PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Lapis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapis has chosen Once Solemn as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Diaz
vs
Lapis

183 cm
27
174 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

178 cm
29
185 lbs
21 - 18 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Lapis!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Diaz counters with a leg kick.
Diaz cracks Lapis with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Diaz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Lapis drops his hands momentarily and Diaz takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Diaz scores with the left hand. Lapis knows he should have avoided that one.
Lapis takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Diaz scores with a jab to the head.
Diaz definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Diaz takes a swing at Lapis's ribcage but misses.
Diaz does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Lapis drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Diaz defends it well.
Lapis uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Lapis takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Diaz lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Lapis feints the counter takedown.

Lapis shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Diaz is trying to defend but Lapis finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Lapis has control of the leg.
Diaz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Diaz.
Diaz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lapis throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Lapis is proving a slippery customer.
Lapis is pushing down on Diaz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Diaz is fighting to maintain full guard but Lapis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Diaz tries to roll over but Lapis keeps him under control.
Lapis is keen to just control but Diaz is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lapis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lapis.

Lapis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Diaz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lapis.
Lapis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

Lapis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lapis is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.
Diaz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Lapis trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz controlling Lapis's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.
Lapis advances to half guard.
Diaz is controlling Lapis's trapped leg to prevent Lapis from advancing to side control.
Lapis is trying to control the action in half guard but Diaz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

Lapis is looking for a kimura here.
Lapis prevents Diaz from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lapis uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Nick Diaz has been cut.
Diaz lands with a nice body punch.

Diaz shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lapis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Lapis keeps moving.
Lapis wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.

Lapis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lapis is trying to keep Diaz in close.

Lapis has his foot on Diaz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diaz works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lapis looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lapis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Lapis keeps moving.

Diaz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lapis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diaz has managed to get both his arms back between Lapis's legs - danger averted.

Lapis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diaz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lapis pulls Diaz in close to prevent any damage.

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.
Diaz controlling from the top position.
Diaz won't allow Lapis to sweep him here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lapis looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A low kick from Diaz is predictable there
and Lapis counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Diaz lands a jab to the nose.
Diaz throws an overhand right that lands on Lapis's shoulder, as Lapis tries to avoid the shot.
Lapis punishes Diaz's body with a nice straight punch.
Diaz looks to throw the jab but Lapis is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a leg kick that is checked

and Lapis counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Diaz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Diaz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lapis trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lapis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Lapis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Lapis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lapis passes into half guard.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Lapis is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lapis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lapis trying to pass the guard but Diaz defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Lapis is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Diaz still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Diaz has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andrey Lapis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nick Diaz's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lapis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lapis thuds a left hand into Diaz's body.
Diaz lands with a cross.
Diaz lands a slapping body shot.
Lapis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Diaz counters with a straight right hand.
Diaz scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz connects with a jab.
Lapis slips under a jab.
Lapis misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Diaz misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz tries to land a leg kick but Lapis saw it coming and moves away.
A little jabbing left from Lapis on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lapis avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Diaz connects with a looping right hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Diaz. That snapped Lapis's head back.
Diaz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lapis.
Diaz scores with the left hand. Lapis knows he should have avoided that one.
Diaz scores with a punch to the head.
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lapis throws a hook to the side of Diaz's head but Diaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jab by Diaz.
Decent striking displayed by Diaz there.
Nice shot by Lapis.
Diaz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Diaz lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Diaz misses.
Diaz scores with a punch to the head.
Lapis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lapis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lapis moves out of range of the strikes.
Diaz throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Lapis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaz tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz misses with a hook. Lapis ducked under it nicely.
And Lapis tries to counter it with a takedown but Diaz pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lapis throws a body shot but no joy.
Diaz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Diaz lands a lovely overhand right.
Diaz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lapis can do to turn this around?
Diaz cracks a nice hook into Lapis's ribs.
Diaz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Diaz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Diaz swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Diaz throws out a leg kick but Lapis moves out of range and Diaz only half commits.
Lapis just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Diaz misses the target.
Lapis gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Diaz connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lapis lands a right hook to the body.
Diaz lands a nice hook to Lapis's body. Lapis takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Lapis.
Lapis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lapis has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lapis drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Diaz defends it well.
Diaz digs a good body shot into Lapis's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lapis blocks a head kick by Diaz.
Lapis blocks a low kick nicely.
Lapis is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Diaz misses with a jab to the body
and Lapis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice body punch from Diaz.
Lapis swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Lapis.
Diaz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The fighters circling - Lapis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Diaz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Diaz!
In defeat, Andrey Lapis stepped up to the mic, saying 'That was a nice job to fight for all of you! But I'm tired. Thanks for everyone! Bye!'.