PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arjen Diaz (ranked 415 p4p, 67 weight class) and Tarkhan Naranbaatar (ranked 383 p4p, 63 weight class). Diaz comes to the cage accompanied by Rise Against - Give It All. Naranbaatar has chosen Batzorig Vaanchig as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Diaz
vs
Naranbaatar

183 cm
32
184 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

178 cm
27
176 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Aspire Nutrition

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 21 - 9 - 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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Tarkhan Naranbaatar!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz moves out of range as Naranbaatar strikes.
A big right from Naranbaatar misses.
Naranbaatar missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Naranbaatar throws a shot to the body.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Naranbaatar moved out of range.
A nice side step and Naranbaatar releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Naranbaatar tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Naranbaatar lands a jab to Diaz's midsection.
Naranbaatar throws a quick inside leg kick.

Diaz darts in and clinches Naranbaatar up against the cage.
Naranbaatar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Diaz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Diaz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diaz cracks Naranbaatar with a nice body shot.
Naranbaatar's coach down at Dr Hatsumi's Clinic was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Naranbaatar's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Diaz avoiding damage as Naranbaatar throws knees to the body.
Naranbaatar lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Diaz or not.
Naranbaatar has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
Naranbaatar misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Naranbaatar controls his hands.
Naranbaatar stalling in the clinch but Diaz improves position.
Diaz prevents a body shot from Naranbaatar.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Naranbaatar.

Naranbaatar breaks the clinch.
Tarkhan Naranbaatar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz thuds his shin into the meat of Naranbaatar's side.
We've been told by Diaz's head coaches at Aspire Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Naranbaatar connects with a right hand. Diaz shakes it off.
Naranbaatar checks a low kick from Diaz.
Diaz walks into a left hand.
Naranbaatar throws a wild body kick that Diaz sees coming a mile off.
Naranbaatar throws a leg kick which misses Diaz's front leg but catches the back leg as Diaz tries to avoid it.
Naranbaatar throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Naranbaatar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Diaz throws out the jab.
Naranbaatar misses with a lunging right hand
and Naranbaatar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Tarkhan Naranbaatar has been cut.
Naranbaatar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Diaz throwing a counter right hand but Naranbaatar manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naranbaatar is looking to slow Diaz down with leg kicks.
Diaz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Naranbaatar counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Naranbaatar throws a body shot but no joy.
Naranbaatar lands a nice looking body shot.
Diaz throws a hook to the side of Naranbaatar's head but Naranbaatar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diaz lands a jab.
Naranbaatar throws a body kick that misses

and Diaz counters with a combination of strikes to the head and body that crumple Naranbaatar!
Naranbaatar wants to improve his position but Diaz is controlling well.
Naranbaatar keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Diaz prevents Naranbaatar from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naranbaatar keeps trying to improve his position.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Naranbaatar is defending well.
Naranbaatar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaz content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Naranbaatar is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Naranbaatar looks to land a left hand but Diaz moved out of range nicely.
Diaz misses the body punch
and Naranbaatar counters with a nice uppercut.
Diaz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Naranbaatar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Diaz moves into range and clinches up with Naranbaatar.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.
Naranbaatar tries to pull guard but Diaz holds him up against the cage and eventually Naranbaatar drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarkhan Naranbaatar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tarkhan Naranbaatar's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Naranbaatar throws a leg kick that is checked
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Naranbaatar misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Naranbaatar looks for the body kick but Diaz saw that one coming.
Naranbaatar misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Diaz counters with a straight right hand.
Naranbaatar lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Naranbaatar throws a one two combo.
Diaz ducks right into an uppercut from Naranbaatar.
Diaz scores with a hook.
Diaz dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Naranbaatar. That did some damage!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Naranbaatar throws out a powerful jab.
Naranbaatar moves out of range of the leg kick from Diaz.
Naranbaatar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diaz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Naranbaatar with a hook.
Naranbaatar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Diaz checks a leg kick nicely.
Naranbaatar needs to keep his hands up - Diaz had a free shot at his head there.
Naranbaatar shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
An attempted straight right counter from Diaz misses the target.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Naranbaatar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Naranbaatar moves out of range of the strikes.
Naranbaatar clobbers Diaz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Naranbaatar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Naranbaatar scores with a kick to the midsection.
Diaz misses with a looping left.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Naranbaatar.
Diaz blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands a nice hook to Naranbaatar's body. Naranbaatar takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tarkhan Naranbaatar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz staying out of range there.
Naranbaatar throws a hook but Diaz blocks it.
Arjen Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice body kick there by Naranbaatar.

