PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Diogo Jimenez (ranked 100 p4p, 159 weight class) and Bardia Farrokhzad (ranked 15 p4p, 23 weight class). Farrokhzad is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rastak - Hele Mali (Iranian Fisherman Folk Song). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jimenez
vs
Farrokhzad

167 cm
33
146
22 - 9 - 0

170 cm
30
148
22 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

Brooklyn Apothecary
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Diogo Jimenez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bardia Farrokhzad!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Chris Dean and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Farrokhzad moves out of range as Jimenez strikes.
Jimenez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sloppy strikes from Jimenez. Those never looked like landing.
Jimenez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A jab from Jimenez misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Farrokhzad. Jimenez does a little dance to reset his feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Jimenez misses its target.
Jimenez cracks Farrokhzad with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Jimenez.
Jimenez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Farrokhzad.
Jimenez ducks under a wild hook from Farrokhzad.
Farrokhzad swings widly with a right hand
and Jimenez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jimenez 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.
Jimenez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Farrokhzad keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jimenez.
Jimenez connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Farrokhzad throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jimenez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Farrokhzad tries to clinch up but Jimenez circles away and keeps his distance.
Farrokhzad pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Farrokhzad moves into the clinch successfully.
A head punch on the inside from Farrokhzad fails to land.
Farrokhzad lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farrokhzad misses with a knee to the head.
Farrokhzad misses with some punches.
Jimenez blocks a body shot from Farrokhzad.
Farrokhzad landing knees to the body.
Jimenez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Farrokhzad backwards.
Jimenez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Farrokhzad lands an uppercut.
Farrokhzad presses Jimenez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Jimenez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Farrokhzad backwards.
Jimenez lands a hook that snaps the head of Farrokhzad backwards.

Jimenez wants the takedown. Farrokhzad is fighting it off but Jimenez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Farrokhzad's guard against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jimenez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jimenez looking to pass the guard.
Farrokhzad has Jimenez pulled in close to control his posture.
Jimenez wants to control from the top but Farrokhzad keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez preventing the sweep.
Jimenez tries to free his leg and advance position but Farrokhzad is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Farrokhzad is on top in guard.

Jimenez looking for a guillotine here but Farrokhzad defends easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Farrokhzad's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jimenez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Farrokhzad.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Farrokhzad keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jimenez's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farrokhzad loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Farrokhzad scoring with some ground and pound.
Farrokhzad is looking to work some ground and pound but Jimenez has wrist control.
Farrokhzad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Farrokhzad works over Jimenez with some ground and pound from guard.
Farrokhzad landing with the ground and pound.
Farrokhzad is looking to work some ground and pound but Jimenez has wrist control.
Farrokhzad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jimenez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Farrokhzad keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jimenez's head.
Farrokhzad postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jimenez is trying to control the position but Farrokhzad postures up.
Farrokhzad scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Farrokhzad makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Farrokhzad chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jimenez looking for a guillotine here but Farrokhzad defends easily.
Farrokhzad makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Farrokhzad postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Farrokhzad connects with a couple of short punches.
Farrokhzad makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Jimenez is rocked!

Farrokhzad got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jimenez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Farrokhzad has managed to get both his arms back between Jimenez's legs - danger averted.
Jimenez has momentary wrist control but Farrokhzad slips an elbow through the middle.
Oh Jimenez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Farrokhzad postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Farrokhzad landing some decent shots from guard.

Jimenez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Farrokhzad working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bardia Farrokhzad will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jimenez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Jimenez seems to have got his legs back now.
Jimenez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Jimenez.
Jimenez takes one to the side of the head.
Jimenez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jimenez throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Jimenez scores with a hook.
Jimenez misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Farrokhzad. Jimenez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jimenez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Diogo Jimenez is winning the standup battle so far.
Jimenez blocks a jab.
Jimenez lands with an uppercut that bounces Farrokhzad off the cage and back into range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Farrokhzad displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jimenez throws out the jab.
Jimenez misses with a wild body shot.
Diogo Jimenez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Farrokhzad scores with a body shot.
Farrokhzad thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jimenez appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Farrokhzad connects with a looping right hand.
Farrokhzad throws a jab when Jimenez was well out of range.

Farrokhzad forces Jimenez back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Farrokhzad.

Jimenez is trying to trip Farrokhzad. He has hold of a leg but Farrokhzad is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Jimenez persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Farrokhzad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jimenez is one step ahead there.
Farrokhzad working a defensive guard here.
Jimenez trying to control the position from guard on top but Farrokhzad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jimenez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Farrokhzad is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farrokhzad is trying to control the position but Jimenez postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Farrokhzad is on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jimenez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Farrokhzad gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bardia Farrokhzad has got the better of the ground game so far.
Farrokhzad throws a big right hand that misses.

Jimenez has his foot on Farrokhzad's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Farrokhzad works his way back into a safe position though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Farrokhzad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Farrokhzad is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Farrokhzad scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farrokhzad working some strikes from top position.
Farrokhzad lands a couple of digs.
Farrokhzad stands up over Jimenez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Farrokhzad scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Farrokhzad stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Jimenez throws up his legs and catches Farrokhzad in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Farrokhzad tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Jimenez! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Diogo Jimenez!
After the fight, Diogo Jimenez was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.