PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kano Kintaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz's entrance music is Voices - Rev Theory. A fine choice. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Kano Kintaro enters the cage!

Diaz
vs
Kintaro

183 cm
19
169 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Bloodsport Nutrition

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nate Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kano Kintaro!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz throws a shot to the body.

Kintaro is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Diaz's half guard.
Diaz is staying active underneath Kintaro, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kintaro wants to stand up but Diaz is controlling the position.
Kintaro wants to free his trapped foot but Diaz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Still in half guard, Kintaro seems content to control.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Kintaro is controlling well.
Diaz trying to control here.
Kintaro misses with a head shot. Diaz uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kintaro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kintaro wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.

Kintaro has gone for a leg lock! Diaz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kintaro's guard.
Kintaro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Kintaro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz throws a big right hand that misses.
Kintaro wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

Kintaro has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Diaz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Diaz enables Kintaro to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Diaz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kintaro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kintaro wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Kintaro stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kintaro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diaz wants to stand up but Kintaro is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kintaro trying to move into half guard but instead Diaz has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kintaro keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Diaz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Diaz thows a big elbow that misses.
Kintaro is adopting a defensive guard.

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 wanted to stand there but Kintaro had control of the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kintaro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Diaz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kintaro backs up against the cage.
Kintaro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Diaz defends it nicely.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Kintaro circles away easily

and Kintaro counters with a shoot takedown. Diaz fights it but they end up in guard.
Kintaro looks gassed!
Kintaro slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kintaro working away.
Kintaro working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kintaro closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kintaro throws an elbow but Diaz slips to the side and avoids it well.
Diaz sneaks back into half guard.
Kintaro content to control rather than advance.
Kintaro with the ground and pound but Diaz uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Kintaro from controlling successfully.
Kintaro wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Kintaro is breathing heavily.
Kintaro passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to improve his position.
Diaz won't allow Kintaro to pass to mount.
Diaz misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kintaro is trying to control. Diaz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kintaro looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Diaz has hold of Kintaro's hands but Kintaro slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kintaro in particular looking to stall.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Kintaro is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Diaz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kintaro scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kintaro thows a huge punch but Diaz dodges it nicely.
Kintaro drops an elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz is trying to stand back up but Kintaro is controlling him
Diaz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kintaro 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.
Kintaro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to stand but Kintaro is controlling the position.
Kintaro looking to pass the guard.
Kintaro wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Diaz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Diaz goes for an armbar but Kintaro turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kintaro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to stand up but Kintaro is controlling him.
Kintaro wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.

Kintaro stands up from Diaz's guard - Kintaro perhaps looking for a knockout.

Kintaro looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kintaro with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kano Kintaro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Kintaro dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Kintaro's head and hops out.
Kintaro keeps the fight on the outside.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kintaro as he avoids it easily.
Kintaro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Diaz counters with a straight right hand.
Kintaro swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Nate Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kintaro is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Diaz.
Kintaro is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Kintaro closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kintaro lands in his opponent's guard.
Kintaro postures up.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kintaro is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Diaz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kintaro 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.
Kintaro looking to pass the guard.
Kintaro thows a big elbow that misses.
Kintaro trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kintaro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kano Kintaro was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.

Kintaro scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kintaro decides to stand up, so the ref orders Diaz to his feet.
Kintaro looks for a takedown but Diaz sprawls well.
Nate Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kano Kintaro.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kintaro sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kintaro swinging wildly here.

Kintaro shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Kintaro there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kintaro is keen to just control but Diaz is a slippery customer.
Kintaro with the ground and pound but Diaz uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Kintaro pushes down on Diaz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Diaz trying to control from the bottom.
Kintaro missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Diaz tries to roll over but Kintaro keeps him under control.
Kano Kintaro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kintaro seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Diaz pushes Kintaro off looking to stand but Kintaro dives back in and keeps control.
Nate Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kintaro looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Diaz wants to control but Kintaro is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kintaro lands a glancing blow to the side of Diaz's head.
Kano Kintaro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kintaro napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Kintaro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diaz misses with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kano Kintaro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kintaro 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 Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kano Kintaro!