PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bayden Wood Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Diaz
vs
Wood Jr

183 cm
29
183 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

178 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bayden Wood Jr !
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wood Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wood Jr counters with a straight right hand.

Wood Jr has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.
Diaz tries to break free but Wood Jr pushes him back against the cage.
Diaz wants to get back to striking at distance but Wood Jr won't allow it.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
Diaz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Diaz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Diaz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diaz tries to break the clinch but Wood Jr is controlling the position.

Wood Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wood Jr throws a solid leg kick but Diaz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Wood Jr .
Diaz is looking to clinch but Wood Jr is avoiding it.
Wood Jr throws out a loose jab but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Diaz.
Diaz moves to clinch but Wood Jr breaks away
and Wood Jr cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood Jr throws an overhand right that lands on Diaz's shoulder, as Diaz tries to avoid the shot.
Nice cross by Diaz.
Diaz wants to clinch.
Wood Jr cracks Diaz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A big left from Wood Jr misses.
Diaz lands with a right hand.
Diaz lands a nice shot to the body.
Diaz moves to clinch but Wood Jr breaks away
and Wood Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Diaz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Diaz wants to clinch
and Wood Jr counters with a left to the body.
Diaz throws a jab when Wood Jr was well out of range.
Diaz looks to clinch
and Wood Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheers as Diaz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Wood Jr doesn't seem phased though.
Wood Jr throws a nice looking combination but Diaz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood Jr misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz punishes Wood Jr 's body with a nice straight punch.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wood Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wood Jr ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.
Wood Jr ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.
Diaz tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Wood Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Diaz looks to throw the jab but Wood Jr is out of range.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wood Jr paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wood Jr scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Diaz works the jab nicely.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wood Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wood Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wood Jr misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wood Jr misses with a two punch combination.
Diaz tries to clinch up.
Wood Jr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Diaz tries to clinch but Wood Jr is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood Jr throws a hook but Diaz avoids it easily.
Diaz closes the distance but Wood Jr moves to the side
enabling Wood Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Diaz cracks Wood Jr with a right hand to the side of the head.
Wood Jr defending well as Diaz loads up on a big left hand.
Wood Jr might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Wood Jr throws a head kick that misses.
Wood Jr misses the jab.
Diaz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wood Jr misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wood Jr takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Wood Jr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diaz tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Wood Jr counters by moving into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wood Jr .
Wood Jr lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Diaz tries to circle away but Wood Jr has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Wood Jr 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wood Jr takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Diaz fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz lands a body shot.
Diaz doesn't manage to clinch there - Wood Jr circles away.
Wood Jr misses with a few strikes there.
Diaz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diaz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Wood Jr will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diaz connects with a right hand. Wood Jr shakes it off.
Diaz avoids a punch combination nicely.
A cross from Wood Jr lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bayden Wood Jr will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Wood Jr circles away from the clinch attempt
and Wood Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bayden Wood Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wood Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Wood Jr throws a low kick, looking for Diaz's leg but Diaz calmly moves out of range.
Wood Jr misses with a looping right.
Diaz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Wood Jr .
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Wood Jr circles away.
Wood Jr ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.
Wood Jr lands a slapping body shot.
Wood Jr misses with a few strikes there.
Diaz wants to clinch but Wood Jr slips to the side
letting Wood Jr counter with a right hand.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wood Jr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good exchange - Wood Jr coming out on top.
Wood Jr lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Wood Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Wood Jr .
Diaz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Wood Jr counters with a nice uppercut.
Wood Jr throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diaz checks a leg kick.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Wood Jr .
Diaz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Diaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Diaz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Wood Jr is avoiding it.
Diaz doesn't manage to clinch there - Wood Jr circles away.
Diaz tries to clinch up
and Wood Jr counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wood Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wood Jr gets tackled into the cage by Diaz. Diaz maintains the clinch.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wood Jr wants a takedown.

Wood Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Wood Jr looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wood Jr wants to pass to mount but Diaz is defending the position.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diaz manages to get to full guard.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wood Jr is aware though and is defending well.
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.
Wood Jr is staying active underneath Diaz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood Jr looks like he's trying to stand up.

Diaz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Diaz prevents Wood Jr from standing back up.
Diaz throwing shots but Wood Jr is blocking nicely.
Wood Jr wants to get back to his feet.
Wood Jr is trying to control but can't.

Diaz is working for a kimura but Wood Jr is defending it quite comfortably.
Wood Jr is looking to control Diaz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wood Jr avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wood Jr is in trouble now - Diaz has advanced to mount!
Diaz wants to control the pace but Wood Jr is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz looking to ground and pound but Wood Jr is blocking nicely.

Diaz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Diaz misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wood Jr wants to control but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz trying to control but Wood Jr is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bayden Wood Jr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Wood Jr misses with a hook.
Jab from Diaz.
Diaz is looking to clinch.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wood Jr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wood Jr misses with a low kick.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Diaz tries to clinch but Wood Jr is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diaz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Wood Jr .
Wood Jr gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Diaz.
Diaz tries to clinch but Wood Jr is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood Jr takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Diaz looks to land a combination. Wood Jr sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wood Jr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wood Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wood Jr loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Wood Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Wood Jr keeps it at a distance.
Diaz looks to clinch
and Wood Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Wood Jr is avoiding it.
Diaz looks to clinch
and Wood Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Wood Jr keeps it at a distance.
Diaz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Wood Jr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wood Jr throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Wood Jr keeps the fight on the outside.
Diaz wants to clinch but Wood Jr slips to the side
and Wood Jr cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Wood Jr circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wood Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wood Jr lands a nice shot that snaps Diaz's head back.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Wood Jr circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz tries to clinch but Wood Jr moves away
and Wood Jr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Diaz tries to clinch but Wood Jr is having none of it.
Diaz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Wood Jr .
Diaz looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Diaz throws a lazy uppercut

and Wood Jr counters by moving into the clinch.
Diaz tries to break free but Wood Jr pushes him back against the cage.
Wood Jr is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Diaz is keeping busy.
A short body shot lands from Wood Jr as the two fighters clinch.

Wood Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wood Jr looks to land a combination but Diaz avoids it well.
Diaz swings for the body but Wood Jr moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Wood Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wood Jr throws a looping overhand right but Diaz ducks down to avoid it.
Diaz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Diaz wants to clinch but Wood Jr slips to the side
and Wood Jr counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wood Jr .
Wood Jr needs to keep his hands up - Diaz had a free shot at his head there.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wood Jr counters with a nice body shot.
Wood Jr swinging wildly here.
Wood Jr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz lands a nice shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wood Jr misses the jab.
Diaz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wood Jr doesn't seem bothered though.
Diaz digs a good hook to Wood Jr 's body.
Diaz connects with a jab.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Wood Jr .
Diaz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Wood Jr counters with a three punch combo that has Diaz backing up. Diaz nods at Wood Jr to acknowledge the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wood Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Diaz fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diaz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wood Jr misses with a wild combination.
Nick Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bayden Wood Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Wood Jr 's head.

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 Wood Jr 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Bayden Wood Jr !