PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Levan Kvirkvelia (ranked 2818 p4p, 358 weight class) and Mike Diaz (ranked 2598 p4p, 334 weight class). Diaz is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Not Afraid - Eminem. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kvirkvelia
vs
Diaz

173 cm
26
175 lbs
11 - 9 - 1

189 cm
31
184 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Fanatic Inc.

IniTech Nutrition
Velocity Fightwear

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 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Levan Kvirkvelia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz throws a low kick but Kvirkvelia moves out of range easily.
Kvirkvelia blocks the body kick.
Kvirkvelia tries to counter with a takedown but Diaz is quick to defend against it.
Diaz throws out a leg kick but Kvirkvelia moves out of range and Diaz only half commits.
Kvirkvelia swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Kvirkvelia tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diaz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kvirkvelia somewhat.
Diaz lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Diaz or perhaps it was just good defense by Kvirkvelia, which made it look bad.

Kvirkvelia rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz is pressed up against the cage. Kvirkvelia has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Diaz down to the mat. Diaz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia slips a jab and a cross from Diaz.
Diaz swings for the body but Kvirkvelia moves out of range.
Kvirkvelia is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Diaz.
Diaz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Kvirkvelia.
Diaz was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Kvirkvelia moves into the clinch.
Kvirkvelia avoiding damage as Diaz throws knees to the body.
Diaz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kvirkvelia is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Levan Kvirkvelia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kvirkvelia swings wildly with an uppercut but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz gets underhooks to prevent Kvirkvelia's takedown attempt.
Diaz leaning against his opponent.
Kvirkvelia throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.
The referee calls for Diaz to work.
Diaz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kvirkvelia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Kvirkvelia manages to break the clinch.

Kvirkvelia rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diaz.
Kvirkvelia struggles to land a body shot inside as Diaz controls his hands.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kvirkvelia scores with a decent looking hook.
Kvirkvelia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Diaz counters with a big head kick but Kvirkvelia shrugs it off.
Diaz throws a front kick aimed at Kvirkvelia's knee but Kvirkvelia avoids it well.
A low kick from Diaz misses

and Kvirkvelia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kvirkvelia stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Kvirkvelia postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kvirkvelia controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kvirkvelia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kvirkvelia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kvirkvelia controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kvirkvelia's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kvirkvelia trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Kvirkvelia throws a big shot that misses.
Kvirkvelia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kvirkvelia misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kvirkvelia shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
Mike Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kvirkvelia scores with a jab.
Diaz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Diaz catches Kvirkvelia with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Diaz throws a hook but Kvirkvelia avoids it easily.
Kvirkvelia moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Diaz misses with a leg kick
and Diaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kvirkvelia looks for a takedown but Diaz sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Diaz will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kvirkvelia keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kvirkvelia wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Mike Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kvirkvelia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Diaz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kvirkvelia moves out of range as Diaz throws a body kick.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Kvirkvelia moves out of range.
Kvirkvelia slips a straight right by Diaz.
Diaz misses with a leg kick.
Kvirkvelia throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Kvirkvelia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Kvirkvelia misses.
Diaz connects with the punch.
Kvirkvelia misses with an uppercut.
Diaz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Diaz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia scores with a body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Diaz.
Kvirkvelia throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Diaz.
Kvirkvelia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Kvirkvelia persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Kvirkvelia lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Diaz misses with a body kick.
Kvirkvelia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Diaz misses with a low kick.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Diaz throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kvirkvelia.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Levan Kvirkvelia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kvirkvelia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diaz.
Diaz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kvirkvelia has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.
Diaz throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kvirkvelia.
Diaz tries to land a front kick but Kvirkvelia steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Diaz drops Kvirkvelia with a left right combo! Diaz follows him down to the ground into side control.

Kvirkvelia is rocked!
Kvirkvelia manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Diaz is keen to just control but Kvirkvelia is a slippery customer.
Kvirkvelia looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Diaz.

Diaz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kvirkvelia is trying to keep Diaz in close.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Kvirkvelia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kvirkvelia is looking to stand up but Diaz isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Diaz throws a big right hand that misses.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.
Kvirkvelia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Diaz connects with a leg kick. Kvirkvelia looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Diaz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Diaz throws a front kick aimed at Kvirkvelia's knee but Kvirkvelia avoids it well.
Kvirkvelia drops down looking for a counter takedown but Diaz sprawls and moves away.
Diaz throws a nice looking combination but Kvirkvelia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diaz misses with a straight right.
Diaz staying out of range there.
Kvirkvelia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Diaz tries a quick counter leg kick but Kvirkvelia is wise to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kvirkvelia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Kvirkvelia avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Diaz misses with a hook to the body
and Kvirkvelia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz misses with a low kick.
Kvirkvelia was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Kvirkvelia looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Diaz is looking to improve his position.
Kvirkvelia keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz missing with punches from the bottom.
Kvirkvelia trying to control the action but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Kvirkvelia seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Further stalling from Kvirkvelia.
Diaz trying to control from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Diaz is staying active underneath Kvirkvelia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kvirkvelia looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.
Diaz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kvirkvelia blocks a head kick by Diaz.
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz tries to clinch up.
Diaz does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Levan Kvirkvelia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz scoring well with a low kick there.

Kvirkvelia has managed to clinch.
Kvirkvelia tries to work over Diaz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Diaz fails to land.
Diaz stalling against the cage.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
Diaz wants to land a leg kick but Kvirkvelia is out of range.
Diaz throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Kvirkvelia counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Diaz!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Levan Kvirkvelia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kvirkvelia trying to control the position but Diaz is working away.
Kvirkvelia is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Diaz will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Mike Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia laying and praying for a moment but Diaz takes advantage and regains half guard.
Kvirkvelia stalling.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Kvirkvelia trying to control the action but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz is looking to improve his position.

That's four 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.
Kvirkvelia not doing much here.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Diaz is not content to let Kvirkvelia control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kvirkvelia shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
Diaz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Levan Kvirkvelia showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Diaz!
In his post fight interview, Mike Diaz started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.