PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Neal Diaz (ranked 1385 p4p, 166 weight class) and Zulu Zulu (ranked 2437 p4p, 262 weight class). Neal Diaz has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Diaz
vs
Zulu

183 cm
26
155 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

170 cm
26
158 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)
Bullet Proof System

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neal Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Zulu Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Zulu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zulu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A combination from Zulu does no damage.
Zulu throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Diaz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Diaz drives through and clinches with Zulu against the cage.
Good body shot from Diaz.
Zulu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Diaz throws a punch but it's blocked by Zulu.
Diaz swings wildly with an uppercut but Zulu uses good head movement to avoid it.

Zulu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zulu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Diaz is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Zulu.

Diaz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zulu prevents a body shot from Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zulu throws a head punch that misses.
We've been informed that Zulu has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Diaz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zulu backwards.
Zulu misses with the head strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diaz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zulu misses with the head strike.
Diaz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zulu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Diaz prevents a body shot from Zulu.
Diaz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Diaz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
I was talking to Diaz's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Zulu has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
Diaz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zulu lands a nice knee to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Zulu.
Zulu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Diaz manages to pull guard.
Zulu stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.
Zulu is looking to stand up but Diaz won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zulu got a little sloppy there for a moment and Diaz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zulu has managed to get both his arms back between Diaz's legs - danger averted.

Zulu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Zulu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Diaz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diaz.
Diaz lands a lovely overhand right.
Diaz with a nice cross.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zulu.
Diaz lands with a cross.
Diaz lands a nice looking body shot.
Diaz moves out of range as Zulu strikes.
Diaz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zulu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Diaz loads up on a big right hand but Zulu slips the punch.
Diaz misses with a combination
and Zulu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zulu on the side of the head.
Zulu tries a low kick but Diaz avoids it.
Diaz moves out of range as Zulu strikes.
Diaz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zulu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diaz changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Zulu misses with a head kick.
Diaz was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Diaz scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Diaz misses with a combination
and Zulu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz slips under a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zulu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diaz.
Zulu scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz pulls Zulu into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zulu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Zulu has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Diaz to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Zulu is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Diaz pulls down on the head and he's put Zulu to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Neal Diaz!
An out of breath Neal Diaz thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.