PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cruz Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 209 Stockton Anthem kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Cruz Lopez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Lopez
vs
Diaz

178 cm
23
162 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
168 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Viral Fightwear

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cruz Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Neil Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Diaz.
A left lands for Diaz.
Lopez slips a straight right by Diaz.
Diaz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diaz swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lopez.
The fighters circling - Lopez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Diaz pushes Lopez up against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz misses with a punch on the inside.
Lopez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lopez tries to work over Diaz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lopez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lopez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Diaz.
A shot in the inside from Lopez.

Diaz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Diaz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lopez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Diaz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez wants to get up but he can't break Diaz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lopez wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Diaz seems keen to control Lopez's posture.
Lopez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lopez is looking to stand up but Diaz won't let him.
Lopez postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A leg kick checked by Diaz.
A shot to the liver by Diaz. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Diaz throws an overhand right that lands on Lopez's shoulder, as Lopez tries to avoid the shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Diaz takes a swing at Lopez's ribcage but misses.
Diaz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lopez misses with a head kick.
Lopez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lopez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Diaz's calf.
Diaz throws a jab when Lopez was well out of range.
Lopez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lopez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Lopez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez tries to move into range but Diaz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Diaz cracks Lopez with a good jab.
Lopez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lopez cracks a nice hook into Diaz's ribs.
Diaz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lopez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good leg kick by Lopez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lopez swings widly with a right hand

and Diaz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Diaz.
Lopez misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to work over Lopez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lopez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lopez has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
A right hook to the body lands for Lopez.
Diaz trying to control the position but instead, Lopez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Diaz into the cage.
Lopez has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
Lopez can't find room to land a body shot as Diaz controls the action.
Lopez misses with a body punch.
Lopez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diaz working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lopez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diaz.
Lopez pushes Diaz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lopez can't find room to land a body shot as Diaz controls the action.
Diaz lands a shoulder strike.
A short uppercut from Lopez.
Lopez misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lopez tries a body shot but Diaz blocks it.
Lopez tries to throw a body punch but Diaz avoids it by throwing Lopez back against the cage.
Diaz throws a head punch that misses.
Diaz looking to slow down the pace here.
Diaz digs a right hand into Lopez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lopez's gas tank.
Diaz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Diaz blocking some punches.
Good body shot from Lopez.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diaz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Diaz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lopez smiles and moves away.
Diaz walks forward, straight into a front kick from Lopez.
Diaz wants to clinch.
Lopez throws a lazy uppercut
and Lopez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cruz Lopez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Diaz throws a jab when Lopez was well out of range.
Diaz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Diaz.
Diaz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lopez. Diaz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lopez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lopez takes one to the chin there.
Diaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lopez was well out of range. Poor timing from Diaz.
Lopez misses with a head kick.
Lopez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Lopez connects with an inside leg kick.
Diaz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lopez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diaz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diaz steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lopez.
Lopez slips a jab from Diaz.
Lopez misses with a body punch
and Lopez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lopez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Diaz on the side of the head.
Diaz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lopez. Lopez obviously looking to wear him down.
Lopez misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Cruz Lopez has been cut.
Diaz looks to land a combination. Lopez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Lopez throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.
Diaz connects with a crisp jab.
Lopez walks into a left hand.
Diaz looks to land a left hand but Lopez moved out of range nicely.
Lopez scores with a leg kick.
Diaz lands a nice looking body shot.
A combination from Diaz does no damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz throws a body shot but no joy.
Lopez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lopez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lopez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diaz looks to throw the jab but Lopez is out of range.
Lopez throws a leg kick but Diaz sees it coming and moves out of range.
Diaz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A telegraphed right hand from Diaz misses the target.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Diaz lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lopez, right into the meat.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Diaz checks a leg kick.
Diaz has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lopez finds it's way round the side to connect with Diaz's head.
Diaz uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.
Diaz connects with a right hand. Lopez shakes it off.
Lopez swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Lopez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lopez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Diaz's head.
Lopez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lopez throws a lazy right hand but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lopez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Lopez.
Neil Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lopez throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Lopez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Lopez circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz loads up on a big right hand but Lopez slips the punch.
Lopez lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lopez, right into the meat.
Lopez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Diaz forces Lopez back against the cage and clinches.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Lopez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Lopez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Good body shot from Lopez.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lopez.
Diaz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Diaz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lopez walks away with a smile on his face. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lopez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lopez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lopez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Lopez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez works Diaz's body with a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lopez - that will leave a mark!
Lopez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lopez throws a looping overhand right but Diaz ducks down to avoid it.
Diaz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Diaz lands a nice shot to the body.
A cross from Lopez lands.
Diaz swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Lopez moved out of range.
Diaz connects with the punch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lopez. That's going to slow Diaz down.
Diaz lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Diaz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Good work by Diaz as he checks the leg kick.
Lopez throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cruz Lopez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cruz Lopez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Diaz moves in looking to clinch but Lopez pushes him off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Lopez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lopez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lopez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lopez.
Lopez misses with an uppercut.
Diaz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lopez.
Lopez loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopez.
Diaz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lopez throws a leg kick that is checked
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Diaz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lopez counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lopez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Diaz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz misses with a double jab.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lopez manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lopez.
Lopez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lopez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Good leg kick by Lopez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Diaz misses the body punch
and Lopez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Diaz misses the jab.
Lopez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diaz.
Lopez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Diaz's calf.
Lopez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Diaz throws out the jab.
Diaz moves out of range of the body kick.
Lopez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Lopez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz blocks a jab.
Lopez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lopez swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Lopez throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.
Diaz steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lopez.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a low kick.
Lopez moves out of range of the strikes.
Lopez looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.
Lopez scores with a hook to the body. Diaz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Diaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lopez was well out of range. Poor timing from Diaz.
Lopez lands a nice shot to the body.
Lopez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lopez connects with a solid leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Diaz blocks the leg kick.
Diaz scores with a jab to the head.
Diaz moves out of range of the strikes.
A lazy left from Diaz finds it's target.
Lopez looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Diaz misses.
Sloppy strikes from Diaz. Those never looked like landing.
Diaz misses with a body punch
and Lopez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lopez looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Neil Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Diaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lopez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Lopez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz lands with a good body shot.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Diaz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lopez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Diaz misses with a series of wild punches.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lopez.
Lopez moves out of range of the strikes.
Lopez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Diaz has time to react.
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!
Lopez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Lopez finds it's target.
Diaz blocks a low kick nicely.
Lopez lands with a good body shot.
Lopez misses with a head kick.
Lopez defending well as Diaz loads up on a big left hand.
Lopez cracks a nice hook into Diaz's ribs.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lopez, right into the meat.
Lopez slips a jab from Diaz.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lopez moves away.
Lopez misses the body punch
and Lopez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lopez thuds his right hand into Diaz's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Lopez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cruz Lopez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Diaz is rocked!
Diaz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Diaz is still on wobbly legs! Can Lopez finish him?
Lopez lands a body shot.
Lopez drops Diaz with a straight right hand, right on the button! Lopez follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cruz Lopez!
An out of breath Cruz Lopez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
The defeated Neil Diaz had this to say: 'Go f**k yourself, you motherf****rs! *gives the crowd and his opponent the finger*'.