PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Diego (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Nickles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carlos Diego could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nathan Nickles's chin.

Diego
vs
Nickles

179 cm
21
187 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Maximum Vitality

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Carlos Diego!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nathan Nickles!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nickles works Diego's body with a nice hook.
Diego takes one to the chin there.
Nickles pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nickles throws a sloppy head kick
and Diego counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diego looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jab by Nickles.
Nickles gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Diego counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego cracks Nickles with a good jab.
Nickles dives in for a single leg takedown but Diego sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Diego appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickles lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Diego throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carlos Diego is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nickles lands with a hook. Diego tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Diego staying out of range there.
Nickles throws a sloppy head kick and Diego moves out of range easily.
Diego is looking to counter punch.

Nickles shoots in and bounces Diego off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Diego looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Nickles working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickles throws a big elbow that misses.
Nickles throws a strike but Diego rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Diego slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nickles looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diego is one step ahead there.
Nickles pulls Diego in close to his closed guard and prevents Diego from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nickles pivots, looking for a leg kick but Diego is out of range and Nickles settles back down.
Nickles jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little feinted left hand from Diego on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Diego throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nickles swings for the body but Diego moves out of range.
Diego lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nickles throws a low kick but Diego moves out of range easily.
Diego is looking to counter punch.
Nickles takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Diego tries a head kick but it misses.

Nickles shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Diego's guard.
Nickles trying to control the position from guard on top but Diego is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nickles won't allow Diego to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nickles lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nickles accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Nickles dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Crunch! Nickles slams his shin into Diego's torso.
Nickles lands a lovely overhand right.
Nickles has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nickles darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nickles throws a body kick that misses.

Nickles gets the takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickles is trying to ground and pound but Diego uses the momentary lack of control by Nickles to regain half guard.
Nickles throws a strike but Diego avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nickles is looking to work some ground and pound but Diego has wrist control.
Nickles throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nickles pushes down on Diego's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Nickles is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Diego defends it well.
Nickles throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Diego keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nickles throwing shots but Diego is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Nickles is looking for a kimura here.
Nickles wants to control but Diego is keeping him busy.
Nickles works his way into side control.
Diego manages to get back to half guard.
Nickles not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Nickles wants to work for an arm triangle but Diego is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nickles missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Nickles there.
Diego regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nickles.
Nickles throwing strikes but missing.
Nickles throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nickles trying to control but Diego is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nickles connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nickles misses with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sloppy strikes from Nickles. Those never looked like landing.
Diego pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nathan Nickles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diego displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nickles throws out the jab.
Diego is looking to counter with head kicks.
A punch combination from Nickles misses.
Nickles throws a lazy right hand but Diego sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nickles throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Diego on the side of the head.
Nickles swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Nickles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Diego defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nickles.
Diego seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Jab from Diego.
Nickles misses with a kick to the body.
Diego uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nickles.
Diego throwing a counter right hand but Nickles manages to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Nickles throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diego is looking to counter with head kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego lands an overhand right.
Nickles misses with a left hand
enabling Diego to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Nickles.
Diego blocks a head kick by Nickles.
Nickles missing with a left hand there. Diego was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Nickles is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Diego's half guard.
Nickles seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Diego does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nickles has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Diego keeping hold of Nickles's head, controlling as best he can.
Nickles missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Carlos Diego has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nathan Nickles is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickles is looking to take a break and control but Diego is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diego wants to improve his position but Nickles is controlling well.
Diego blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nickles.
Diego keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nickles thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diego's head.

Nickles is working for a kimura but Diego is defending it quite comfortably.

Nickles seems to be working for a kimura but Diego defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego wants to control but Nickles is keeping busy.
Nickles wants to take a breather but Diego is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nickles throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Diego to counter with a crisp jab.
Nickles walks into a left hand.
Nickles looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diego is fending him off so far but Nickles persists. Nope, Diego circles away and we're back to standing.
Diego throwing a counter right hand but Nickles manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diego lands a big head kick that sends Nickles tumbling to the mat! Diego takes a step backwards and waves Nickles back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Nickles is rocked!
Diego lands a big uppercut and this one is all over! His foe lies motionless on the canvas - a massive one punch knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Carlos Diego!
A very excited looking Carlos Diego made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.