PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Walnuts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nickthaniel Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Diaz's choice of entrance music: Feiticeira. 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.

Walnuts
vs
Diaz

180 cm
21
179 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

186 cm
28
176 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Victory! Sports Nutrition

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Walnuts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nickthaniel Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walnuts tries to bum rush Diaz with a series of wild strikes but Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diaz cracks Walnuts with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Walnuts throws a right hand that misses
and Diaz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Diaz slips a straight right by Walnuts.
Walnuts throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Walnuts misses with a body shot
and Diaz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Walnuts connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Diaz momentarily.

Walnuts rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Walnuts holds him up against the cage and eventually Diaz drops back down to his feet.
Diaz lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diaz is struggling to control the position.
Walnuts slowing the pace effectively.

Diaz successfully pulls guard.

Diaz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Walnuts defends it easily.
We've been hearing good reports from Walnuts's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Diaz has momentary wrist control but Walnuts slips an elbow through the middle.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Walnuts is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walnuts throws a big right hand that misses.
Walnuts with a flurry of punches that miss.

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

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Walnuts has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Walnuts seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Walnuts throws a big right hand that misses.
Walnuts lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Walnuts defends well.

Diaz manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Diaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz scores with a jab to the body.
Walnuts takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Some wild striking there from Walnuts.
Diaz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Walnuts doesn't seem bothered though.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Walnuts steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz misses with a left hand
letting Walnuts counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Walnuts looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diaz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz swings for the body but Walnuts moves out of range.
It looked like Walnuts wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Walnuts closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Diaz pushes off an throws an elbow but Walnuts leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Diaz being controlled against the cage.
Diaz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Walnuts walks away with a smile on his face. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nickthaniel Diaz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice uppercut lands for Walnuts. That snapped Diaz's head back.
Paul Walnuts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz leaves Walnuts with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Paul Walnuts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Diaz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Walnuts throws a jab but it's blocked by Diaz.
Walnuts takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Walnuts throws a looping overhand right but Diaz ducks down to avoid it.
Walnuts uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Diaz.
Diaz motions for Walnuts to come forward. Diaz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz moves away from the strike by Walnuts.
A little jabbing left from Diaz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Walnuts has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.

Walnuts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Walnuts is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walnuts moves away from the strike by Diaz.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Walnuts manages to avoid it.
Walnuts seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Walnuts misses with a jab, cross combination.
Walnuts staying out of range there.
Diaz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Diaz let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Walnuts moves out of range.
Walnuts fires out a quick counter leg kick but Diaz just manages to avoid it.
Diaz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diaz throws a sloppy head kick
and Walnuts counters with a one-two to the body.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Walnuts misses the shot to the body.
Diaz lands a body shot.
Walnuts takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Walnuts takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Walnuts drives through and clinches with Diaz against the cage.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Walnuts turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Diaz tries to throw a body punch but Walnuts avoids it by throwing Diaz back against the cage.
Diaz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Diaz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Walnuts won't allow it.
Paul Walnuts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickthaniel Diaz.
Walnuts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Walnuts tries to pull guard but Diaz won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diaz content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Diaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Walnuts manages to break the clinch.
Walnuts throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.
Walnuts throws a leg kick but Diaz sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Walnuts avoids them all with ease.
Walnuts throwing a counter right hand but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Diaz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Walnuts cracks Diaz with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nickthaniel Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Diaz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Walnuts won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz stalling against the cage.
Walnuts taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Walnuts's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Walnuts.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Walnuts tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Walnuts throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diaz.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diaz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nickthaniel Diaz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A low kick from Walnuts is predictable there
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Walnuts slips a jab from Diaz.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Walnuts is just out of range.
Walnuts tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Walnuts.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Walnuts displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Diaz throws out the jab.
Walnuts has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Diaz takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Walnuts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A decent looking cross lands there for Walnuts.
Walnuts loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Walnuts slips under a jab from Diaz.
Walnuts keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walnuts lands a nice shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from Walnuts.
Diaz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Walnuts uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Diaz moves out of range of the body kick.
Diaz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Walnuts instigates a clinch.

Walnuts breaks the clinch.
Walnuts misses with a takedown
and Diaz counters with a nice uppercut.
Walnuts connects with a jab.
Diaz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Walnuts seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Walnuts moves out of range as Diaz throws a body kick.
Diaz throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Walnuts on the side of the head.
Walnuts connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walnuts takes one on the button.
Diaz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Diaz jabs Walnuts to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Walnuts tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Walnuts.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Diaz! But no joy.
Walnuts avoids the body shot from Diaz.
Walnuts misses with a looping right.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diaz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Walnuts throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Diaz counters with a nice body shot.
Walnuts looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.
Diaz with the counter takedown but Walnuts avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Walnuts.
Diaz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Walnuts looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walnuts misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Diaz throws a shot from downtown. Walnuts moves away and avoids it.
Diaz slips a straight right by Walnuts.
Diaz raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Walnuts dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Walnuts throws a low kick but Diaz avoids it.
Walnuts misses with a looping left.
Paul Walnuts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big left from Walnuts misses.
Diaz looks to land a left hand but Walnuts moved out of range nicely.
Walnuts digs a good hook to Diaz's body.
Walnuts scores with a jab. Diaz acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Walnuts.
Walnuts tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Diaz!
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diaz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Walnuts.
Diaz is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Walnuts with a body shot.
Walnuts slips a jab from Diaz.
Walnuts swinging wildly here.
A little jabbing left from Diaz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Diaz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Walnuts throws out the jab.
Diaz cracks Walnuts with a right hand to the side of the head.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Walnuts avoids them all with ease.
Nickthaniel Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Walnuts throws a low kick, looking for Diaz's leg but Diaz calmly moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nickthaniel Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Diaz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nickthaniel Diaz!
Nickthaniel Diaz made sure to mention his sponsor, Sun-Tzu in his post fight interview.