PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robert Diaz (ranked 2997 p4p, 0 weight class) and Motu Te Tai (ranked 3631 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Diaz
vs
Te Tai

183 cm
23
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
26
158 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Robert Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Motu Te Tai!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Darius Henderson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Te Tai. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.
Te Tai tries a head kick but it misses.

A head kick lands from Te Tai that sends Diaz to the canvas. Diaz tries to scramble back to his feet but Te Tai brings him back down into side control.

Diaz is rocked!

It looks like Robert Diaz has been cut.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Te Tai's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Oh Diaz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Te Tai seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Diaz seems to have got his legs back now.
Diaz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Te Tai's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Te Tai's back!
Diaz tries to keep control of the position but Te Tai is staying busy.
Diaz really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Te Tai.
Te Tai is trying to get back to his feet but Diaz has full control of the position and if anything, Te Tai has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Diaz trying to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz controlling from the back.

Diaz has his opponent's back but Te Tai is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Diaz.
Te Tai keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Te Tai tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Te Tai to the ground. Te Tai escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Te Tai takes the fight into the clinch.

Te Tai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Te Tai throws a head kick that Diaz semi-blocks.
Motu Te Tai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Te Tai closes the distance and clinches.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Te Tai has him pressed against the cage.

Te Tai manages to break the clinch.
Te Tai tries a head kick but it misses.

Te Tai closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Te Tai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Te Tai stuffs the takedown.

Te Tai closes the distance and clinches.

Te Tai breaks from the clinch.

Te Tai lands a head kick that stumbles Diaz and the fighters go to the mat.
Te Tai tries to stand but Diaz is controlling from the bottom.
Te Tai wants to stand and escape but instead Diaz has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Te Tai is looking to stand up but Diaz isn't so interested in that idea.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Te Tai can do anything to dispel that myth.
Diaz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Diaz stands and throws Te Tai's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Te Tai keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz prevents Te Tai from escaping the position.
Diaz moves into full mount!
Te Tai is squirming around, avoiding Diaz's attempts to control the action.
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 can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Te Tai is looking to escape.
Diaz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Te Tai is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Diaz is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Te Tai is in real trouble.
Diaz has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Te Tai's body.
Te Tai wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz controls the action.
A lull in the action here.
Te Tai is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Te Tai is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Te Tai is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Diaz off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Te Tai prevents Diaz from getting a body triangle.
Diaz keeps control of the position easily here as Te Tai tries to buck him off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Te Tai prevents Diaz from getting a body triangle.
Diaz is riding his opponent, not letting Te Tai buck him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Motu Te Tai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robert Diaz's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Te Tai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Te Tai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Diaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Te Tai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diaz somewhat.
It seemed like Te Tai was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Te Tai has Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.

Te Tai breaks the clinch.
Diaz fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Te Tai.
Te Tai stuffs the takedown.

Te Tai instigates a clinch.

Te Tai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Te Tai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Diaz jumps guard but Te Tai turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Te Tai just stands there and leans against the cage.

Te Tai manages to break the clinch.

Te Tai has managed to clinch.

Te Tai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Te Tai forces Diaz back against the cage and clinches.

Te Tai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Te Tai rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.

Te Tai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Te Tai slips a jab from Diaz.
Robert Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Te Tai darts in and clinches Diaz up against the cage.

Te Tai breaks the clinch.

Te Tai closes the distance and clinches.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Te Tai to keep the fight standing.

Te Tai manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Te Tai.
Whack! Te Tai lands a heavy head kick that drops Diaz. The ref tackles Te Tai to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Diaz was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Motu Te Tai!