PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vasily Khrapov Jr (ranked 3593 p4p, 363 weight class) and Mat Diaz (ranked 1423 p4p, 167 weight class). Diaz has chosen I Got Five On It as his entrance music. Mat Diaz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Vasily Khrapov Jr's chin.

Khrapov Jr
vs
Diaz

178 cm
27
186 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

180 cm
33
184 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vasily Khrapov Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mat Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Franklyn Lucas and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz has closed the distance and engaged Khrapov Jr in a clinch.
Diaz digs a right hand into Khrapov Jr's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Khrapov Jr's gas tank.
Diaz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Khrapov Jr.
Diaz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz can't find room to land a body shot as Khrapov Jr controls the action.
Khrapov Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Diaz controls the action.
Diaz lands a shoulder strike.
Diaz working aggressively here.
Diaz blocks a body shot from Khrapov Jr.
Diaz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Khrapov Jr pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Khrapov Jr looking to stall.
Khrapov Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Diaz controls his hands.
Khrapov Jr working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Diaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Khrapov Jr controls his hands.
Khrapov Jr tries a body shot but Diaz blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Khrapov Jr.
Diaz tries to throw a body punch but Khrapov Jr avoids it by throwing Diaz back against the cage.
Khrapov Jr taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khrapov Jr blocking some punches.
Diaz misses with a body punch.
Khrapov Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diaz's elbow.
Diaz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Diaz lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Khrapov Jr backwards.
Khrapov Jr tries to stall but Diaz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
I was talking to Khrapov Jr's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Diaz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Diaz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Khrapov Jr stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.
Khrapov Jr pressing his opponent against the cage.
Khrapov Jr stalling in the clinch but Diaz improves position.
Khrapov Jr blocking some punches.
Diaz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Khrapov Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Diaz controls the action.
A short left from Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khrapov Jr lands an elbow just above Diaz 's eye.
Khrapov Jr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Diaz throws a punch but it's blocked by Khrapov Jr.
Diaz cracks Khrapov Jr with a nice body shot.
Diaz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Khrapov Jr is trying to maintain a safe position but Diaz gets an underhook and turns Khrapov Jr into the cage.
Khrapov Jr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Khrapov Jr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Diaz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Khrapov Jr after a bit of a struggle.
Vasily Khrapov Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mat Diaz.
Khrapov Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Khrapov Jr taking a breather.
Khrapov Jr prevents a body shot from Diaz.
Diaz cracks Khrapov Jr with a nice body shot.
Diaz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Khrapov Jr misses with a hook to the ribs.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Khrapov Jr feints a jab promting Diaz to slip. Khrapov Jr then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Diaz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Khrapov Jr as he avoids it easily.
Diaz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Diaz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz throws a body shot but no joy.
Diaz misses with a head kick.
Khrapov Jr falls off balance throwing a combination
and Diaz counters with a left to the body.
The crowd cheers as Diaz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Khrapov Jr doesn't seem phased though.
Khrapov Jr is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.
Nice defenses there by Diaz.
Khrapov Jr fails in his attempt to clinch.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Khrapov Jr.
Nice defenses there by Khrapov Jr.
Khrapov Jr walks into a jab.
Diaz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Khrapov Jr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Diaz misses.
Khrapov Jr throws an off balance right hand
and Diaz counters with a right hand to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Diaz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Diaz prevents Khrapov Jr from improving his position.
Khrapov Jr manages to get to full guard.
Khrapov Jr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Diaz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Diaz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mat Diaz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Diaz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Khrapov Jr gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Diaz.

Khrapov Jr is rocked!
Diaz lands with a nice body punch.
Oh Khrapov Jr is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Khrapov Jr smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Khrapov Jr.
Diaz drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Khrapov Jr right on the button. Khrapov Jr goes down! Diaz follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Diaz gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mat Diaz!
An out of breath Mat Diaz thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.