PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arjen Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Malenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Young Buck - Stomp. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Diaz
vs
Malenko

183 cm
30
184 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

182 cm
29
164 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Nutrition
Aspire Clothing

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arjen Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Malenko!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malenko misses the shot to the body.
Malenko moves out of range of the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Malenko.
A counter left hand to the body from Diaz misses its target.
Malenko throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Diaz throws a good cross that connects.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A shot to the liver by Diaz. Beautiful body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Malenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Malenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Malenko throws an off balance right hand
enabling Diaz to counter with a crisp jab.
Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Malenko.
Nice defenses there by Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenko lands a jab to Diaz's midsection.
Diaz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Malenko dips to his left and cracks Diaz with an uppercut!
Malenko closes the distance and lands a one-two.
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!
A telegraphed right hand from Malenko misses the target.
Diaz moves out of range as Malenko strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko misses with a straight right.
Malenko rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Diaz counters with a good, hard body kick but Malenko shrugs it off.
Diaz uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Malenko has time to react.
Malenko throws a body shot but no joy.
Ray Malenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz moves away from the strike by Malenko.
Diaz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malenko lands with a cross.
Diaz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Malenko's calf.
Diaz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Diaz slips a jab from Malenko.
Malenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Malenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Diaz. That's going to slow Malenko down.
Nice shot by Malenko.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Malenko.
Malenko throws an off balance right hand
letting Diaz counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a body kick that misses
and Malenko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Malenko might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Diaz, right into the meat.
Malenko lands with a nice body punch.
Diaz misses with an uppercut.
Diaz motions for Malenko to come forward. Diaz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Malenko takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
And Diaz counters with a quick kick to the body but Malenko blocks it.
Diaz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Malenko circles away quickly and effectively.
It seemed like Malenko was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Diaz scores with a nice body kick.
Diaz jabs Malenko to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Malenko is just out of range.
Diaz throws a sloppy head kick and Malenko moves out of range easily.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diaz swings for the body but Malenko moves out of range.
Malenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
Malenko moves forwards but Diaz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Malenko darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Arjen Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Malenko's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diaz looks to land a combination. Malenko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Malenko tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Diaz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Malenko.
Malenko changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Malenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Malenko throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Diaz tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Malenko is in Diaz's guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Malenko from controlling successfully.
Malenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malenko trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Malenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Diaz.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malenko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Diaz.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Malenko.
Malenko throws a series of punches but Diaz moves out of range.
Malenko connects with a good right hand that stumbles Diaz. Diaz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
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 Arjen Diaz will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Malenko sizes up Diaz with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Diaz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Malenko counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Malenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Diaz.
It looked like Diaz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Malenko loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz is looking to wear down Malenko with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Malenko has a takedown stuffed.
Diaz seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Malenko takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Malenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Malenko misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz slips a jab from Malenko.
Diaz lands with a nice body punch.
Diaz lands a right hook to the body.
Malenko darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Diaz blocks a jab.
Diaz tried to counter with a leg kick but Malenko avoided it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Jab from Malenko.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Malenko manages to avoid it.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Malenko moves away.
Malenko misses with a few strikes there.
A jab from Malenko misses.
Diaz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Diaz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Diaz thinks about countering with a body kick.
Diaz throws a right hand that misses
enabling Malenko to counter with a crisp jab.
Diaz lands a nice shot that snaps Malenko's head back.
Malenko takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Diaz was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Diaz moves out of range as Malenko strikes.
Malenko missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Diaz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Malenko does it's job there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz slips under a jab from Malenko.
A quick step to the side and Diaz tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ray Malenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diaz lands a nice hook to Malenko's body. Malenko takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Diaz gets caught flat footed, as Malenko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Diaz pushes Malenko off and gets back to his feet.
Malenko misses with the combination.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Malenko avoids nicely.
Malenko misses the jab.
Good shot there by Malenko.
Malenko misses with a double jab
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Malenko misses with a looping right.
Malenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Malenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenko on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Malenko throws an off balance right hand
and Diaz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Diaz throws a body shot but no joy.
Malenko drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Diaz defends it well.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Malenko moves away.
Diaz clobbers Malenko with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Diaz slips a jab from Malenko.
Diaz throws a big counter combination but Malenko scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Diaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Malenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Diaz.
Malenko throws a body shot but no joy.
Diaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Malenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Diaz.
Malenko sizes up Diaz with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Diaz throws a leg kick which misses Malenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Malenko tries to avoid it.
Malenko misses with the combination.
Diaz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malenko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Malenko lands in his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Malenko tries to pass.
Malenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ray Malenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Diaz gets a clinch.
Malenko misses with a body punch.
Diaz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Diaz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Malenko's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Diaz.
Diaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Malenko controls his hands.
Malenko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Diaz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Diaz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Diaz is leaning against Malenko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Diaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Malenko controls his hands.
Malenko blocks a body shot from Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz misses with a body punch.

Malenko wants the takedown. Diaz is fighting it off but Malenko persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Diaz's guard against the cage.
Malenko trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Malenko's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Diaz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Diaz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ray Malenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz wants to take a breather but Malenko is having none of it.
Diaz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Malenko is trying to get back to full guard.

Diaz escapes and gets back to his feet.
Malenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Malenko chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Diaz can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Malenko to score with a decent uppercut.
Diaz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Diaz lands with a good body shot.
Malenko throws a big shot that misses.
Malenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circling - Malenko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Malenko takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Malenko throws a hook to the side of Diaz's head but Diaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malenko.
Diaz throws a body punch but Malenko moves out of range.
Malenko slips under a jab from Diaz.
Malenko appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Malenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
A swing and a miss from Malenko.
A combination from Malenko does no damage.
Diaz looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Diaz throws a hook to the side of Malenko's head but Malenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Malenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Malenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
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!
Malenko throws a jab when Diaz was well out of range.
Diaz misses the body punch
and Malenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diaz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Malenko moves out of range of the strikes.
Diaz moves out of range of the strikes.
Diaz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Diaz moves into the clinch.
Diaz gets underhooks to prevent Malenko's takedown attempt.
Malenko is trying to push Diaz away but Diaz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Diaz works on Malenko's body with a couple of short punches.
Malenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diaz scores with a shot to the side of Malenko's head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Diaz as Malenko tries to tie him up.
Diaz misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arjen Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Diaz 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arjen Diaz!
An out of breath Arjen Diaz thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.