PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Max Nufir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neal Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neal Diaz will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nufir
vs
Diaz

180 cm
25
167 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

184 cm
18
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Nufir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Neal Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Diaz digs a good body shot into Nufir's ribs.

Nufir shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Diaz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
A lull in the action here.
Nufir has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Diaz!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nufir sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Diaz tries to reverse the position but Nufir maintains control.
Nufir lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Diaz hang on?
Nufir controlling the pace for now.
Nufir lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nufir raining down hammerfists from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nufir tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nufir dominating with strikes here.
Nufir takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nufir avoids the attempt from Diaz to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nufir connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Nufir looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nufir lands with some strikes.
Nufir throws some wild stikes that Diaz manages to avoid easily.
Nufir controlling the position easily from mount.
Diaz looks winded!
Diaz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nufir lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
BOOM! Nufir connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nufir lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nufir controlling the position easily from mount.
Nufir seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Diaz for as long as he can get away with.
Nufir continues to stall.
Nufir with shots to the head and body - Diaz looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nufir landing strikes from the mount.
Nufir has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nufir thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nufir controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Nufir dominated that round.
That's time! Nufir's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Diaz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nufir to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nufir passes into half guard.
Nufir not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nufir is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
Nufir perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nufir is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
Nufir's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Diaz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nufir.
Nufir keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Diaz tries to sprawl but Nufir drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nufir trying to control the pace.
Nufir throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Nufir takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Nufir is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nufir is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nufir winds up and cracks Diaz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nufir thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nufir lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nufir is taking a breather. Diaz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four 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.
More hug and hope from Nufir.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nice strikes from Nufir there.
Nufir with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Nufir dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Nufir or perhaps it was just good defense by Diaz, which made it look bad.
Diaz works Nufir's body with a nice hook.
Nufir shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
Nufir on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Diaz swinging wildly here.
Neal Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nufir takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Diaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nufir swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz throws a hook but Nufir blocks it.
Nufir tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diaz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nufir somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Nufir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nufir gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz catches Nufir with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nufir looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Nufir persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Nufir shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Diaz as he avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Diaz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Diaz digs a good body shot into Nufir's ribs.
Diaz fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nufir on the side of the head.
Diaz connects with a jab.
Nufir takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nufir's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Diaz connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Nufir scrambles back to his feet.
Diaz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nufir takes one on the button.
Diaz thuds his right hand into Nufir's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nufir throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diaz's waist but Diaz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nufir off to one side.
Diaz works the jab nicely.
Diaz scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nufir in his tracks.
Nufir shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nufir on the side of the head.
Diaz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Diaz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Neal Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diaz throws a nice looking combination but Nufir bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nufir throws a right and a left that both miss.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Diaz.
Nufir takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Nufir bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nufir is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Diaz will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Nufir misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.
Nufir controls the position from side control.
Max Nufir is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Further stalling from Nufir.
Neal Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nufir misses with the ground and pound.
Nufir takes a little break here. Diaz wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Nufir gets the takedown into side control.
Nufir in side control lands a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neal Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nufir 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Nufir!