PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz comes to the cage accompanied by Take My Hand. The key to victory for Nick Diaz has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Diaz
vs
Gracie

188 cm
31
194 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

184 cm
26
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Gracie!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz shoots for a takedown but Gracie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gracie to the ground. Gracie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Diaz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Diaz prevents Gracie from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Diaz pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diaz has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Diaz connects with a couple of short punches.
Diaz looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie passes Diaz's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Diaz is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Diaz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gracie.
Gracie looking to control but Diaz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Diaz is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie tries to control but Diaz wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Diaz kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gracie unloading with bombs!
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Diaz is looking to escape.
Diaz bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Diaz defends it easily.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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!
Gracie looking to control.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diaz defends well.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Diaz postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Gracie 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.

Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz wants to free his trapped foot but Gracie is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Diaz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Diaz pulls his head out easily.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rafael Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Diaz drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!
Gracie connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Diaz some visible discomfort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Diaz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diaz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie working the head with strikes.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.

Gracie has hold of Diaz's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Diaz tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Gracie cranks the arm and Diaz screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Diaz, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Rafael Gracie!
Rafael Gracie was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.