PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Henderson Bennet (ranked 4128 p4p, 2983 weight class) and Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 393 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bennet
vs
Diaz

178 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
164
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Henderson Bennet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nate Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennet throws a body shot but no joy.
Diaz tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bennet tries to bum rush Diaz with a series of wild strikes but Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bennet fails to land with a series of punches.

Diaz scores with a takedown into Bennet's guard.
Diaz postures up in Bennet's guard and throws a big left but Bennet blocks it.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Diaz has gone for a leg lock! Bennet slips out almost immediately though and dives into Diaz's guard.

Bennet wants to get up but he can't break Diaz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennet won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.

Bennet decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Diaz, up you get!
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Diaz gets a takedown into half guard.
Diaz not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz stops Bennet from getting back to his feet.
Diaz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bennet blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diaz.
Diaz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Bennet kicks Diaz off and gets back to his feet.
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bennet is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Bennet circles away and we're back to standing.
Henderson Bennet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Diaz.
Bennet leaves Diaz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bennet throws a big counter combination but Diaz scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bennet.
Diaz dives in and grabs Bennet's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bennet pushes down on Diaz's head and hops out.
Nate Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bennet pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Bennet turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Diaz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bennet is pushing Diaz up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Bennet breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bennet is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Diaz's half guard.
Bennet is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bennet prevents Diaz from standing back up.
Bennet is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Diaz is trying to stand.
Bennet tries to stand but can't do so whilst Diaz controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bennet pulls his head out easily.

Bennet stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Diaz to get to his feet.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Diaz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bennet tries to escape but Diaz is in control.

Bennet bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Nice sprawl there from Bennet as Diaz shoots in.
Diaz misses with a takedown

and Bennet counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz decides to pull guard.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet but Bennet passes into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bennet seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Diaz pushes Bennet off looking to stand but Bennet dives back in and keeps control.
Diaz trying to control but Bennet postures up.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Diaz looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Bennet pushes past his half guard into mount!

Bennet get's back to his feet.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Henderson Bennet dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bennet looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Diaz wants to control but Bennet is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bennet tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Diaz.
Diaz trying to control from the bottom.
Bennet prevents Diaz from standing back up.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bennet tries to stand and escape but Diaz is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Bennet is very close to passing his half guard.

Bennet escapes and gets back to his feet.
Bennet throws a right hand that Diaz ducks under and follows up with a left that Diaz also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diaz fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz gets a double leg takedown into Bennet's guard.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Diaz throws a strike but Bennet rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Diaz has his foot on Bennet's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bennet works his way back into a safe position though.
Bennet trying to stand up but can't free himself from Diaz's guard.
Diaz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Diaz is working an open guard so Bennet takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Bennet, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Bennet against the cage but Bennet circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Bennet closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Diaz to the mat! Diaz manages to get full guard.

Diaz wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Diaz shoots in and bounces Bennet off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Bennet wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bennet is looking to escape.
Diaz throwing shots but Bennet is blocking nicely.
Diaz stops Bennet from getting back to his feet.
Diaz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Diaz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bennet is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Diaz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Diaz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bennet blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diaz.
Diaz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennet is trying to stand.

Bennet makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Diaz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bennet to the mat! Bennet manages to get full guard.

Diaz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bennet is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Diaz, into his guard.

Bennet gets to his feet. Diaz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Bennet sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Henderson Bennet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Diaz.
Bennet shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Diaz eats them both and turns towards Bennet to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bennet went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Diaz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Diaz showed some decent athleticism there.

Bennet makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diaz.
Diaz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bennet swivels and escapes.
Bennet fails to land with a series of punches.

Bennet dives in and scores a takedown into Diaz's guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Bennet wants to stand but Diaz is controlling his posture from full guard.

Bennet has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Diaz to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Bennet is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Diaz pulls down on the head and he's put Bennet to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Nate Diaz!
A determined Nate Diaz didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!