PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joaquin Baker (ranked 8589 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Diaz (ranked 6601 p4p, 525 weight class). Joaquin Baker has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Baker
vs
Diaz

170 cm
18
151 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

193 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joaquin Baker!
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, Nate Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baker gets a clinch.

Diaz jumps guard and drags Baker to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker won't allow Diaz to get back to his feet.
Baker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Baker sitting in guard here, content to control.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Baker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker misses with a shot to the body
and Diaz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Baker clinches.

Diaz turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Diaz manages to end up in side control.
Diaz has control of an arm but Baker manages to advance to Diaz's back!
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Baker struggling to keep hold of the position.

Baker working for a choke but Diaz is defending well.
Baker loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Diaz hold on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Baker looking to break Diaz's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Diaz remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Baker will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Baker connects with a big shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Baker scores with strikes from the back.
Baker struggling to land strikes to the head as Diaz covers up.
Diaz covering up well and avoiding damage.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz avoids the strikes from Baker.
Baker scores with strikes from the back.
Baker is controlling the position but Diaz somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Diaz pushes Baker off looking to stand but Baker dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to get back to his feet.
Baker throws a strike but Diaz avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker looking to sit in guard and control but Diaz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Baker is pulling down on Diaz's head. It's preventing any offense from Diaz, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquin Baker 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.

Baker closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Diaz quickly recovers to half guard.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker is keen to just control but Diaz is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baker is trying to work for a kimura but Diaz is defending well.
Baker stops Diaz from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Diaz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Baker.
Baker stalling away here and it's allowed Diaz to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Baker drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Diaz dives on top into guard.

Diaz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Diaz postures up.
Diaz wanted to stand there but Baker had control of the position.
Diaz prevents Baker from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Baker shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Baker was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Baker scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Baker is controlling him well.
Baker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
A lull in the action here.
Baker throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Diaz works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Baker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Diaz kicks Baker off and gets back to his feet.

Baker shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Baker was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Joaquin Baker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaz pushes Baker away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Baker gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Baker trying to control the position but Diaz is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baker landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nate Diaz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Baker closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Diaz did well to prevent Baker getting side control.
Diaz won't allow Baker to pass to mount.
Diaz is staying active underneath Baker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Baker trying to control the action but Diaz is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baker seems to be working for a kimura but Diaz defends the submission attempt.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Baker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Baker missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Baker misses with a hook.
Baker throws a big shot that misses.
Diaz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A little jabbing left from Diaz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Baker shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Diaz is trying to stand up here but Baker is controlling him well.
Diaz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Baker slips a nice elbow through Diaz's hands, connecting with Diaz's forehead.
Diaz scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Baker manages to mount him!
Baker throwing strikes but Diaz bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker working a defensive guard but Diaz passes into half guard.
Baker is trying to control but can't.
Baker looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baker trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Diaz tries to stand and escape but Baker is controlling the position.
Baker throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Diaz manages to pass to side control.
Baker is trying to work for a sweep but Diaz has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker tries to lock up and control but Diaz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Diaz stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Baker moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Diaz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Baker changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Diaz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet but Baker drags him back down.

Baker goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Diaz rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Baker's guard! Nice work there by Diaz!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nate Diaz.
I think Diaz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nate Diaz!