PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nate Diaz (ranked 4573 p4p, 4484 weight class) and Artis Freibergs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Diaz
vs
Freibergs

180 cm
18
180
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
180
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nate Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Artis Freibergs!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz lands a jab to Freibergs's midsection.
Diaz throws a looping overhand right but Freibergs ducks down to avoid it.
Diaz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Freibergs looking to score a takedown here. Diaz is defending well but Freibergs drives through and ends up in Diaz's guard.

Diaz has his foot on Freibergs's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Freibergs works his way back into a safe position though.
Freibergs landing with the ground and pound.

Diaz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Freibergs controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
It looks like Freibergs might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freibergs wants to stand but Diaz is controlling his posture from full guard.
Freibergs tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.
Freibergs is looking to stand up but Diaz won't let him.
Freibergs won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.
Freibergs working some strikes from top position.
Freibergs landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Diaz isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Freibergs stacks Diaz on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Freibergs!
Freibergs tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
A lull in the action here as Freibergs stalls from top position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Diaz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom here.

Freibergs stands up.
Freibergs throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.
Freibergs takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Freibergs sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Freibergs drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to regain half guard here but Freibergs keeps moving and retains side control.
Freibergs controls the position from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz prevents Freibergs from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artis Freibergs dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A telegraphed right hand from Diaz misses the target.
A jab from Diaz finds it's way through Freibergs's defenses.
Diaz lunges at Freibergs with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Freibergs's hand.
Diaz darts in looking for a takedown but Freibergs gets double underhooks and turns Diaz into the cage.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Freibergs circles away.
Diaz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Freibergs defends well and Diaz ends up having to push Freibergs into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Freibergs changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Freibergs drives through with a takedown into Diaz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Freibergs working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
Freibergs 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 ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Freibergs has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Freibergs stands up and waves to Diaz to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freibergs showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz tries to bum rush Freibergs with a series of wild strikes but Freibergs uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diaz fails to land with a series of punches.

Freibergs shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Freibergs was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Freibergs tries to move to mount but Diaz blocks the move with his legs.
Freibergs staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to buck Freibergs off but Freibergs is having none of it.
Freibergs working away.
Diaz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.
Diaz gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Diaz is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freibergs takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Freibergs scoring with strikes but Diaz is staying in there.
Freibergs sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Diaz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Diaz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Freibergs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to lock up and control but Freibergs gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Freibergs goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Diaz turns into him and now he's in Freibergs's guard.
Freibergs trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Freibergs has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artis Freibergs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Freibergs clinches with his opponent.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Freibergs turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Freibergs works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Freibergs scoring with some ground and pound.
Freibergs controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Freibergs is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freibergs cracks Diaz with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but Freibergs pushes his legs off easily.
Diaz looking to control.
Freibergs controls from within his opponent's guard.
Freibergs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Freibergs pushing down on Diaz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Diaz is trying to control but can't.
Ground and pound from Freibergs.
Freibergs is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Freibergs's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Freibergs's back!

Freibergs is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Diaz off. It looks like it's working - Diaz slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Freibergs displaying calm under pressure there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Diaz!
Nate Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz misses with a combination

and Freibergs moves into the clinch.

Freibergs turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Freibergs manages to end up in side control.
Freibergs working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freibergs lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Diaz down.
Freibergs lands a decent elbow from side control.

Freibergs has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Diaz cracks Freibergs with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Freibergs counters with a straight right hand.
Diaz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Diaz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Freibergs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And Freibergs tries to counter it with a takedown but Diaz pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nate Diaz is winning the standup battle so far.

Freibergs has Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Freibergs decides to pull guard.
Freibergs is pulling down on Diaz's head. It's preventing any offense from Diaz, at least for the moment.
Nate Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Freibergs is continuing to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artis Freibergs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Freibergs 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artis Freibergs!