PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Neal Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Craig Anderson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Diaz
vs
Anderson

168 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
23
150 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neal Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, David Schapiro and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz throws a right hand that Anderson ducks under and follows up with a left that Anderson also avoids with ease.
Diaz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Anderson is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Anderson lands with a straight right. Diaz didn't see that one coming.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses

and Anderson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Anderson.
Anderson scores with a shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Anderson pushes Diaz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Anderson pushes Diaz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Anderson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Anderson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Anderson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Anderson prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anderson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Diaz wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neal Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Anderson lands with a short shot to the head.
Anderson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short uppercut from Anderson.
Anderson lands a hook that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
A short right from Anderson.
Anderson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Diaz tries to score a body lock takedown but Anderson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Anderson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Anderson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Anderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Anderson prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anderson lands a nice shot to the body.
Diaz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Anderson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Anderson pushes Diaz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson lands with a light punch inside.
Anderson pushes Diaz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Anderson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Diaz wants to stall.
Anderson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Anderson works on Diaz's body with a couple of short punches.
Anderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Anderson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Anderson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Anderson as the two fighters clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Anderson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Anderson works on Diaz's body with a couple of short punches.
Anderson scores with a shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Anderson presses Diaz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Diaz tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A short uppercut from Anderson.
Anderson lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Anderson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Anderson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Anderson lands a body shot.
Diaz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Anderson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Anderson gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Anderson.
Anderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Anderson gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anderson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Diaz takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Anderson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Anderson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Anderson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Diaz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Anderson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Anderson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Anderson lands a right hand.
Anderson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Anderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anderson lands a hook that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
A shot in the inside from Anderson.
Anderson gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Anderson scores with a shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz is trying to drag Anderson to the mat but Anderson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Anderson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Anderson's corner calls for a 1-2. Anderson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Anderson gets caught flat footed, as Diaz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Anderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Anderson is retaining full guard.
Anderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Diaz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Diaz stands and throws Anderson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Anderson can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Anderson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Diaz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Diaz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Diaz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Anderson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Diaz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Anderson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anderson keeps working.

Diaz is trying to get an arm triangle but Anderson is defending well.

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

Diaz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz has hold of Anderson's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Anderson tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Diaz cranks the arm and Anderson screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Anderson, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Neal Diaz!