PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Watkins (ranked 1332 p4p, 1199 weight class) and Frank Diaz (ranked 196 p4p, 185 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Watkins
vs
Diaz

185 cm
28
185
11 - 8 - 1

188 cm
31
190
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
SynCity Fightwear

Voodoo Nutrition
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Watkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz avoids the body shot from Watkins.
Watkins lands a two punch combo.
Craig Watkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danga de danga de dang - Watkins scores with a four punch combination!
Watkins is looking to clinch.
Watkins throws a head kick that misses
and Diaz counters with a right hand to the body.
Watkins tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Watkins throws a head kick that misses

and Diaz counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Watkins kicks Diaz off and gets to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Watkins clinches.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Watkins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Diaz misses with some punches.

Watkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've been told by Watkins's head coaches at Blaze Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Watkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins cracks Diaz with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Diaz scores with a decent looking hook.
Watkins tries to work over Diaz's front leg with a kick but Diaz checks it.

Watkins rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Diaz has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Watkins clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Diaz looking to break Watkins's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Watkins remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Diaz will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Diaz is looking to control Watkins but Watkins is wriggling around and keeping busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watkins trying to control but not successfully.
Diaz keeps control of the position as Watkins tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watkins wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz scores with strikes from the back.
Well, with Diaz on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Watkins is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Diaz working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Diaz controls the position.
Diaz trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins is trying to stand back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Diaz is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Watkins knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Watkins for a finish.

Diaz is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Watkins has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins is really stuck here.
Diaz thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Watkins fending off the submission attempt from Diaz.
Watkins wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frank Diaz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Watkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Watkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Watkins lands with an overhand left.
Diaz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watkins avoids it really well and circles away.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watkins sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A good leg kick by Watkins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Craig Watkins is winning the standup battle so far.
A decent looking cross lands there for Watkins.
Watkins fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Watkins takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Watkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diaz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Watkins with a hook.
Diaz swings for the body but Watkins moves out of range.
Watkins cracks Diaz with a right hand to the side of the head.
Watkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Watkins lands with a thumping leg kick.
Watkins swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Diaz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Watkins looks to throw a body kick
and Diaz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Watkins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diaz.
Craig Watkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Diaz.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watkins stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Watkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Watkins throws a looping overhand right but Diaz ducks down to avoid it.
Watkins throws a series of punches but Diaz avoids them all with ease.
Watkins just misses with a punch to the body.

Diaz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Watkins kicks off Diaz and gets to his feet.
Watkins's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Watkins duly obliges.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Watkins.
And Diaz tries to counter it with a takedown but Watkins pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watkins has managed to clinch.
Watkins has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Diaz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Watkins walks away with a smile on his face. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Watkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
Watkins sets himself, and Diaz steps forward looking for the clinch! Watkins avoids it this time.
A telegraphed right hand from Diaz misses the target.
Diaz goes for a double leg but Watkins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Watkins continues to drive forward.
Watkins throws a series of punches but Diaz moves out of range.
Watkins swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watkins sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Craig Watkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Watkins goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Watkins goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A shot to the liver by Watkins. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins throws a head kick that Diaz semi-blocks.

It looks like Frank Diaz has been cut.
Diaz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Watkins.
Diaz steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Watkins.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Watkins.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watkins is looking to slow Diaz down with leg kicks.
Watkins misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Watkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diaz.
Watkins scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Diaz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Watkins throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.

Watkins moves into range and clinches up with Diaz.
Diaz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Watkins is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Watkins lands a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Watkins dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frank Diaz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Diaz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diaz misses with the head strike.
Watkins tries to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling the position.
Watkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Watkins misses with a body punch.

Watkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Diaz moves out of range of the body kick.
Watkins throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.
And Diaz tries to counter it with a takedown but Watkins pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diaz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Decent striking displayed by Watkins there.
Watkins misses the jab.

Watkins instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins stops a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Watkins stops a takedown attempt from Diaz.
A nice right hand lands inside from Diaz.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Watkins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Craig Watkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Diaz.
Watkins trying to land knees to the body.
Diaz jumps guard but Watkins stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Diaz wants a takedown but no success here.
Diaz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Watkins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Watkins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
Watkins displaying some good clinch control by pressing Diaz up against the cage.
Diaz being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz can't get the takedown.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Watkins forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Diaz goes for a takedown attempt but Watkins pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Watkins misses with a hook to the body
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Watkins scores with a nice head shot.

Watkins has managed to clinch.
Watkins blocking some punches.
Watkins blocks an uppercut.

Watkins breaks from the clinch.
Watkins misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Watkins wants it to stay on the feet.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Watkins tries to sprawl out of it but Diaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Watkins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Watkins throws a head kick that misses
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Watkins connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice cross by Diaz.
Diaz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Diaz drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Watkins throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Watkins throws a leg kick that is checked
and Diaz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins scores with a head kick. Diaz tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Watkins throws a lazy right hand but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diaz with the counter takedown but Watkins avoids it easily.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Watkins.
Diaz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watkins fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Diaz.
Watkins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diaz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diaz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Watkins.
A countering left hand to the body from Diaz misses.
Watkins misses with a head kick.
Watkins throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Watkins throws a head kick that misses.
Watkins feints a jab promting Diaz to slip. Watkins then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Diaz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Watkins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Watkins 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Watkins!
After winning the bout, Craig Watkins thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Frank Diaz had this to say: 'I came to hump. This man came to fight. Tonight was not a night for lovers. '.