LAS VEGAS — This is the UFC 137 live blog for B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, a welterweight bout and is the main event of tonight’s UFC pay-per-view card from the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Penn (16-7-2), a former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, in February fought Jon Fitch to a majority draw at UFC 127. Diaz (25-7) is returning to the UFC and riding a 10-fight win streak. He vacated the Strikeforce belt for a title opportunity with the UFC, but was later removed from a fight against Georges St-Pierre for missing press conferences.
Round 1: Penn comes out with a right hand and Diaz immediately clinches, throwing knees to the body. They break and Penn throws a left jab. Diaz with a right hand down the middle that lands. Diaz with a body shot. The crowd chants for Penn. Penn scores a takedown and tries to take Diaz’s back. Penn with punches from the back. Diaz spins on to his back and Penn sits in half-guard. Diaz creates some space and gets to his feet. Diaz pushes Penn against the fence. Diaz with a right hand and they come off the fence. Penn lands a left hook. Diaz with a right. Diaz moving forward and lands another right hand, though he didn’t land it square. Diaz starting a bit of a taunt now. Penn lands a left hook. Round to Penn 10-9.
Round 2: They’re back and forth to start the round. Diaz with an over the top right, Penn with the left hook. Diaz pushes Penn to the cage. Penn tried a takedown but Diaz stopped him. Diaz with a series of body shots. Diaz’s left eye is bloodied. He looks to be finding his range though. Diaz has Penn against the fence and lands. Penn circling against it. Another big bodyshot for Diaz. Penn looks to be tiring, backed against the fence. Diaz peppering him now with strikes from every angle. Big left hand from Diaz. Penn’s wobbly. Diaz is walking him down now. Penn is in serious trouble. Diaz is walking forward and Penn is exhausted and hurt. Diaz hammering at his head and body. Penn is barely covering up. A clinch gives him a few seconds, but it’s a huge round for Diaz, 10-9.
Round 3: The two go at each other like battering rams at the start of the round. Diaz with a left hand. Penn back to the fence again. Penn’s face is quite bloodied now. Penn doesn’t have much left and Diaz is finding his mark and loading up on volume. This is a scrap and even though it’s getting one-sided, you have to love Penn’s heart. Huge right for Diaz behind the ear and another on the head. Penn tries to come back with some right hands. Penn thought about a takedown but changed his mind, the scored with a right hand. Signs of life. Less than a minute left as they trade. Both scoring. The fans are so invested in this fight. Penn looks up at the clock, 30 seconds left. Diaz with head kicks. They throw to the final bell. It’s a classic. Diaz 10-9.
Winner: Nick Diaz via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
LAS VEGAS — This is the UFC 137 live blog for B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, a welterweight bout and is the main event of tonight’s UFC pay-per-view card from the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Penn (16-7-2), a former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, in February fought Jon Fitch to a majority draw at UFC 127. Diaz (25-7) is returning to the UFC and riding a 10-fight win streak. He vacated the Strikeforce belt for a title opportunity with the UFC, but was later removed from a fight against Georges St-Pierre for missing press conferences.
Round 1: Penn comes out with a right hand and Diaz immediately clinches, throwing knees to the body. They break and Penn throws a left jab. Diaz with a right hand down the middle that lands. Diaz with a body shot. The crowd chants for Penn. Penn scores a takedown and tries to take Diaz’s back. Penn with punches from the back. Diaz spins on to his back and Penn sits in half-guard. Diaz creates some space and gets to his feet. Diaz pushes Penn against the fence. Diaz with a right hand and they come off the fence. Penn lands a left hook. Diaz with a right. Diaz moving forward and lands another right hand, though he didn’t land it square. Diaz starting a bit of a taunt now. Penn lands a left hook. Round to Penn 10-9.
Round 2: They’re back and forth to start the round. Diaz with an over the top right, Penn with the left hook. Diaz pushes Penn to the cage. Penn tried a takedown but Diaz stopped him. Diaz with a series of body shots. Diaz’s left eye is bloodied. He looks to be finding his range though. Diaz has Penn against the fence and lands. Penn circling against it. Another big bodyshot for Diaz. Penn looks to be tiring, backed against the fence. Diaz peppering him now with strikes from every angle. Big left hand from Diaz. Penn’s wobbly. Diaz is walking him down now. Penn is in serious trouble. Diaz is walking forward and Penn is exhausted and hurt. Diaz hammering at his head and body. Penn is barely covering up. A clinch gives him a few seconds, but it’s a huge round for Diaz, 10-9.
Round 3: The two go at each other like battering rams at the start of the round. Diaz with a left hand. Penn back to the fence again. Penn’s face is quite bloodied now. Penn doesn’t have much left and Diaz is finding his mark and loading up on volume. This is a scrap and even though it’s getting one-sided, you have to love Penn’s heart. Huge right for Diaz behind the ear and another on the head. Penn tries to come back with some right hands. Penn thought about a takedown but changed his mind, the scored with a right hand. Signs of life. Less than a minute left as they trade. Both scoring. The fans are so invested in this fight. Penn looks up at the clock, 30 seconds left. Diaz with head kicks. They throw to the final bell. It’s a classic. Diaz 10-9.
Winner: Nick Diaz via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
LAS VEGAS — This is the UFC 137 live blog for B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, a welterweight bout and is the main event of tonight’s UFC pay-per-view card from the Mandalay Bay Events Center.