PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Chen (ranked 4537 p4p, 4498 weight class) and Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 477 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.

Chen
vs
Diaz

183 cm
19
185
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anthony Chen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nick Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chen dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Chen's head and hops out.
Chen misses with a takedown attempt
and Diaz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Chen dives in for a single leg takedown but Diaz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Chen moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Chen tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Chen tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chen shoots in but Diaz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chen tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Chen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Chen is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.
As Chen backs off Diaz throws a huge counter combo but Chen manages to avoid it all.
Chen shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No joy there for Chen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaz throws out a counter right but Chen avoids it with no problem.
Chen tries a head kick but it misses.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Chen.
Diaz is looking for the big counter here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Diaz defends well and Chen ends up having to push Diaz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
It seemed like Diaz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Chen is breathing heavily.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chen tries for a takedown but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Chen shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.
Diaz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Anthony Chen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chen shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice takedown defense from Diaz. No joy for Chen on that attempt.
A nice side step and Diaz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diaz appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Chen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Diaz defends it nicely.
Diaz is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Chen with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen shoots in looking for a takedown but Diaz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Chen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Despite the aggression on Diaz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
No luck for Chen with that takedown attempt.
Diaz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Diaz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Diaz is looking for the big counter here.
Chen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Diaz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Diaz checks a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Diaz! But no joy.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.
Diaz is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Chen misses with the combination.
Chen misses with a takedown attempt
and Diaz counters with a right hand to the body.
Diaz keeps the fight on the outside.
Diaz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Chen shoots in looking for a takedown but Diaz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Chen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Diaz tries a quick counter leg kick but Chen is wise to it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chen throws a series of punches but Diaz moves out of range.
Chen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Diaz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Diaz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Diaz blocks a low kick nicely.
Chen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Diaz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chen tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
Chen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A little jabbing left from Diaz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Chen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A little jabbing left from Diaz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Chen with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen looks to clinch
and Diaz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice sprawl there from Diaz as Chen shoots in.
Chen misses with a double jab
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Chen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.
Chen throws a head kick that misses
and Diaz counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen fails to land the takedown.
Chen doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Chen fails with the takedown
and Diaz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Chen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Diaz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chen tries to clinch up.
A little jabbing left from Diaz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Chen tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Chen closes the distance and clinches up with Diaz, looking for a takedown. Chen pushes Diaz against the cage but Diaz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Diaz steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen dives in for a single leg takedown but Diaz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Chen takes a shot to the head.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
Diaz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chen throws out the jab.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz throws a fast counter high kick but Chen manages to duck under it in time.
A combination from Chen does no damage.
Diaz is looking for the big counter here.
Chen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
As Chen backs off Diaz throws a huge counter combo but Chen manages to avoid it all.
Chen misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Anthony Chen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Chen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Diaz sprawls well. Diaz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chen gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Chen.
Chen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.
Chen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Diaz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Chen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diaz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chen somewhat.
Diaz throws a big counter head kick but Chen avoids it with no problem.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Diaz keeps the fight on the outside.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
A nice side step and Diaz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Chen tries to land a leg kick but Diaz saw it coming and moves away.
Chen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Diaz let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Chen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diaz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chen somewhat.
Diaz steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Chen tries for a takedown but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
As Chen backs off Diaz throws a huge counter combo but Chen manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Diaz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Diaz as Chen shoots in.
Chen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Chen closes the distance but Diaz moves to the side
and Diaz counters with a left to the body.
Chen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Chen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Chen persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Chen tries for a takedown but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Chen moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
As Chen backs off Diaz throws a huge counter combo but Chen manages to avoid it all.
Chen tries to clinch up
and Diaz counters with a one-two to the body.
Diaz staying out of range there.
Chen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Diaz replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Chen blocks it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen fails with a takedown attempt.
Chen shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chen misses with a takedown
and Diaz counters with a left and a right that stings Chen.
Chen throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Chen fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chen misses with a low kick.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Chen. Chen gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Chen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Diaz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Chen closes the distance and clinches up with Diaz, looking for a takedown. Chen pushes Diaz against the cage but Diaz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Diaz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Chen.
Anthony Chen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nick Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diaz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diaz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Nick Diaz!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Nick Diaz!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Nick Diaz!

Nick Diaz wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Nick Diaz, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.