PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sakuraba
vs
Diaz

182 cm
22
183 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

177 cm
23
180 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sakuraba misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Sakuraba does a little dance to reset his feet.
A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
Sakuraba misses with a straight right.
Diaz lands a really nice looking cross but Sakuraba seems unphased.
Sakuraba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.
Diaz moves into range and connects with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diaz swings for the body but Sakuraba moves out of range.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaz stuns Sakuraba with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Diaz lands with a nice combination. Sakuraba backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Diaz lands with an uppercut that bounces Sakuraba off the cage and back into range.
Diaz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Diaz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sakuraba rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd cheers as Diaz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sakuraba doesn't seem phased though.
Diaz misses with the combination.
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Diaz lands a jab-cross combination.
Diaz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sakuraba looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice takedown defense from Diaz. No joy for Sakuraba on that attempt.
Diaz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Diaz punishes Sakuraba's body with a nice straight punch.
Diaz connects with a body shot that sends Sakuraba's belly button to the back.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Diaz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nick Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
Diaz lands with a good body shot.
Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.
Diaz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Diaz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diaz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sakuraba.
A shot to the liver by Diaz. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Diaz.
Sakuraba walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Diaz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Sakuraba is rocked!
Diaz digs a good hook to Sakuraba's body.
Diaz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good exchange - Diaz coming out on top.
Diaz swinging wildly here.
Diaz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Diaz lands with a shot to the body.
Diaz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sakuraba looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sakuraba jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Diaz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Diaz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Diaz scores with a three punch combo!
Diaz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Sakuraba takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Oh Sakuraba is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Sakuraba seems to have got his legs back now.
Diaz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sakuraba throws out the jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diaz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Diaz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Diaz shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sakuraba eats them both and turns towards Diaz to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Diaz dominated that round.
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.

Diaz lands with a good body shot.
Diaz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sakuraba at a distance.
Diaz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz lands a slapping body shot.
Sakuraba has a takedown stuffed.
Sakuraba shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sakuraba takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz lands a right hook to the body.
Diaz misses with a wild combination.
Diaz cracks Sakuraba with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaz stuns Sakuraba with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Sakuraba throws a hook to the side of Diaz's head but Diaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diaz lands a nice looking body shot.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakuraba.
Diaz lands with a nice body punch.
Diaz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sakuraba looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sakuraba takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Diaz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sakuraba closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sakuraba lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakuraba postures up.

Diaz working for a triangle but Sakuraba defends it easily.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuraba is aware though and is defending well.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Diaz is trying to keep Sakuraba in close.
Diaz wants to sweep here but Sakuraba controlling him for the moment.
Diaz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakuraba manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to keep a closed guard but Diaz is proving a slippery customer.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz preventing the sweep.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Diaz landing some decent shots from guard.
Sakuraba controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.

Sakuraba is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Diaz stands and throws Sakuraba's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sakuraba knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Diaz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sakuraba moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diaz trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle here but Diaz uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice shot by Diaz.
Diaz lands a right hook to the body.
Diaz jabs Sakuraba to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Diaz connects with a nice looking jab.
Diaz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sakuraba momentarily.
Diaz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz swinging wildly here.
Diaz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Diaz thuds a left hand into Sakuraba's body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Diaz lands a nice hook to Sakuraba's body. Sakuraba takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Diaz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sakuraba doesn't seem bothered though.
Diaz stuns Sakuraba with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Diaz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Diaz jabs at Sakuraba's body.
Sakuraba takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Left hook, right uppercut from Diaz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz stalks Sakuraba and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sakuraba's face. Sakuraba staggers backwards, shaken.
Diaz throws a right hand that Sakuraba ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakuraba also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Diaz connects with a body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Diaz!
Sakuraba takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Diaz jabs Sakuraba to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Diaz looks to land a combination. Sakuraba sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Diaz scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sakuraba in his tracks.
Nice shot lands for Diaz.
Diaz thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Diaz!
Diaz lands a slapping body shot.
Nick Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck for Sakuraba with that takedown attempt.
Diaz lands a right hook to the body.
Diaz scores with a hook to the body. Sakuraba takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Diaz lands with a shot to the body.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Sakuraba walks into a jab.
Diaz lands a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba avoids the body shot from Diaz.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakuraba.
Some wild striking there from Diaz.
Nick Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sakuraba.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A left and a right from Diaz both land. Nice combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diaz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Diaz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Diaz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diaz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 25:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 25:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Diaz!
In his post fight interview, Nick Diaz started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.