PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sota Herra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaz
vs
Herra

183 cm
21
174 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

171 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sota Herra!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Herra's head backwards.

Diaz gets caught flat footed, as Herra shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Diaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Herra slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herra throws a big elbow that misses.
My spies in Body Pain_12elite_599$+VM inform me that Herra has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Herra showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz has his hands on Herra's head, controlling the position.
Herra is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Herra in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herra stalks Diaz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Diaz's face. Diaz staggers backwards, shaken.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diaz lands a nice shot to the body.
Herra misses with a series of wild punches.
Herra takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Sota Herra has been cut.
Herra throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Diaz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Herra takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Herra avoids a punch combination nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Herra.
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!
Herra working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Herra lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herra working away.
Herra in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
Diaz is not content to let Herra control the position.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
I wouldn't like to be where Diaz is right now.
Diaz is letting Herra control him for a moment.
Herra throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz struggling a bit here.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Herra throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Herra wants to control for a moment but Diaz uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Herra landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herra scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz trying to control but Herra postures up.
Herra trying to control the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Herra jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Herra.
A jab from Diaz does it's job there.
Herra takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Herra throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Herra takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Diaz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Diaz pulls Herra in close to his closed guard and prevents Herra from doing any damage or advancing position.
Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Herra.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sota Herra dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sota Herra's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Herra walks into a left hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Diaz darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Herra darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Herra not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Herra is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Diaz is positioning himself well to prevent Herra advancing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz trying to control here.
Diaz is controlling Herra's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herra is looking to stall here but Diaz recovers full guard.
Diaz is trying to keep Herra in close.
Diaz pulls Herra in close to his closed guard and prevents Herra from doing any damage or advancing position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Herra accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Diaz throws a looping overhand right but Herra ducks down to avoid it.

Herra looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Herra working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diaz controlling Herra's posture.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Diaz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Herra is fighting to break Diaz's control of his arms but Diaz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sota Herra has got the better of the ground game so far.
Herra trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Diaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sota Herra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a hook to the body. Herra takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Herra has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Diaz tries to sprawl but Herra drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Herra wants to free his trapped foot but Diaz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Herra missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Herra winds up and cracks Diaz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Diaz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Herra is working away from the top position though.
Diaz gets back to full guard.
Herra trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz pulls Herra in close to prevent any damage.
Herra trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Herra on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diaz digs a good body shot into Herra's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sota Herra will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sota Herra's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Diaz throws a body shot but no joy.
Herra swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz cracks Herra with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Herra throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab, jab by Diaz - just one landing.
Nice takedown defense from Diaz. No joy for Herra on that attempt.
Diaz misses with the combination.
Herra throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Herra tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Herra takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Herra rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diaz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Herra takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Herra doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
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!
Nice shot by Diaz.
Herra takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Herra thows a left - swing and a miss!
Diaz takes a swing at Herra's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herra lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Diaz at a distance.
Herra wants to slow Diaz down by chopping away at his legs.
Herra moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Diaz stuns Herra with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Diaz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Diaz throws a shot from downtown. Herra moves away and avoids it.
Herra on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Herra.
Diaz throws a lazy right hand but Herra sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Herra shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Diaz manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Herra trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz has control of Herra's left arm, preventing Herra from doing any damage.
Herra throwing strikes but missing.
Nick Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz pulls Herra in close to his closed guard and prevents Herra from doing any damage or advancing position.
Herra trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz trying to control the position here.
Herra wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Diaz is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herra lands with a hook. Diaz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Herra avoids the body shot from Diaz.
Diaz tests Herra's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That has opened up Sota Herra's cut even more.
It looks like Diaz has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Herra takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Herra staying out of range there.

Herra shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Herra was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Diaz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Diaz not doing much here.
Sota Herra is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Herra knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Herra is looking for a sweep. Diaz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Diaz controlling the action here.

Herra is defending against the submission attempts here by Diaz.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Herra has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sota Herra!