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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manus Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grant has chosen Thunderstruck - AC/DC as his entrance music. Nate Diaz has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
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| 183 cm
29
168 lbs
11 - 14 - 0 |
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170 cm
32
140 lbs
12 - 13 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed |
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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
11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nate Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manus Grant!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grant connects with a body shot that sends Diaz's belly button to the back.
Grant misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz tries to counter with a takedown but Grant is quick to defend against it.
Diaz steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Grant. That one must have hurt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diaz is defended easily by Grant.
Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Grant.
Diaz tries to counter with a takedown but Grant is quick to defend against it.
Grant throws a head kick that misses.
Grant throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grant throws a right and a left that both miss.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grant misses with a head kick.
Diaz looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Grant throws a push kick but Diaz slaps the foot to one side.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Grant.
No joy there for Grant, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Grant misses with a body shot.
Diaz feinted with a counter takedown.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Grant misses with an attempted mid kick.
Diaz has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Grant misses with a head kick.
Diaz appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Grant throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diaz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Grant misses with a body kick.
Grant misses with a hook
and Diaz counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Manus Grant is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grant throws a sloppy head kick
and Diaz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Grant throws a head kick that misses
and Diaz counters with a straight right hand.
A slapping body kick lands there for Grant.
Grant jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A low kick from Grant misses
and Diaz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Diaz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz blocks the body kick.
The fighters circling - Grant throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz tries to counter by clinching up but Grant breaks away and moves out of range.
Grant punishes Diaz's body with a nice straight punch.
Grant missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grant throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Grant misses with a wild body shot.
Grant pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grant. Diaz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Manus Grant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Grant misses.
Diaz half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Grant is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Diaz rather than just go for the knockout.
Grant throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grant is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Grant throws a wild body kick that Diaz sees coming a mile off.
Grant just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz attempts a counter takedown but Grant avoids it well and moves away.
Grant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grant throws a head kick that misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Diaz half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Grant.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Grant throws a half hearted mid kick.
Diaz appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Diaz is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Grant is looking to score with low kicks.
Grant's jab looks to have found its range, popping Diaz under the eye.
Grant lands a jab to the head.
Diaz tries to clinch but Grant moves out of range.
Grant slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Grant throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Grant scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Grant tries a head kick but it misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz blocks a leg kick.
Diaz blocks the body kick.
Grant misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
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!
Grant throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.
Grant lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Grant throws a head kick that misses
and Diaz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Grant tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Grant being controlled here, momentarily.
Grant manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaz manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Manus Grant dominated that round.
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.
A head kick misses from Grant.
Grant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grant. Diaz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grant throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Grant misses with a head kick.
Grant throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Grant tries to score with a low kick but Diaz moves his leg out of the way.
Grant misses with a leg kick
and Diaz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Diaz wants to work for an arm triangle but Grant is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grant wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is looking for a kimura but Grant is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Diaz to get the leverage.
Diaz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Diaz wants to advance to full mount but Grant doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grant looking for a sweep. Not yet Grant, not yet.
Grant is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grant is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Diaz stops Grant from standing up.
Diaz preventing the sweep.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Grant keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Grant wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Grant blocks a head kick by Diaz.
Grant throws a jab when Diaz was well out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Grant tries to keep at a distance but Diaz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Diaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Grant's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Grant did well to prevent Diaz getting side control.
Grant wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Grant does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Grant is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but Grant defending well.
Grant wants to control but Diaz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to free his trapped foot but Grant is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Grant is trying to get back to full guard.
Grant is holding on to half guard well.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Grant wants to get back to full guard.
Grant controlling the position for now.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Grant misses with a head kick.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Grant sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diaz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grant throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Nate Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Diaz checks a leg kick nicely.
Diaz appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Diaz has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Grant.
Grant throws a nice looking combination but Diaz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Manus Grant seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Grant shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grant.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A low kick from Grant misses
and Diaz counters with a thumping low kick.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Grant tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Grant to the ground. Grant escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Grant looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Grant throws a front kick aimed at Diaz's knee but Diaz avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Manus Grant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Grant connects with a leg kick. Diaz looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Grant swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Grant stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Grant wants it to stay on the feet.
Diaz tries to move into range but Grant moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Diaz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Grant's head.
Grant connects with a single shot there.
Grant tries a head kick but it misses.
Grant tries to work over Diaz's front leg with a kick but Diaz checks it.
Diaz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Grant defends well and Diaz ends up having to push Grant into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grant goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Grant. That snapped Diaz's head back.
Grant throws a lazy head kick
and Diaz counters with a one-two to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grant misses with a head kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Diaz counters with a takedown into side control.
Grant is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.
Grant is looking to reverse the position.
Grant is trying to get back to his feet.
Grant tries to bench press Diaz off him but Diaz keeps the position.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grant keeps working.
Diaz controls the position.
Grant tries to buck Diaz off but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
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 two minutes gone in the round.
Grant explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Grant loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Grant.
Grant throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grant blocks a head kick by Diaz.
Grant misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant tried to score with a low kick but Diaz checks it.
Grant is looking to land body kicks.
Grant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diaz.
It appears Diaz was looking to counter with a kick there.
Horrible takedown attempt by Diaz or perhaps it was just good defense by Grant, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grant pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grant throws a leg kick but Diaz checks it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Grant. Diaz shrugs it off though.
Grant throws a body kick that misses.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A little jabbing left from Grant on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Grant misses with a combination
and Diaz counters with a nice body kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Grant circles away.
Grant with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Grant swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Grant shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Grant sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Grant tries a head kick but it misses.
Grant goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
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!
Grant lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Grant shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Nate Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz slips a jab from Grant.
Diaz throws a big counter combination but Grant scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
And that's the end of the fight!
Manus Grant comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grant winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manus Grant!
After winning the bout, Manus Grant thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
50% |
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