PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cris Cyborg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neal Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Neal Diaz enters the cage!

Cyborg
vs
Diaz

172 cm
27
150 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

168 cm
27
150 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

GREEN!160

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cris Cyborg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neal Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Cyborg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Cyborg against the cage but Cyborg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Cyborg avoids them all with ease.
Diaz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Diaz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cyborg counters with a straight right hand.
Diaz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cyborg comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cyborg takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Diaz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cyborg appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cyborg lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cyborg slips a straight right by Diaz.
Cyborg is looking to counter punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz misses with a double jab.
Cyborg lands with a nice combination. Diaz backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cyborg thuds a left hand into Diaz's body.
Cyborg lands a nice shot that snaps Diaz's head back.
Diaz tries to move into range but Cyborg moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Cris Cyborg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz fails with the takedown
and Cyborg counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt
and Cyborg counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cris Cyborg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neal Diaz.
Diaz with a poor takedown
and Cyborg counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Diaz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Cyborg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It looked like Cyborg wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Diaz looks winded!
Cyborg lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Diaz at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cyborg moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Diaz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cyborg dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cyborg jabs Diaz right on the nose. Diaz blinks but takes it well.
Cyborg scores with the left hand. Diaz knows he should have avoided that one.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diaz takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cyborg connects with a body shot.
Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cyborg counters with a nice uppercut.
Cyborg scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cyborg!

Diaz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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 trying to control the action but Cyborg is working from the bottom.
Diaz advances to full mount.
Diaz with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cris Cyborg dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cyborg swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Diaz.
Cyborg lands with a hook. Diaz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cyborg paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diaz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Neal Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Cyborg circles away easily
and Cyborg counters with a right hand to the body.
Diaz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cyborg pinned against the cage. Cyborg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cyborg swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
A counter left hand to the body from Cyborg misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Cyborg.
Diaz has his takedown stuffed
and Cyborg counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cris Cyborg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neal Diaz.
Cyborg scores with a punch to the head.
Cyborg cracks a nice hook into Diaz's ribs.
Cyborg lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Neal Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cyborg shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Diaz eats them both and turns towards Cyborg to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cyborg counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Diaz is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cyborg keeps the fight on the outside.
Cyborg lands with a cross.
Diaz tries to move into range but Cyborg moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cyborg lands a right hook to the body.
Diaz tries to clinch
enabling Cyborg to counter with a crisp jab.
Diaz is still on wobbly legs! Can Cyborg finish him?
Cyborg lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Diaz misses with a takedown
and Cyborg counters with a straight right hand.
Diaz misses with a few strikes there.
Diaz seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cyborg but Cyborg pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Diaz shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cyborg manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz trying to control but Cyborg is working from the bottom.
Diaz won't allow Cyborg to sweep him here.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cyborg is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Neal Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cyborg swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz content to stall in guard here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Diaz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Diaz pushes down on Cyborg's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Diaz seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cris Cyborg dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Diaz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cyborg lands an overhand right.
Diaz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Donk. Cyborg catches Diaz right on the button with a cross.

Diaz feints and as Cyborg raises his hands in defense, Diaz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Cyborg keeps moving.
Cyborg keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cyborg looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diaz is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cyborg being controlled here, momentarily.
Diaz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Diaz has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Diaz fails to take his opponent's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Diaz working for a guillotine from mount but Cyborg is in no mood to give up.
Diaz controlling the pace for now.
Diaz moves to the back.

Diaz is looking for the choke from the back position but Cyborg is controlling his hands well.

Diaz working for the choke.
Diaz is riding his opponent, not letting Cyborg buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Cyborg has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Diaz has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Cyborg taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Diaz doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Neal Diaz!