Antona lands a right hook to the body.
Antona misses the jab.
A jab from Antona misses.
Diaz misses with a head kick.
Diaz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Diaz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
An inside leg kick from Antona misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Aydine Antona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Diaz.
Diaz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Antona throws out the jab.
Antona checks a leg kick nicely.
Antona looks to throw the jab but Diaz is out of range.
Diaz throws a fast counter high kick but Antona manages to duck under it in time.
Antona throws a right and a left that both miss.
Diaz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A jab from Antona misses.
Diaz feints the counter takedown.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Antona thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz feints and as Antona raises his hands in defense, Diaz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Antona wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Antona trying to control the position here.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Antona swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Antona 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 pushing down on Antona's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Diaz is trying to control. Antona wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Diaz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to pass to mount but Antona is defending the position.
Antona is trying is best to control the position here.

Diaz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Antona is defending against the submission attempts here by Diaz.
Antona wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Antona tries to kick Diaz off but Diaz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aydine Antona dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nate Diaz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Diaz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown but Antona manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Diaz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Antona throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Diaz wants to counter with a clinch but Antona pushes him away.
Antona pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A low kick from Antona misses
and Diaz counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice jab there from Antona.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Antona.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Antona pinned against the cage. Antona gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antona closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Antona misses with an attempted mid kick.
Diaz shapes to counter with a head kick.
Diaz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Antona throws out a powerful jab.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Antona sprawls well. Antona wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Aydine Antona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antona swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Antona lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Antona misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Antona misses with a few strikes there.
Diaz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown but Antona manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Diaz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Diaz checks a leg kick.
Antona throws a push kick but Diaz slaps the foot to one side.
Diaz drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Antona defends it well.
Antona misses with a few strikes there.
Diaz steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Antona.
Antona missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Antona misses with a kick to the body.
Diaz feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Antona is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Diaz is trying to get an arm triangle but Antona is defending well.
Antona is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Antona is defending well.
Aydine Antona is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Diaz stops Antona from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Antona sees it coming and defends easily.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but Antona defending well.
Antona is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Antona manages to get to full guard.
Antona keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aydine Antona showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Antona, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aydine Antona!
During a confident post fight interview, Aydine Antona thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.