PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Kuleshov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Diaz
vs
Kuleshov

185 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 London, Nate Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexei Kuleshov!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz fails with the takedown.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Diaz stalks Kuleshov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kuleshov's face. Kuleshov staggers backwards, shaken.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Diaz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kuleshov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Kuleshov rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Kuleshov keeps it at a distance.
Kuleshov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuleshov circles away.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuleshov as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuleshov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diaz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kuleshov somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz takes the fight into the clinch.

Kuleshov jumps into guard, dragging Diaz to the mat.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kuleshov manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Kuleshov has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuleshov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
Kuleshov is trying to pull guard but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz tries a body shot but Kuleshov blocks it.
Kuleshov has Diaz pressed against the cage, preventing Diaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kuleshov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Diaz lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Diaz trying to land knees to the body.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kuleshov or perhaps it was just good defense by Diaz, which made it look bad.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Kuleshov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kuleshov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diaz.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuleshov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kuleshov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kuleshov is trying to drag Diaz to the mat but Diaz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz just leaning against Kuleshov, taking a breather.
Diaz tries to stall but Kuleshov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
Kuleshov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Diaz gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Kuleshov pulls guard effortlessly.
Diaz throws a strike but Kuleshov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kuleshov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kuleshov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuleshov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kuleshov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Kuleshov isn't so interested in that idea.

Diaz manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Kuleshov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Diaz to keep the fight standing.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Diaz is pressed up against the cage. Kuleshov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Diaz down to the mat. Diaz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexei Kuleshov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Diaz does no damage.
Kuleshov fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Diaz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kuleshov misses with a low kick.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Diaz has closed the distance and engaged Kuleshov in a clinch.
Diaz stalls.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuleshov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Diaz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Diaz trying to stall but Kuleshov improves his position.
Kuleshov blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuleshov stalling against the cage.
Kuleshov wants to break free but Diaz has control.
Kuleshov tries to circle away but Diaz has him pinned against the cage.
Diaz pushes off an throws an elbow but Kuleshov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kuleshov has Diaz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Diaz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nate Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexei Kuleshov.

Kuleshov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuleshov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kuleshov shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Kuleshov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Diaz tries to counter with a takedown but Kuleshov is quick to defend against it.
Diaz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Kuleshov circles away.
Diaz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kuleshov shoots in but no luck this time.
Diaz moves in looking to clinch but Kuleshov pushes him off.

Diaz forces Kuleshov back against the cage and clinches.
Kuleshov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diaz smiles and moves away.

Diaz moves into the clinch.
Kuleshov blocks a body shot from Diaz.
Kuleshov being controlled against the cage.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Kuleshov is avoiding it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kuleshov! But no joy.
Diaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kuleshov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diaz somewhat.
Kuleshov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Diaz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kuleshov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kuleshov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Diaz taking a breather.

Kuleshov jumps into guard, dragging Diaz to the mat.
Kuleshov has his hands on Diaz's head, controlling the position.

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

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kuleshov seems keen to control Diaz's posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuleshov keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Diaz dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Kuleshov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kuleshov.

It looks like Nate Diaz has been cut.
Diaz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kuleshov.
Nate Diaz is winning the standup battle so far.

Diaz has closed the distance and engaged Kuleshov in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Diaz.
Kuleshov is looking for a takedown.

Kuleshov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Diaz clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Diaz is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Kuleshov is avoiding it.
Kuleshov tries to bum rush Diaz with a series of wild strikes but Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diaz is looking for a counter combo.
Kuleshov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nate Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexei Kuleshov.
Kuleshov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuleshov. Kuleshov gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuleshov manages to avoid it.

Diaz moves into range and clinches up with Kuleshov.
Diaz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nate Diaz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kuleshov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Diaz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Diaz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Diaz throws a head punch that misses.
Kuleshov avoids the elbow strike from Diaz, against the cage.
Kuleshov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diaz smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuleshov shoots and misses
and Diaz counters with a straight right hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Diaz looking to throw knees to the head but Kuleshov is blocking nicely.
Kuleshov goes for a takedown attempt but Diaz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Diaz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuleshov can do to turn this around?
Nice takedown defense from Kuleshov. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.
Nate Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Diaz clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz throws a head punch that misses.
Kuleshov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuleshov tries to pull guard but Diaz won't allow it.
Diaz tries to score a body lock takedown but Kuleshov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kuleshov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Diaz prevents the takedown attempt.
Kuleshov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Diaz wants to stall.
Kuleshov wants a takedown.

That's four 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 has a couple of punches blocked by Kuleshov.

Kuleshov breaks from the clinch.
Kuleshov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kuleshov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Diaz defends well and Kuleshov ends up having to push Diaz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Diaz connects with a looping right hand.

Diaz gets a clinch.
Kuleshov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Diaz to keep the fight standing.
Diaz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuleshov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuleshov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Diaz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kuleshov is trying to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Diaz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight for Nate Diaz!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Nate Diaz!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Nate Diaz!

Nate Diaz wins by unanimous decision!