PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chiharu Shiba (ranked 4820 p4p, 3928 weight class) and Hick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shiba comes into the arena with Sick Puppies - Survive blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shiba
vs
Diaz

185 cm
21
195
4 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
185
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiharu Shiba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hick Diaz!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Diaz crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Shiba - the referee stops the clock and Diaz gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Shiba. Diaz manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Diaz has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Shiba.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Shiba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shiba thumps Diaz with a low kick.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Shiba.
Shiba looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Shiba slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Chiharu Shiba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hick Diaz.
Shiba is looking to score with low kicks.
Diaz tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shiba feints and then cracks Diaz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Diaz down.
Shiba feints and then cracks Diaz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Diaz down.
Shiba scores with a kick to the body.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shiba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shiba.
Shiba lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz throws a head kick that misses
and Shiba counters with a slapping leg kick.
Diaz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shiba. Shiba obviously looking to wear him down.
Shiba with a nice calf kick.
Shiba fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Diaz checks it well.
Shiba throws a low kick, looking for Diaz's leg but Diaz calmly moves out of range.
Diaz tries to clinch but Shiba is having none of it.
Shiba fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Diaz checks it well.
Shiba moves out of range of the body kick.
Shiba looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shiba with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shiba throws a nice outside leg kick.
Shiba throws a nice outside leg kick.
Shiba is looking to score with low kicks.
Diaz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shiba swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Shiba tries to land a leg kick but Diaz saw it coming and moves away.
Diaz feints the counter takedown.
Diaz tries to clinch but Shiba is having none of it.
Diaz tries to clinch but Shiba moves out of range.
Diaz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shiba makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Shiba misses with a low kick.
Shiba thumps Diaz with a low kick.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Shiba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Diaz clinches up with Shiba and pushes him back against the cage.
Diaz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shiba fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shiba throws a low kick but Diaz avoids it.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A low kick lands for Shiba.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shiba scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shiba pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shiba throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaz.
Shiba is trying to improve his position.
Shiba isn't going anywhere.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shiba tries to bench press Diaz off him but Diaz keeps the position.
Diaz controls the position from side control.
Diaz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Shiba tries to bench press Diaz off him but Diaz keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Diaz has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Shiba!
Shiba working to try and regain half guard.
Shiba is working hard here to advance position.
Diaz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Shiba is working to get back to half guard.
Diaz controlling the position easily from mount.
Diaz prevents Shiba from getting the reversal.
You can see that Diaz has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control but Shiba is having none of it.
Shiba keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Diaz controlling from the full mount.
Diaz prevents Shiba from getting the reversal.
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.
More stalling from Diaz.
Shiba is looking to improve his position but Diaz isn't that keen on the idea.

Diaz with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Shiba is controlling an arm, preventing Diaz from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Shiba working to try and regain half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chiharu Shiba dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Diaz misses with a hook. Shiba ducked under it nicely.
Chiharu Shiba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shiba connects with a leg kick.
Diaz tries to work over Shiba's front leg with a kick but Shiba checks it.

