PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Talib Kweli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Illac Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Illac Diaz will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kweli
vs
Diaz

160 cm
25
152 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

174 cm
23
145 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Talib Kweli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Illac Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz scores with a jab.

Kweli drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Diaz has his hands on Kweli's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kweli 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.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Kweli tries to pass.
Kweli slips nicely into half guard.
Diaz is trying to control but can't.

Kweli is looking for a kimura here.

Kweli 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kweli throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Diaz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kweli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.
Diaz gets back to full guard.
Kweli postures up in Diaz's guard and throws a big left but Diaz blocks it.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Kweli postures up.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kweli with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Diaz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kweli to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kweli has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kweli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kweli passes into half guard.
Kweli wants to take a breather but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Kweli has control of the leg.
Kweli throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kweli is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Diaz trying to control but Kweli postures up.
Kweli not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Diaz is trying is best to control the position here.
Kweli thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Kweli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kweli throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli works Diaz's body with a nice hook.
Diaz defending well as Kweli loads up on a big left hand.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Kweli.
Kweli fails with a takedown attempt.
Diaz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kweli moves out of range of the strikes.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kweli.
Kweli misses with a series of wild punches.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kweli scores with a one two! Diaz had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Kweli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz misses with a hook. Kweli ducked under it nicely.
Some wild striking there from Kweli.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kweli. Diaz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Talib Kweli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kweli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz connects with a nice looking jab.
Illac Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kweli misses with an uppercut. Diaz saw that one coming.
Nice takedown defense from Diaz. No joy for Kweli on that attempt.
Kweli misses with a double jab.
The fighters circling - Kweli throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz walks into a jab.
A swing and a miss from Kweli.
Kweli slips under a jab.
Kweli is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diaz.

Kweli shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.
Kweli thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Kweli is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kweli prevents Diaz from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A telegraphed right hand from Diaz misses the target.
Diaz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kweli.
Kweli loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
The fighters circling - Diaz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kweli throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diaz.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Kweli circles away and keeps his distance.
Kweli throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kweli will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No joy there for Kweli, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kweli.
Kweli is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Diaz's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
A combination from Kweli does no damage.
Kweli throws a right hand that Diaz ducks under and follows up with a left that Diaz also avoids with ease.
Diaz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kweli.
Talib Kweli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kweli scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz moves out of range of the strikes.
Diaz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kweli at a distance.
Kweli throws a hook but Diaz avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kweli looks for a takedown but Diaz sprawls well.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Diaz clobbers Kweli with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kweli uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diaz.
Diaz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Good shot there by Kweli.

Kweli changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Diaz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Diaz is trying to control Kweli's posture but Kweli avoids it.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Kweli in side control, throwing shots but Diaz defends.
An elbow from Kweli crashes against the mat.
Diaz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Kweli is very close to passing his half guard.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.
Kweli throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kweli drops an elbow to the side of Diaz's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kweli shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kweli shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Talib Kweli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab lands there for Diaz.
Kweli misses with a straight left.
Diaz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kweli jabs Diaz right on the nose. Diaz blinks but takes it well.
Kweli throws a lazy right hand but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diaz moves out of range as Kweli strikes.
Diaz leaves Kweli with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kweli gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Diaz.

Kweli throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Diaz was covering up waiting for the punch and Kweli finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Diaz pulls Kweli in to control the position.
Kweli with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kweli is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kweli in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kweli with a flurry of punches that miss.
Diaz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kweli lands a jab-cross combination.
Kweli fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kweli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kweli shoots in looking for a takedown. Diaz tries to sprawl out of it but Kweli keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Diaz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Kweli bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Kweli working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kweli looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Diaz is avoiding damage well.
Diaz struggling a bit here.
Kweli scores with punches from side control.
Kweli in side control lands a decent elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kweli not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kweli tries to pass the half guard into mount. Diaz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kweli is trying to control. Diaz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli dominated that second round.
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!

Diaz rushes Kweli and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kweli looking for a takedown.
Kweli is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Diaz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Diaz pushes Kweli back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Diaz.
Kweli is leaning against Diaz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diaz.
Diaz swings wildly with an uppercut but Kweli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kweli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Diaz pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Talib Kweli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz stuns Kweli with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kweli throws a hook to the side of Diaz's head but Diaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kweli is trying hard to land a takedown here. Diaz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kweli fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz loads up on a big right hand but Kweli slips the punch.
Diaz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kweli fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz throws a good cross that connects.
Nice jab there from Diaz.
Kweli throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diaz's waist but Diaz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kweli off to one side.
Kweli gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Diaz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Diaz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diaz lands a nice uppercut.
Diaz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kweli.
Kweli drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kweli drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Diaz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Illac Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz effectively controlling the action here.
A nice left hand lands by Diaz.
Kweli tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kweli can't get the takedown.
Diaz stops a takedown attempt from Kweli.
Kweli's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short uppercut from Diaz.
Kweli wants a takedown.
Diaz scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Diaz.
Kweli is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Diaz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Diaz working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Diaz lands a body punch.
Kweli misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kweli drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli looking for a takedown.
Diaz swings wildly with an uppercut but Kweli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz leaning his opponent against the cage.
Diaz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kweli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Diaz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kweli missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Diaz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kweli.
Kweli misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Kweli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kweli shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Kweli has control of the leg.

Kweli is working for a submission of some sort.
Diaz keeping control of the position.
Talib Kweli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kweli.

And that's the end of the fight!
Illac Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kweli 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Talib Kweli!