PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shaka Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zulu kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is HI REZ smiling. Diaz is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Capture The Crown - You Call That A Knife. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zulu
vs
Diaz

178 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
170 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Experienced

GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 !
Valhalla Fight Wear

Inner Beast Nutrition And Laundry

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shaka Zulu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zulu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diaz circles away.
Zulu shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.
Diaz looks to clinch

and Zulu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zulu.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Zulu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zulu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zulu stops Diaz from standing up.
Zulu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Diaz wants to stand but Zulu is controlling the position.

Diaz pushes Zulu off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zulu shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaka Zulu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zulu shoots in looking for a takedown but Diaz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zulu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zulu.
Zulu keeps the fight on the outside.
Zulu swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu blocks a body shot from Diaz.
Diaz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zulu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Diaz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zulu.
Diaz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Diaz digs a right hand into Zulu's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zulu's gas tank.
Zulu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Diaz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Diaz lands a body punch in the clinch.
Zulu is breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Diaz - that landed with a thud.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diaz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zulu wants a takedown.
Zulu is looking for a takedown.
Diaz is leaning against Zulu and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Diaz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zulu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diaz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Diaz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zulu.
Diaz lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz scores with a crisp jab that stopped Zulu in his tracks.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zulu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zulu shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nick Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Shaka Zulu has been cut.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zulu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zulu shoots in looking for a takedown but Diaz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zulu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Zulu circles away.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Zulu circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diaz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diaz feints a jab promting Zulu to slip. Diaz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zulu slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Zulu is rocked!
Diaz tries to clinch up.
Oh Zulu is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Diaz lunges at Zulu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zulu's hand.
Diaz is looking to clinch.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Zulu circles away.
Zulu seems to have got his legs back now.
Zulu circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz lands a left and a right that send Zulu crashing to the mat, dazed. Diaz thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Diaz wants to clinch up but Zulu keeps it at a distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zulu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diaz doesn't manage to clinch there - Zulu circles away.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Zulu circles away.
Diaz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zulu keeps the fight on the outside.

Diaz moves into the clinch successfully.
Zulu tries for a takedown. No joy.
Good body shot from Diaz.
Zulu has Diaz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Diaz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Diaz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zulu.
A short uppercut from Diaz.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.
The referee calls for Diaz to work.
Diaz scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands a body punch in the clinch.
Zulu is working for takedown but Diaz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nice body punch from Diaz.
A short right from Diaz on the inside.

Diaz breaks the clinch.

Diaz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Diaz lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zulu prevents a body shot from Diaz.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Diaz tries a body shot but Zulu blocks it.
A hook to the body from Diaz.
Diaz lands a nice uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Diaz.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zulu takes a shot to the head.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zulu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Zulu circles away.
Zulu takes one on the chin but seems OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Diaz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shaka Zulu's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diaz tries to clinch but Zulu moves out of range.
Diaz tries to clinch but Zulu moves away

and Zulu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zulu has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zulu trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Zulu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz wants to stand up but Zulu is controlling him.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Zulu from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zulu is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz has wrist control.
Zulu prevents Diaz from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diaz moves in looking to clinch but Zulu pushes him off.
Nick Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zulu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Diaz as he avoids it easily.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zulu shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zulu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Diaz as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaka Zulu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zulu paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Zulu gets tackled into the cage by Diaz. Diaz maintains the clinch.
Zulu is trying to break free.
Diaz keeps control of Zulu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Diaz lands a shot to the body.

Zulu manages to break the clinch.

Diaz gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Diaz tries a body shot but Zulu blocks it.
A left hand lands to the body for Diaz.
Diaz lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zulu or not.
Nick Diaz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Diaz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zulu backwards.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz lands a two punch combo.
Zulu swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zulu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diaz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zulu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz scores with a hook.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zulu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Zulu keeps it at a distance.
Zulu swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz scores with a three punch combo!

Zulu shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Zulu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Diaz dives on top into guard.

Diaz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Diaz is looking to clinch but Zulu is avoiding it.
Diaz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Zulu circles away.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zulu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz moves in looking to clinch but Zulu pushes him off.
Zulu walks into a left hand.
Zulu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diaz's waist but Diaz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zulu off to one side.
Zulu has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zulu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zulu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz scores with a one two! Zulu had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zulu.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zulu.
Diaz throws a series of strikes that have Zulu backpedaling.
Zulu circles away from the clinch attempt

and Zulu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zulu.

Zulu gets to his feet - Diaz follows without any prompting.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diaz moves in looking to clinch but Zulu pushes him off.
Diaz is looking to clinch.
Zulu shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zulu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shaka Zulu's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Diaz clinches.
Diaz prevents the takedown attempt.
Zulu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.

Zulu has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Diaz regains guard immediately.
Zulu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Diaz wants to stand up but Zulu is controlling him.
Zulu trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zulu looking to sit in guard and control but Diaz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu has a closed guard, preventing Diaz from standing up.
Zulu wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz wants to stand but Zulu is controlling his posture from full guard.
Zulu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diaz is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz stands up from Zulu's guard - Diaz perhaps looking for a knockout.
Zulu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Diaz tries to clinch up.
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zulu shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Zulu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Diaz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Diaz connects with a looping right hand.

Diaz clinches up with Zulu and pushes him back against the cage.
Diaz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diaz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Diaz lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zulu backwards.
Diaz lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zulu or not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Diaz.
Diaz digs a right hand underneath Zulu's ribcage. Zulu let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A hook to the body from Diaz.
Diaz lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zulu or not.
Diaz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A body shot lands from Diaz.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.
The referee calls for Diaz to work.
Nice body punch from Diaz.
Diaz presses Zulu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Diaz.
Diaz cracks Zulu with a nice body shot.
Diaz presses Zulu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A body shot lands from Diaz.
Diaz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diaz cracks Zulu with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a hook to the body.
Diaz lands a nice shot to the body.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zulu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz wants to clinch up but Zulu keeps it at a distance.
Diaz tries to clinch up.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Zulu circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Zulu is avoiding it.

Diaz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Diaz lands with a short shot to the head.
Diaz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Diaz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zulu working hard to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zulu wants to get back to striking at distance but Diaz won't allow it.
Diaz is working Zulu over against the cage.
Shaka Zulu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nick Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A short body shot lands from Diaz as the two fighters clinch.
Diaz lands with a short shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Diaz!
Nick Diaz spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.