PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Nurmagomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joel Diaz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nurmagomedov
vs
Diaz

170 cm
18
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
141 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Fedor Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joel Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diaz.

Diaz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nurmagomedov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nurmagomedov tries to get out of the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Diaz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Nurmagomedov avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Diaz.
Nurmagomedov is trying to get back to half guard.
What's Nurmagomedov going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

Diaz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Diaz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz is trying to get an arm triangle but Nurmagomedov is defending well.
Diaz trying to control the position but Nurmagomedov is working away.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nurmagomedov is holding Diaz down, trying to stall.

Diaz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nurmagomedov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz tries for a kimura but Nurmagomedov is defending well.
Nurmagomedov is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Diaz.
Nurmagomedov is looking for a sweep.
Nurmagomedov wants to control but Diaz postures up.
The strikes coming from Diaz are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Diaz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Diaz wants to control but Nurmagomedov is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nurmagomedov keeping his opponent close.

Diaz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nurmagomedov, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
I wouldn't like to be where Nurmagomedov is right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Diaz staying out of range there.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Diaz's guard now.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the top position.
Nurmagomedov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nurmagomedov landing with the ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fedor Nurmagomedov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nurmagomedov tries to score with a low kick but Diaz moves his leg out of the way.
Diaz shoots and misses

and Nurmagomedov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Diaz!
Nurmagomedov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Diaz is rocked!
A big shot lands for Nurmagomedov! That's hurt Diaz! Will he recover? Nurmagomedov fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Fedor Nurmagomedov!
After winning the bout, Fedor Nurmagomedov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.