Shiba closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shiba throws an elbow but misses.
Diaz avoids a wild elbow strike from Shiba.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shiba just misses with a elbow thrown towards Diaz's brow.
Diaz blocks the elbow strike.
Diaz goes for a takedown attempt but Shiba pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Diaz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Diaz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Shiba throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz blocks a leg kick.
Shiba fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Shiba wants to slow Diaz down by chopping away at his legs.
A clash of legs there as Diaz blocks the low kick.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Shiba is avoiding it.
Shiba throws a leg kick but Diaz checks it.
Shiba finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiba lands a nice looking kick to the body. Diaz takes a step back to recover.
Shiba moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Diaz takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A low kick from Diaz is predictable there
and Shiba makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hick Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for Diaz with that takedown attempt.
Shiba connects with an inside leg kick.
Diaz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Shiba.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Shiba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shiba fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Diaz moves into range and clinches up with Shiba.
Shiba throws an elbow but it misses.
Shiba misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shiba throws an elbow but misses.
Diaz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shiba pulls his leg out and moves away.
Chiharu Shiba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hick Diaz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shiba wants to land a leg kick but Diaz is out of range.
A head kick misses from Shiba.
A solid body kick from Shiba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shiba misses with a low kick.
Shiba tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Diaz forces Shiba back against the cage and clinches.
Diaz takes an elbow to the temple.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shiba throws an elbow but misses.
Shiba lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Shiba.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Shiba.
Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shiba avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Diaz avoids a wild elbow strike from Shiba.
Diaz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shiba just stands there and leans against the cage.
Diaz is trying to drag Shiba to the mat but Shiba just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Diaz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shiba gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Diaz blocks an elbow strike from Shiba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiba lands an elbow inside.
Shiba throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Shiba is controlling him.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shiba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shiba lands an elbow that stopped Diaz in his tracks for a moment.
Shiba pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Chiharu Shiba has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Diaz wants a takedown but no success here.
Shiba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Diaz's defenses.
Shiba is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Shiba misses with an elbow over the top.
Diaz dodges an elbow strike from Shiba.
Nice elbow from Shiba.
Diaz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Diaz takes an elbow to the temple.
Shiba lands a nice elbow.
Diaz takes an elbow to the forehead.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diaz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shiba is defending well.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Shiba looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Shiba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Diaz's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shiba throws an elbow but it misses.
Shiba lands an elbow inside.
Shiba looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Shiba comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Diaz avoids a wild elbow strike from Shiba.
Shiba lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shiba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Diaz wants to take the fight to the mat but Shiba manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Diaz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shiba throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shiba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Diaz's defenses.
Nice elbow from Shiba.

Diaz is rocked!

It looks like Hick Diaz has been cut.
Diaz avoids a wild elbow strike from Shiba.
Diaz is still on wobbly legs! Can Shiba finish him?
Diaz blocks an elbow strike.
Shiba gets underhooks to prevent Diaz's takedown attempt.
Shiba misses with an elbow over the top.
Diaz dodges an elbow strike from Shiba.
Diaz blocks an elbow strike from Shiba.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chiharu Shiba dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hick Diaz's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Diaz wants to clinch.
Diaz seems to have recovered his senses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shiba.
Diaz tries to clinch up.
Diaz takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Diaz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Shiba.
Shiba is looking to chop away at Diaz's legs.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shiba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shiba half committed to a counter leg kick.
Shiba throws a leg kick but Diaz moved away.
And Diaz tries to counter it with a takedown but Shiba pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shiba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shiba leaves Diaz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shiba throws a leg kick which misses Diaz's front leg but catches the back leg as Diaz tries to avoid it.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Shiba rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz avoids a wild elbow strike from Shiba.
Shiba throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiba lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Shiba lands a damaging elbow.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diaz dodges an elbow strike from Shiba.
Nice elbow from Shiba.
Shiba lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Diaz blocks the elbow strike.
Shiba prevents the takedown attempt.
Diaz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Chiharu Shiba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hick Diaz.
Shiba throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nice elbow from Shiba.
Nice elbow from Shiba.
The referee calls for Diaz to work.
Shiba lands an elbow just above Diaz 's eye.
Shiba pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Diaz blocks the elbow strike.
Shiba throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shiba misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Shiba can't fight it off and eventually Diaz manages to take the fight to the floor. Shiba looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shiba looking for a sweep. Not yet Shiba, not yet.
Shiba managing to control the position.
Diaz controlling from the top position.
Diaz with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
Shiba is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
Shiba throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Shiba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shiba is keeping the position for now.
Shiba looking for a sweep. Not yet Shiba, not yet.
Shiba is looking to sweep but instead, Diaz has passed into half guard.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Shiba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shiba is looking to control Diaz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shiba avoid being mounted?
Diaz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shiba is trying is best to control the position here.
Diaz wants to take a breather but Shiba is having none of it.
Shiba is looking to improve his position.
Diaz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shiba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shiba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Diaz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shiba knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shiba trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.
Diaz sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shiba tries to score with a low kick but Diaz moves his leg out of the way.

Diaz rushes Shiba and presses him up against the cage.
Shiba misses with an elbow over the top.
Shiba throws an elbow that misses.
Hick Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shiba avoids it.
Diaz throws a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chiharu Shiba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shiba, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chiharu Shiba!
After the fight, Chiharu Shiba was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.