PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raven Lucas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norman Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Lucas
vs
Diaz

177 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raven Lucas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Norman Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Lucas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lucas slows down the pace here.
Diaz is working for takedown but Lucas is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lucas stalling in the clinch.

Lucas gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Lucas is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz tries to roll over but Lucas keeps him under control.
Diaz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lucas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lucas's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas tries to escape but Diaz has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Diaz has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Lucas wants to escape the position.
Diaz thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Lucas fending off the submission attempt from Diaz.
Lucas tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Will Diaz go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Lucas rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz is pressing down on Lucas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lucas is holding on for now.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Lucas is not content to let Diaz control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Diaz with the ground and pound but Lucas uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Lucas keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Lucas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lucas tries to get out of the position.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Norman Diaz was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Lucas manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Diaz on his heels. He'll look to pass Diaz's guard now, I'm sure.
Lucas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Diaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Lucas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lucas controlling from the top position.
Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lucas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz pulls Lucas in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norman Diaz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lucas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diaz.
Diaz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Raven Lucas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz misses with a takedown

and Lucas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diaz's guard.
Lucas won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.
Lucas is looking to advance position but Diaz has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Lucas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Diaz misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to stand but Lucas is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Diaz trying to control but Lucas is having none of it.
Lucas is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lucas is squirming around, avoiding Diaz's attempts to control the action.
Lucas can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to control but Lucas wriggling away.
Diaz throws a sloppy strike and Lucas uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Lucas has ended up in Diaz's guard.
Lucas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Norman Diaz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Lucas closes the distance and clinches.
Diaz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Diaz has had enough of the clinch but Lucas keeps him there for the moment.
Diaz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lucas smiles and moves away.
Raven Lucas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Norman Diaz.
Diaz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lucas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lucas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lucas controls from within his opponent's guard.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but Lucas pushes his legs off easily.
Lucas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Lucas preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lucas wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.

Lucas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Diaz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lucas's guard.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lucas is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Diaz stands up and waves to Lucas to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Norman Diaz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lucas clinches.
Lucas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.

Lucas has hold of one of Diaz's legs. Diaz is fighting the takedown attempt but Lucas gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Diaz pulls Lucas in close to prevent any damage.
Lucas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Diaz on the ground.
Lucas won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.
Lucas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Diaz controls Lucas momentarily but Lucas frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lucas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Norman Diaz.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt

and Lucas counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lucas.

Lucas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Diaz uses from the top position.
Lucas wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.

Diaz gets to his feet. Lucas looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Lucas takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lucas successfully pulls guard.
Lucas keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lucas is keeping the position for now.
Diaz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lucas has a closed guard, preventing Diaz from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Lucas is retaining full guard.
Diaz is stalling in the full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Norman Diaz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Lucas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Lucas is very close to passing his half guard.
Lucas tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Diaz.

Lucas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas working Diaz over with strikes.
Lucas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lucas tries to pass to full mount but Diaz defends it.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.
Raven Lucas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lucas wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raven Lucas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Diaz 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Norman Diaz!