PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Malik Ali (ranked 1193 p4p, 141 weight class) and Neal Diaz (ranked 1066 p4p, 129 weight class). Neal Diaz has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Ali
vs
Diaz

176 cm
31
163 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

183 cm
31
155 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Sportivité

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malik Ali !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Neal Diaz!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Anthony Taglia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Diaz with that takedown attempt.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ali sprawls well. Ali wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Ali tries a head kick but it misses.

Ali tries to keep at a distance but Diaz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ali lands with a short shot to the head.
Ali misses with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali gets underhooks to prevent Diaz's takedown attempt.
Malik Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neal Diaz.
Diaz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Diaz creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ali misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Diaz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ali has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
Diaz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ali has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Ali 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ali sprawls well. Ali wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz tries a head kick but it misses.
Ali swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Ali .
A nice side step and Diaz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Ali circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ali misses with a head kick.

Diaz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Diaz tries to work over Ali 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz wants the takedown. Ali is fighting it off but Diaz persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ali 's guard against the cage.
Diaz postures up in Ali 's guard and throws a big left but Ali blocks it.
Diaz won't allow Ali to sweep him here.
Diaz trying to control but Ali is working from the bottom.
Diaz postures up in Ali 's guard and throws a big left but Ali blocks it.
Diaz is stalling in the full guard.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Ali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Ali is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Ali looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Diaz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ali 's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Diaz is working for a submission of some sort.

Diaz is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ali wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz wants to pass to mount but Ali is defending the position.
Ali blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diaz.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Neal Diaz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ali closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ali lands in his opponent's guard.
Ali stays in close to Diaz's body and controls the position.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Ali is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ali has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ali is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ali has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ali looking to sit in guard and control but Diaz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Diaz wants to control from the top but Ali keeps moving.
Ali trying to control the position here.
Ali avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ali working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.
Ali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Diaz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Diaz postures up in Ali 's guard and throws a big left but Ali blocks it.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Ali keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Diaz looking to score a takedown here. Ali is defending well but Diaz drives through and ends up in Ali 's guard.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.
Ali is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali trying to control from half guard but Diaz is working away.
Ali stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ali wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Diaz uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Ali would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Diaz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ali 's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Diaz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Diaz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Diaz wants to control but Ali is keeping him busy.
Diaz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ali 's head.
Ali is refusing to be controlled, as Diaz sits in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diaz tries to pass to full mount but Ali defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neal Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ali 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ali throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.

Diaz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ali wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz controlling the pace.
Diaz trying to control from Ali 's half guard. Ali has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ali swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz forces his way into half guard.
Ali wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz trying to control from half guard but Ali is working away.
Ali is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ali is trying to stand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ali stuffs the takedown attempt from Diaz. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ali is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Ali circles away and we're back to standing.

Diaz gets caught napping as Ali dives in and scores a takedown. Diaz manages to retain guard.
Ali controls from within his opponent's guard.
Diaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Diaz has a closed guard, preventing Ali from standing up.
Ali wants to stand and escape but instead Diaz has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz advances position into side control!

Diaz tries for a kimura but Ali is defending well.
Ali is not content to let Diaz control the position.
Diaz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ali haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Diaz tries to advance to mount but Ali denies him.

Diaz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Diaz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ali managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Diaz.
Ali prevents Diaz from improving position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diaz throws an elbow but Ali slips to the side and avoids it well.
Malik Ali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Neal Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz prevents Ali from escaping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neal Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Diaz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neal Diaz!
A determined Neal Diaz didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!