Naranbaatar gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short body shot lands from Diaz as the two fighters clinch.
Naranbaatar blocks a body shot from Diaz.
A short uppercut from Diaz.
Diaz blocking some punches.
Naranbaatar lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Naranbaatar blocking some punches.

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Naranbaatar misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Some bone on bone action there as Diaz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Naranbaatar counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz gets a clinch.
Diaz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice right hand lands inside from Naranbaatar.
Diaz can't find room to land a body shot as Naranbaatar controls the action.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Diaz.
Diaz pushes Naranbaatar back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Naranbaatar stalling.
Diaz can't find room to land a body shot as Naranbaatar controls the action.
A short right from Diaz.
Naranbaatar blocks a body shot from Diaz.
Diaz tries a body shot but Naranbaatar blocks it.
Diaz tries a body shot but Naranbaatar blocks it.
A left hand lands to the body for Naranbaatar.
Diaz misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz can't find room to land a body shot as Naranbaatar controls the action.
Naranbaatar is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Diaz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Naranbaatar.
Diaz gets through Naranbaatar's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz throws a head punch that misses.
Diaz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Diaz throws a punch but it's blocked by Naranbaatar.
Naranbaatar tries to work over Diaz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Diaz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz misses with a knee strike.
A short body shot lands from Diaz as the two fighters clinch.
Diaz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Naranbaatar's elbow.
Diaz swings wildly with an uppercut but Naranbaatar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Naranbaatar misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Diaz.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diaz.
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 Arjen Diaz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tarkhan Naranbaatar's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Diaz looks to land a right hand but Naranbaatar moved out of range.
Naranbaatar lands a slapping body shot.
A jab from Diaz misses.
Naranbaatar shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Diaz is looking to counter with a body kick.
Naranbaatar misses with a body kick.
The fighters circling - Naranbaatar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Naranbaatar moves out of range of the strikes.
Diaz moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Naranbaatar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naranbaatar lunges at Diaz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Diaz's hand.
Naranbaatar throws out a powerful jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Diaz.
Naranbaatar changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Naranbaatar misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Diaz blocks a body shot from Naranbaatar.
Diaz misses with some punches.
Naranbaatar tries to work over Diaz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Diaz tries to throw a body punch but Naranbaatar avoids it by throwing Diaz back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Naranbaatar.
A head punch on the inside from Naranbaatar fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Diaz fails to land.
Naranbaatar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diaz's elbow.
Naranbaatar swings wildly with an uppercut but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Naranbaatar blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Naranbaatar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Naranbaatar is leaning against Diaz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Diaz.
Diaz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Diaz.
Diaz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Naranbaatar.
Diaz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arjen Diaz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Naranbaatar misses with some punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slapping leg kick lands for Naranbaatar.
Diaz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Naranbaatar to score with a decent uppercut.
Naranbaatar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Naranbaatar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Diaz swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Naranbaatar fakes the leg kick and cracks Diaz in the body.
Naranbaatar connects with a body shot that sends Diaz's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naranbaatar dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diaz. That did some damage!
Diaz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Naranbaatar turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Naranbaatar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Naranbaatar misses with a body shot
and Diaz counters with a nice body kick.
Diaz throws a big shot that misses.
Diaz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Naranbaatar walks into a straight right hand from Diaz.
Naranbaatar tries a low kick but Diaz avoids it.
Diaz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That has opened up Tarkhan Naranbaatar's cut even more.
Diaz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Naranbaatar moved out of range.
The crowd cheers as Naranbaatar lands an impressive looking overhand right. Diaz doesn't seem phased though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Naranbaatar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A little feinted left hand from Diaz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Naranbaatar slips a jab from Diaz.
Naranbaatar has a takedown stuffed.
A little feinted left hand from Diaz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Naranbaatar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Diaz swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Naranbaatar throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Diaz!
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Naranbaatar.
Diaz thinks about countering with a body kick.
Diaz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Naranbaatar is rocked!
Diaz misses with a looping right.
Naranbaatar is still on wobbly legs! Can Diaz finish him?
An inside leg kick lands from Naranbaatar.
Naranbaatar seems to have recovered his senses.
Naranbaatar throws a sloppy head kick
and Diaz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Arjen Diaz.
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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Arjen Diaz!
After winning the bout, Arjen Diaz thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.