PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Diggler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Lianbiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Diggler
vs
Lianbiao

180 cm
19
189 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dirk Diggler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zhang Lianbiao!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diggler wants to clinch up but Lianbiao keeps it at a distance.
Lianbiao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diggler circles away quickly and effectively.
Lianbiao blocks a leg kick.
Diggler just misses with a punch to the body.
Lianbiao moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Dirk Diggler has been cut.
Diggler fails with a takedown attempt.
Diggler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diggler wants to clinch.
Lianbiao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diggler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No joy there for Lianbiao, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zhang Lianbiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diggler gets a clinch.
Diggler tries to break free but Lianbiao pushes him back against the cage.

Lianbiao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Diggler drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diggler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lianbiao is keeping the position for now.
Lianbiao is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Diggler is looking for a sweep. Lianbiao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lianbiao looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Diggler looking for a kimura from the bottom but Lianbiao passes into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lianbiao tries for a kimura but Diggler is defending well.

Lianbiao looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diggler manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lianbiao's best efforts.
Diggler missing with punches from the bottom.
Diggler trying to control here.

Diggler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lianbiao is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Diggler looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lianbiao shoots in looking for a takedown. Diggler tries to sprawl out of it but Lianbiao keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Diggler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diggler tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lianbiao counters with a series of strikes. Diggler will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lianbiao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lianbiao tries for a takedown but Diggler circles away easily

and Diggler counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lianbiao wants to control but Diggler is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Diggler seems to be working for a kimura but Lianbiao defends the submission attempt.
Lianbiao trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diggler is looking to take a break and control but Lianbiao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Diggler is working for a kimura but Lianbiao is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Diggler wants to stand up but Lianbiao has a hold of him and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dirk Diggler will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dirk Diggler's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice shot by Lianbiao.
Diggler moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Diggler takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lianbiao is looking to clinch.
Lianbiao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diggler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lianbiao manages to avoid it.

Diggler moves into the clinch.

Lianbiao manages to break the clinch.
Diggler doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lianbiao counters with a two punch combo.

Lianbiao scores with a takedown into Diggler's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diggler working for submissions but it's allowed Lianbiao to get to half guard.
Diggler on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Diggler wants to get back to his feet.
Diggler trying to control but Lianbiao postures up.
Lianbiao is trying to control the action in half guard but Diggler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lianbiao wants to pass to mount but Diggler is defending the position.
Lianbiao looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Diggler has hold of Lianbiao's hands but Lianbiao slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lianbiao prevents Diggler from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diggler tries to clinch there but Lianbiao circles away.
Lianbiao avoids the body shot from Diggler.
Lianbiao fails to land with a series of punches.
Lianbiao tries to clinch up.
Lianbiao misses with a wild combination.
Nice sprawl there from Diggler as Lianbiao shoots in.
Lianbiao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diggler tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Lianbiao to counter with a crisp jab.
Diggler just misses with a punch to the body.
Diggler tries for a takedown but Lianbiao circles away easily

and Lianbiao counters by clinching up.

Lianbiao breaks the clinch.
Diggler throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Diggler tries to clinch up but Lianbiao circles away and keeps his distance.
Diggler is looking to wear down Lianbiao with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Diggler scores with a hook to the body. Lianbiao takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lianbiao scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Lianbiao has Diggler up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lianbiao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diggler falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lianbiao counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lianbiao falls off balance throwing a combination

and Diggler decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lianbiao's guard.
Lianbiao is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lianbiao trying to keep a closed guard but Diggler is proving a slippery customer.
Diggler wants to control from the top but Lianbiao keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lianbiao pushes Diggler off and scrambles back to his feet.
Lianbiao with a poor takedown

so Diggler counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dirk Diggler will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dirk Diggler's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Diggler closes the distance looking to clinch

and Lianbiao counters with a shoot takedown. Diggler fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Diggler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diggler keeping moving, preventing Lianbiao from controlling successfully.
Lianbiao wants to pass the guard but Diggler is keeping the position.
Lianbiao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Diggler is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lianbiao wants to control from the top but Diggler keeps moving.
Diggler is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Diggler had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lianbiao is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Diggler Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lianbiao's back instead.
Lianbiao trying to control but not successfully.
Lianbiao turns into Diggler and is now in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lianbiao trying to control the position from guard on top but Diggler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diggler wants to stand and escape but Lianbiao is having none of it.
Lianbiao looking to pass the guard.

Diggler is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Lianbiao has his hands clasped together but Diggler extends an breaks Lianbiao's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Diggler.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Dirk Diggler!