PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Golovkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neal Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Golovkin
vs
Diaz

165 cm
28
135 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

168 cm
27
150 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikhail Golovkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neal Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Golovkin sprawls well initially but Diaz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Golovkin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Golovkin.
Golovkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Golovkin keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Golovkin is keeping the position.

Golovkin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Golovkin is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz keeps trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Golovkin keeps moving.
Golovkin pulls Diaz in to control the position.

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Golovkin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Diaz is aware though and is defending well.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Golovkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz 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.

Golovkin looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Golovkin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Diaz's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but Golovkin pushes his legs off easily.
Golovkin works over Diaz with some ground and pound from guard.
Golovkin is looking to pass into half guard but Diaz pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Diaz is in guard.

Golovkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diaz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Diaz won't allow Golovkin to sweep him here.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Golovkin is trying to control the position but Diaz postures up.

Golovkin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diaz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Golovkin being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Golovkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Golovkin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diaz defends well.
Golovkin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Diaz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Golovkin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diaz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Golovkin being controlled here, momentarily.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Golovkin is retaining full guard.

That's four 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.

Golovkin is looking for a triangle but Diaz pushes his legs off easily.

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

Golovkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Golovkin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Golovkin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Golovkin throwing strikes but missing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Golovkin throws a big elbow that misses.
Golovkin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Golovkin is aware though and is defending well.
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 Mikhail Golovkin will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz tries to clinch there but Golovkin circles away.
Golovkin appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Diaz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Diaz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Golovkin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diaz has managed to get both his arms back between Golovkin's legs - danger averted.

Golovkin is looking for a triangle but Diaz pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Golovkin is on top in guard.

Diaz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Golovkin landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Diaz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Golovkin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Golovkin lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Golovkin postures up.
Golovkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Golovkin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Golovkin.
Golovkin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Diaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Golovkin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Golovkin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Golovkin landing with the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Diaz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Golovkin is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz has wrist control.
Golovkin works over Diaz with some ground and pound from guard.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Golovkin throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Golovkin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Diaz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Golovkin defends well.

Diaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Golovkin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Golovkin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Golovkin here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Golovkin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Golovkin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Diaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Golovkin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Golovkin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mikhail Golovkin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Golovkin throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Golovkin distracts Diaz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin slips nicely into half guard.
Ground and pound from Golovkin.
Golovkin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.
Diaz tries to roll over but Golovkin keeps him under control.
Golovkin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Golovkin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Golovkin slips a nice elbow through Diaz's hands, connecting with Diaz's forehead.
Golovkin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Golovkin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Diaz tries to roll over but Golovkin keeps him under control.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Golovkin pulls his head out easily.

Golovkin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control here.
Golovkin works his way into side control.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Golovkin working the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Golovkin.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Golovkin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Golovkin dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Diaz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Golovkin is out of range and Diaz settles back down.
Golovkin feinted with a counter takedown.
Neal Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz throws a leg kick that misses.
Golovkin tries to counter with a takedown but Diaz is quick to defend against it.
Golovkin fails with a takedown attempt.
Golovkin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Diaz but Diaz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Golovkin goes for a double leg but Diaz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Diaz continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Golovkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Diaz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Golovkin is trying to defend but Diaz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Golovkin actively working from the bottom here.
Golovkin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Diaz is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz is looking for a kimura here.

Diaz is trying for a kimura here. Golovkin looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Diaz wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Neal Diaz!