PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Persius Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Voices - Rev Theory. Nate Diaz is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Masters
vs
Diaz

176 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
169 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Persius Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nate Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Diaz. Those never looked like landing.
Masters misses with a takedown

and Diaz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Masters's guard now.
Masters is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Diaz regains full guard. Nicely done.

Masters has gone for a leg lock! Diaz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Masters's guard.
Diaz postures up in Masters's guard and throws a big left but Masters blocks it.

Masters has his foot on Diaz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diaz works his way back into a safe position though.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Masters keeps moving.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Masters can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Diaz controls the pace.
Diaz postures up in Masters's guard and throws a big left but Masters blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masters looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Diaz passes into side control.
Masters is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Masters's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Masters is breathing heavily.

Diaz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Masters has escaped the position, nice work there.
Masters wants to control but Diaz postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Masters is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Diaz is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Diaz is trying to get an arm triangle but Masters is defending well.
Diaz lands a decent elbow from side control.
Diaz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Masters. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Masters can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nate Diaz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Masters has his takedown stuffed

and Diaz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Diaz decides to return to a standing position.
Diaz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Masters stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Masters drops his hands momentarily and Diaz takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaz.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Masters is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz has control of an arm but Masters manages to advance to Diaz's back!

Diaz is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Diaz is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Masters off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Diaz preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Masters.

Masters working for a choke but Diaz is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Masters has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Diaz has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Diaz dominated that round.
That's time! Masters's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Diaz drops Masters with a beautiful combination! Masters stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Diaz is looking for the KO!

It looks like Persius Masters has been cut.
Masters doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Diaz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz stands up over Masters, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Diaz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Masters is retaining full guard.

Diaz gets to his feet - Masters follows without any prompting.
Diaz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nate Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masters takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Diaz looks to land a combination but Masters avoids it well.
Diaz stalks Masters and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Masters's face. Masters staggers backwards, shaken.

Diaz shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Masters manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Masters working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Masters isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Diaz stacks Masters on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Diaz!

Diaz stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Diaz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Masters goes for a takedown in the clinch but Diaz prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.

Diaz clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Diaz.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.

Masters tries to sprawl but Diaz drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Diaz decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Diaz lands a jab-cross combination.

Diaz shoots in and gets a takedown into Masters's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz throws a big right hand that misses.
Masters wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Masters is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Masters.
Diaz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Masters throws his legs up looking for a submission but Diaz uses it to pass to side control.
Masters on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Masters is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Nate Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz looks up at the clock and then as Masters takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Diaz smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Diaz working the ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Masters's face as Diaz controls the position.
Diaz cracks Masters with a big elbow.
Diaz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz working the head and body with strikes.
Diaz staying calm.
Diaz tries to move into full mount but can't pass Masters's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Persius Masters's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Diaz lands with a nice combination. Masters backs away looking to recover.
Masters doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Diaz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Masters trying to control from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Diaz in particular looking to stall.
Masters is looking for a sweep. Diaz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Diaz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Masters has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz lands some shots froms side control.
Masters struggling a bit here.
The referee asks Diaz politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Diaz prefers to stall for the moment though.
Masters takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Masters takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Masters struggling a bit here.
Diaz working the head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masters is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Diaz controlling from side mount.
Diaz working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Diaz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Masters to his feet.

Masters tries to sprawl but Diaz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Masters tries to kick Diaz off but Diaz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Masters has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Diaz is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Masters sees it coming and defends easily.
Diaz looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Masters tries to kick Diaz off but Diaz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Diaz moves into full mount! Masters won't be happy about that!
Diaz punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Masters wants to control but Diaz is having none of it.
Masters is trying desperately to improve position.
Diaz has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Masters's face.
Diaz landing strikes, looking to finish!
Diaz looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Diaz wants to finish this one by submission but Masters is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Diaz.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diaz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 25:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 25:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Diaz!