PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ash Lizard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Donald Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ash Lizard has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Lizard
vs
Donald Diaz

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Brute

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ash Lizard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Donald Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Donald Diaz lands.
Donald Diaz throws out a loose jab but Lizard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lizard is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Donald Diaz misses with a right hand

and Lizard counters with a nice double leg into guard.

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

Lizard has an active guard here but Donald Diaz has managed to pass into half guard.
Donald Diaz is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
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!
Donald Diaz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lizard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Donald Diaz with a nice head shot there.
Donald Diaz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lizard is proving hard to escape from.

Lizard is looking for a triangle but Donald Diaz pushes his legs off easily.
Donald Diaz wanted to stand there but Lizard had control of the position.
Donald Diaz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Lizard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Donald Diaz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donald Diaz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Donald Diaz wants to stand but Lizard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Lizard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Donald Diaz is aware though and is defending well.
Donald Diaz working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donald Diaz connects with a couple of short punches.
Donald Diaz working some strikes from top position.
Donald Diaz cracks Lizard with a solid left hand.
Donald Diaz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Donald Diaz wants to pass the guard but Lizard is keeping the position.
Donald Diaz wants to get up but he can't break Lizard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lizard wants to sweep here but Donald Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Lizard has a closed guard, preventing Donald Diaz from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donald Diaz slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donald Diaz moves into full mount! Lizard won't be happy about that!
Donald Diaz looking to control but Lizard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Donald Diaz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lizard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lizard sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lizard tries to get to full guard but Donald Diaz has control of the leg.

Donald Diaz moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Lizard.
Lizard sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lizard is breathing heavily.
Lizard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Donald Diaz wants to stand up but Lizard is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lizard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Donald Diaz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Donald Diaz's back!

Lizard looking for the RNC.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Donald Diaz is trying to get back to his feet but Lizard has full control of the position and if anything, Donald Diaz has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Lizard is persistently looking for the submission but Donald Diaz is defending it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Donald Diaz is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ash Lizard will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Donald Diaz throws a jab when Lizard was well out of range.
Donald Diaz scores with a nice right hand.
A jab lands there for Donald Diaz.
Donald Diaz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Donald Diaz misses with an uppercut

and Lizard counters with a single leg into guard. Donald Diaz didn't expect that.
Donald Diaz looking for a sweep. Not yet Donald Diaz, not yet.
Donald Diaz trying to control the position here.
Donald Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Lizard drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Donald Diaz dives on top into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donald Diaz is looking to stand up but Lizard won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donald Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Donald Diaz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Donald Diaz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Donald Diaz wants to stand but Lizard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Donald Diaz is breathing heavily.
Donald Diaz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lizard looking for a sweep. Not yet Lizard, not yet.
Lizard looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Donald Diaz puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Lizard manages to get to full guard.
Donald Diaz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lizard is proving hard to escape from.

Lizard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Donald Diaz is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Donald Diaz wanted to stand there but Lizard had control of the position.

Lizard looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Donald Diaz passes into half guard.

Lizard looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donald Diaz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Donald Diaz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lizard wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donald Diaz tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Donald Diaz is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Lizard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Donald Diaz is working Lizard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Donald Diaz is looking to stand up but Lizard won't let him.

Lizard has his foot on Donald Diaz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Donald Diaz works his way back into a safe position though.
Donald Diaz wanted to stand there but Lizard had control of the position.

Lizard is looking for a triangle here but Donald Diaz uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Donald Diaz cracks Lizard with a big elbow.
Ash Lizard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donald Diaz tries to advance to mount but Lizard denies him.
Lizard is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Donald Diaz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lizard is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Donald Diaz jumps into side control!
Donald Diaz connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lizard some visible discomfort.
Lizard is looking for a sweep.

Donald Diaz stands up.
Donald Diaz misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nathan Donald Diaz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Donald Diaz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Lizard ducks right into an uppercut from Donald Diaz.
Donald Diaz scores with a jab to the head.
Donald Diaz misses with a right hand

and Lizard counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Donald Diaz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Donald Diaz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lizard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Donald Diaz is keeping the position for now.

Lizard postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Donald Diaz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lizard, into his guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Donald Diaz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lizard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Donald Diaz defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Donald Diaz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lizard keeping full guard, as Donald Diaz tries to pass.
Donald Diaz wants to stand but Lizard is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lizard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Donald Diaz is aware though and is defending well.

Lizard working for a triangle but Donald Diaz defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donald Diaz lands a couple of elbows.
Donald Diaz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Donald Diaz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lizard is proving hard to escape from.

Lizard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Donald Diaz is aware though and is defending well.
Donald Diaz wants to stand but Lizard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donald Diaz landing some decent shots from guard.

Lizard looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Donald Diaz passes into side control.
Donald Diaz connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lizard some visible discomfort.
Lizard takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lizard tries to buck Donald Diaz off but Donald Diaz is having none of it.
Donald Diaz tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lizard regains half guard.
Lizard is trying to get back to full guard.
Donald Diaz is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Lizard moves into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lizard is looking for a triangle but Donald Diaz pushes his legs off easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lizard looking for a sweep. Not yet Lizard, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ash Lizard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lizard 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ash Lizard!