PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Flexen (ranked 3208 p4p, 380 weight class) and Nate Diaz (ranked 4974 p4p, 512 weight class). Flexen comes to the cage accompanied by Break Stuff-Limp Bizkit. Nate Diaz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Chris Flexen's chin.

Flexen
vs
Diaz

185 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Flexen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nate Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flexen tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Flexen's waist but Flexen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diaz off to one side.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Flexen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Diaz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Chris Flexen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Diaz.
Flexen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Flexen misses with a wild combination.
Nate Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Flexen circles away.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Flexen.
Flexen is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz moves in looking to clinch but Flexen pushes him off.

Diaz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Diaz lands in his opponent's guard.
Flexen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Diaz's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flexen scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Flexen from controlling successfully.
Flexen is in close to Diaz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Flexen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Flexen has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Flexen wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Flexen throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Flexen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Flexen from controlling successfully.
Flexen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Diaz's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flexen wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Flexen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Flexen trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Flexen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Flexen is controlling him.
Flexen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Flexen drops back looking for a leg! Diaz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diaz manages to kick Flexen off! Flexen jumps back into Diaz's guard.
Flexen is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flexen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Flexen wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Flexen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Flexen isn't so interested in that idea.
Diaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Flexen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Flexen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Flexen throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Flexen prevents Diaz from getting back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Flexen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Flexen chips away with some ground and pound.

Diaz scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Flexen tries to sprawl out of it but Diaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Flexen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Flexen appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Flexen.
Diaz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Diaz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Flexen avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Flexen as Diaz shoots in.
Flexen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diaz.

Diaz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Flexen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Diaz is in Flexen's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Flexen lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Flexen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Diaz postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Flexen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz has Flexen up against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Flexen is defending well.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Flexen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Flexen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Flexen trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flexen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Flexen is in close to Diaz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Flexen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Flexen trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz wants to stand up but Flexen is controlling him.
Flexen trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flexen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flexen wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Flexen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Diaz has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Flexen has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Flexen prevents the takedown attempt.
Chris Flexen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Diaz.
Diaz stops a takedown attempt from Flexen.

Diaz tightens his grip and picks Flexen up, before dumping him to the ground. Flexen manages to land in guard.
Flexen wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flexen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diaz defends well.
Flexen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diaz is one step ahead there.

Flexen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Flexen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Flexen controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.
Flexen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?

Flexen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Flexen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Flexen keeps moving.
Flexen working a defensive guard here.
Flexen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.

Flexen working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Diaz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Flexen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Flexen tries to sprawl but Diaz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flexen is looking to improve his position.
Diaz controlling the pace.
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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Flexen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Flexen but Flexen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Flexen closes the distance and clinches up with Diaz, looking for a takedown. Flexen pushes Diaz against the cage but Diaz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Diaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Flexen's waist but Flexen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diaz off to one side.
It looked like Flexen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Chris Flexen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Diaz.

Flexen moves into the clinch.
Flexen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Flexen wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flexen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Diaz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Flexen sprawls well.
Chris Flexen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Flexen lands a high kick!

It looks like Nate Diaz has been cut.
Flexen lands with a kick to the temple. Diaz shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flexen dives in and scores a takedown into Diaz's guard.
Flexen scoring with some ground and pound.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Flexen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Diaz pushes Flexen off and scrambles back to his feet.

Flexen has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.
Diaz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Flexen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Flexen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Flexen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Flexen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flexen trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flexen working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.
Flexen looking for a sweep. Not yet Flexen, not yet.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Flexen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Flexen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Flexen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diaz content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flexen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diaz defends well.
Diaz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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.

Flexen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Diaz defends it easily.

Flexen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diaz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Diaz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Flexen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Diaz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Diaz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Flexen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Flexen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Flexen 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Flexen!
Chris Flexen looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Was there any doubt...'.