PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leom James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Diaz

220 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
22
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leom James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nate Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz gets a double leg takedown into James's guard.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
Diaz wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Diaz trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but James manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

James stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is stalling in the full guard.

Diaz is looking for a triangle here but James uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
James scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz seems a little lost for a moment, as James dominates the positioning.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
James creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Diaz is not content to let James control the position.
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.
James remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
James works to advance to full mount. Diaz defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Diaz is wriggling around trying to escape.
James controlling from the full mount.
James putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
James lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
James pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Diaz tries to reverse the position but James maintains control.
Diaz regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James uses his free foot to push down on Diaz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Diaz.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz regains half guard.
James landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Diaz is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
James tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Diaz.
Diaz gets back to full guard.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
James controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.

Diaz looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
Diaz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Diaz wants to pass the guard but James is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Leom James will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
James shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaz.
James wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is dominant here and he's now got James's back!

Diaz tightening his grip on James, looking for the choke.

Diaz working for the choke.

James is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Diaz gets his way!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Diaz is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! James is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nate Diaz!
After winning the bout, Nate Diaz thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Leom James had this to say: 'i'll train harder to win'.