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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romero Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.
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| 188 cm
23
179 lbs
5 - 0 - 0 |
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183 cm
20
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Romero Gracie!
The judges for this bout are , and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gracie trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz pushes Gracie off and gets back to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Diaz throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diaz waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Diaz tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Diaz sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Diaz won't allow it.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Diaz is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie stops Diaz from getting back to his feet.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Diaz makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.
The fighters are battling for position here. Diaz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie looks gassed!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Diaz doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaz wants to clinch.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Diaz moved out of range nicely.
Diaz misses with an uppercut.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Diaz misses.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
A nice combination there by Gracie.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Diaz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Diaz walks forward, straight into a front kick from Gracie.
Diaz misses with a double jab
and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Diaz is looking to escape.
Ground and pound from Gracie.
Diaz has one foot on Gracie's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Diaz throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie clinches up with Diaz and pushes him back against the cage.
Diaz misses with a knee strike.
Diaz is fighting off a takedown attempt but Gracie is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Diaz to the mat. Diaz regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Gracie postures up in Diaz's guard and throws a big left but Diaz blocks it.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Diaz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gracie is pressing down on Diaz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Diaz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie walks into a jab.
Diaz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Diaz lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Romero Gracie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Diaz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Diaz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Diaz is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie slips a nice elbow through Diaz's hands, connecting with Diaz's forehead.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gracie is pressing down on Diaz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Diaz is holding on for now.
Gracie is nestled in close to Diaz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Diaz manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Diaz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gracie thinking.
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.
Diaz moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Diaz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gracie momentarily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Diaz clinches but Gracie breaks the clinch
and Gracie counters with a big head kick but Diaz shrugs it off.
Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gracie ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gracie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Diaz wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.
Diaz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Romero Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz stands up from Gracie's guard - Diaz perhaps looking for a knockout.
Diaz tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Diaz wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie stops Diaz from standing up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Diaz's guard.
Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Diaz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Gracie frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Diaz is squirming around nicely.
Diaz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gracie lands with some strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie trying to control but Diaz is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Romero Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Diaz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gracie counters with a nice uppercut.
Nick Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diaz.
Gracie lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Diaz fails to land with a series of punches.
Diaz tries to clinch but Gracie moves away
and Gracie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Diaz!
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie has control of Diaz's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Diaz regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gracie cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Gracie mounts Diaz! Really nice guard pass there!
Gracie tries to control but Diaz wriggling away.
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Diaz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie won't let Diaz get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The referee warns Diaz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Diaz defends it well.
Diaz squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gracie scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Diaz tries to buck Gracie off but he can't manage it.
Gracie looking to control but Diaz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gracie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gracie with good strikes from the mount here!
Gracie jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Diaz is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Diaz and Gracie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gracie working the ground and pound but Diaz is defending the strikes.
Diaz is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Diaz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diaz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Diaz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diaz throws a sloppy body shot
and Gracie counters with a two punch combo.
Diaz darts in trying to clinch
and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Diaz won't be happy with that.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Diaz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Diaz tries to stand and escape but Gracie is controlling the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Diaz stands up and waves to Gracie to follow him.
Gracie moves out of range as Diaz strikes.
Diaz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Diaz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diaz's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Romero Gracie really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Diaz clinches.
Gracie breaks the clinch.
Diaz throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Diaz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Diaz misses with a double jab
and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Diaz defends it.
Gracie is nestled in close to Diaz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Diaz tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gracie lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Diaz pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
Diaz tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Gracie has Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Gracie stalling in the clinch but Diaz improves position.
Diaz crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Gracie breaks the clinch.
Diaz throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A head kick from Gracie lands but Diaz takes it in his stride.
Diaz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gracie counters with a right hand to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Diaz dodges it nicely.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Diaz pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A combination from Diaz does no damage.
Gracie checks a low kick from Diaz.
Diaz misses with the combination.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands with a straight right. Gracie didn't see that one coming.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diaz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Crunch! Gracie slams his shin into Diaz's torso.
Diaz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Diaz tries to stand and escape but Gracie is controlling the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Diaz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Diaz's back!
Diaz is trying to get back to his feet but Gracie has full control of the position and if anything, Diaz has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Gracie trying to control momentarily.
Gracie looking for the RNC.
Diaz holding both Gracie 's hands and preventing any damage.
Diaz is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Gracie gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Romero Gracie dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Diaz looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Diaz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Diaz gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
A short left from Diaz.
Diaz lands a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Diaz.
Diaz connects with a knee to the head.
Diaz lands a nice uppercut.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Diaz scores a nice knee to the body.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diaz smiles and moves away.
Diaz looks to clinch
and Gracie counters with a solid body kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Diaz sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Diaz is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Gracie wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie working Diaz over with strikes.
Diaz is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie blocks the strikes from Diaz.
Gracie is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gracie wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nick Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
A right-left combo lands from Diaz.
Diaz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gracie moves into the clinch.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gracie pulls guard effortlessly.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie is looking for a triangle but Diaz pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Diaz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
Diaz throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie instigates a clinch.
Diaz with a knee to the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.
Gracie can't break the clinch.
Diaz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Diaz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Diaz won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Diaz.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Diaz won't allow it.
Nick Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romero Gracie.
Gracie wants to stall.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diaz smiles and moves away.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Jab from Diaz.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Diaz wants to clinch
and Gracie counters with an inside leg kick.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie shoots in but Diaz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice shot lands for Diaz.
Diaz clobbers Gracie with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Diaz misses with a combination
and Gracie counters with a series of strikes. Diaz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Diaz misses with an uppercut.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nick Diaz.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 46:49
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 46:49
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:49
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romero Gracie!
Romero Gracie is the new welterweight champion!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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