PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nickolas Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Kernwald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kernwald has chosen whistle dixie - yelawolf & travis barker as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Diaz
vs
Kernwald

185 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nickolas Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kevin Kernwald!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Diaz moves into range and clinches up with Kernwald.
Kernwald fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kernwald jumps guard but Diaz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kernwald tries to pull guard but Diaz holds him up against the cage and eventually Kernwald drops back down to his feet.
Nickolas Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Kernwald.
Kernwald jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Diaz walks away with a smile on his face. Kernwald gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Diaz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kernwald's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Kernwald escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diaz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz is looking to stand up but Kernwald won't let him.
Diaz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kernwald looking to control.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Kernwald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kernwald trying to control the position.

Diaz gets to his feet. Kernwald looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kernwald digs a good hook to Diaz's body.
Kernwald looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Kernwald drops Diaz with a left and a right! Oh, Diaz is hurt - Kernwald dives into side control looking to finish!

It looks like Nickolas Diaz has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kernwald tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom here.
Diaz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Diaz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kernwald on the ground.
Kernwald wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.

Kernwald wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Diaz, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to escape but Kernwald is in control.

Kernwald is trying to get an arm triangle but Diaz is defending well.
Diaz is looking to regain half guard here but Kernwald keeps moving and retains side control.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz is not content to let Kernwald control the position.
Kernwald tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to reverse the position.
Kernwald wants to take a breather but Diaz manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Kernwald.

Kernwald drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Diaz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kernwald has Diaz in his guard.

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kernwald trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diaz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Kernwald is looking to sinch up a triangle. Diaz throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Kernwald's body to avoid the submission. Kernwald has instead reached around Diaz's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Kernwald arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Kevin Kernwald!
Kevin Kernwald decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.