PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Connie Parks (ranked 7436 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Diaz (ranked 5714 p4p, 441 weight class). Diaz has chosen 3peg baliye as his entrance music. Connie Parks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Parks
vs
Diaz

186 cm
19
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
20
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Connie Parks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nate Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz lands a head kick!

It looks like Connie Parks has been cut.
Diaz scoring well with a low kick there.
Parks could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Diaz tries to keep at a distance but Parks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Parks is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Diaz to keep the fight standing.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Diaz.
Parks misses with a short punch on the inside.

Parks jumps guard.
Diaz wanted to stand there but Parks had control of the position.
Parks is looking to stand up but Diaz isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz stays in close to Parks's body and controls the position.
Parks looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wanted to stand there but Parks had control of the position.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Parks is keeping the position for now.
Diaz stands up over Parks, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Parks keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Parks keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

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.
Parks has his hands on Diaz's head, controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Parks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Parks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diaz circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connie Parks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Parks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diaz.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses.
A left and a right from Parks both land. Nice combination.
Nate Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diaz.

Parks clinches.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Parks turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Diaz tries to circle away but Parks has him pinned against the cage.
Parks is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Diaz to keep the fight standing.

Diaz manages to pull guard.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Parks postures up.
Diaz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Parks stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.
Diaz looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Parks gets to his feet - Diaz follows without any prompting.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches.

Parks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Parks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.

Parks has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Parks lands with a right to the head.
Parks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diaz smiles and moves away.
Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Parks moves into the clinch.
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 Connie Parks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Connie Parks's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diaz wants to clinch up but Parks keeps it at a distance.
Parks fails to land with a series of punches.
Parks tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Parks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Diaz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diaz trying to control but Parks is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Parks is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Parks is looking to stand up but Diaz won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz looking to control.
Parks controlling from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Diaz is on top in guard.

Parks pulls Diaz in close to his closed guard and prevents Diaz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Parks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Diaz on the ground.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Parks keeps moving.

That's two 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 might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Parks haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Parks wants to sweep but no luck.
Parks has his hands on Diaz's head, controlling the position.
Diaz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice takedown defense from Parks. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.
Parks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Parks forces Diaz back against the cage and clinches.
Parks misses with a knee strike.
Parks working aggressively here.
Parks is trying to pull guard but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Parks turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Diaz tries to work over Parks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Diaz breaks the clinch.

Parks shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Diaz is trying to defend but Parks finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Diaz has one foot on Parks's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Diaz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Parks!
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 cut man is working on Connie Parks's cut.
That's time! Parks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Diaz fails to land the takedown.
Parks seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Parks circles away and keeps his distance.
Parks fails with the takedown
and Diaz counters with a left to the body.
Diaz throws a shot to the body.
Diaz shoots in but no luck this time.
Parks moves out of range of the body kick.
Connie Parks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Diaz gets the takedown into side control.
Parks tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz looking to control but Parks is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz controlling the pace for now.
A nice elbow there by Diaz.
Parks is squirming around, avoiding Diaz's attempts to control the action.
Diaz content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz dominating with strikes here.
Parks is squirming around, avoiding Diaz's attempts to control the action.
Parks wants to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz looking to finish with strikes here!
Diaz dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Diaz trying to control but Parks is having none of it.
Diaz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Diaz with a couple of short strikes.

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.
Diaz looking to control but Parks is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Diaz is working for a guillotine from mount but Parks frees his head quite easily.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Parks is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Diaz!
Nate Diaz seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.