PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark St James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St James comes into the arena with On the Eve of War - Jedi Mind Tricks blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Diaz's choice of entrance music: Sepultura - Refuse/Resist. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

St James
vs
Diaz

169 cm
20
163 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
165 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark St James!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rodrigo Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St James takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Diaz cracks a nice hook into St James's ribs.
Diaz connects with a right hand. St James shakes it off.
Diaz keeps the fight on the outside.
A combination from St James does no damage.
St James misses with a straight left.
Mark St James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
St James is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.
St James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by St James.
Diaz moves out of range as St James strikes.
St James lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
St James doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Diaz cracks St James with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The fighters circling - Diaz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
St James is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.
A telegraphed right hand from Diaz misses the target.
St James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Diaz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St James managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Diaz.
St James parries the strikes from Diaz easily there. Diaz is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable St James to escape.
Diaz landing a few strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St James avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Diaz.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sloppy strikes there by Diaz.
St James managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Diaz.
Diaz in side control, throwing shots but St James defends.
Diaz is putting a hurting on St James here, landing some big shots from side control.
Diaz working the ground and pound but St James is defending the strikes.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a strike aimed at the side of St James's head but St James avoids it well.
St James pushes Diaz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Diaz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Diaz grinds an elbow into St James's temple.
St James on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if St James tries to get out of the position.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but St James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Diaz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, St James has escaped the position, nice work there.
St James wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but St James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands a few punches from side control.
Diaz lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear St James down.
Diaz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Diaz in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Diaz grinds an elbow into St James's temple.

Diaz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
St James is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working the ground and pound.
St James wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
St James is working to avoid the ground and pound but Diaz connects with a decent elbow.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Diaz fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Diaz prevents St James from escaping the position.
The strikes coming from Diaz are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
St James dodges the ground and pound from Diaz.
Diaz prevents St James from escaping the position.
St James is not content to let Diaz control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Diaz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diaz lands with a straight right. St James didn't see that one coming.
Diaz blocks a jab.
Mark St James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz throws a shot from downtown. St James moves away and avoids it.
St James wants to clinch.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by St James.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by St James.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St James moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
St James misses with a few strikes there.
St James lands a jab to Diaz's midsection.
St James fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St James fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz keeps the fight on the outside.
St James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Diaz misses with an uppercut. St James saw that one coming.
St James wants to clinch.
St James tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
St James uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
St James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz tries for a takedown but St James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Diaz moves away from the strike by St James.
A decent looking cross lands there for St James.
Mark St James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
St James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St James tries to clinch up.

Diaz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Diaz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Diaz lands a nice short elbow.
Diaz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Diaz throwing shots but St James is blocking nicely.
Diaz throwing shots but St James is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
St James avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Diaz.
St James looks like he's trying to stand up.
Diaz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
St James is trying to stand.
Diaz thows a huge punch but St James dodges it nicely.
St James is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Diaz scores with a couple of nice shots.
St James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diaz.
St James is trying to stand back up but Diaz is controlling him
Diaz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed St James's head.
Diaz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed St James's head.

St James is defending against the submission attempts here by Diaz.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
St James avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Diaz.
Diaz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. St James defending well though.
Diaz working St James over with strikes.
Diaz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed St James's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rodrigo Diaz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz misses with a straight left.
St James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
St James tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
St James tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
St James slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
St James tries to clinch up.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
St James lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Diaz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from St James.
Diaz keeps the fight on the outside.
St James loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with St James, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes St James against the cage but St James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
St James wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.

St James darts in and clinches Diaz up against the cage.
Diaz blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St James lands with a right to the head.
St James lands a nice shot to the body.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
Mark St James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Diaz.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for St James.
St James misses with a hook from the clinch.
St James lands a body punch in the clinch.
St James lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Diaz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but St James gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from St James.
St James lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Diaz tries to pull guard but St James won't allow it.
St James throws a head punch that misses.
St James misses with a punch on the inside.
St James swings wildly with an uppercut but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
St James has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz takes a shot to the head.
A body shot lands from St James.
St James throws a head punch that misses.
Diaz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
St James pushes Diaz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
St James misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
St James misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
St James lands a nice uppercut.
St James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diaz.

Diaz manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

St James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rodrigo Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.
St James would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St James stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.
St James is looking to stand up but Diaz won't let him.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
St James has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Diaz is proving hard to escape from.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but St James pushes his legs off easily.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but St James is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark St James clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

St James misses with a looping right.
St James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
St James tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz misses with a looping left.
St James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
St James wants to clinch.
A left lands for St James.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by St James.
Diaz misses with a looping left.
Diaz lands with an uppercut that bounces St James off the cage and back into rage.
Diaz throws a shot from downtown. St James moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St James doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
St James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - St James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
St James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but St James shows good takedown defense.
St James takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
St James swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
St James misses with a straight right.
St James misses with a jab, cross combination.
St James moves into range and connects with a jab.
St James is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
St James doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
St James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
St James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

St James has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diaz.
Diaz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
St James swings wildly with an uppercut but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Diaz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mark St James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Diaz.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for St James.

Diaz has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but St James regains guard immediately.
Diaz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St James wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.

Diaz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Diaz is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
St James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Diaz won't allow St James to get back to his feet.
Diaz wants to control from the top but St James keeps moving.
St James wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A slow jab from Diaz misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
St James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
St James connects with a nice looking jab.
St James wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Diaz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Diaz keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - St James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by St James.
St James scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
St James moves away from the strike by Diaz.
Diaz ducks right into an uppercut from St James.
St James looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark St James had his way with Rodrigo Diaz in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

St James tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.

St James clinches with his opponent.
St James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
St James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
St James swings wildly with an uppercut but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hook to the body lands for St James.
St James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz is struggling to control the position.
St James lands a shoulder strike.
A left hand lands to the body for St James.
St James lands a body punch.
Diaz is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
St James throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.
St James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St James throws a head punch that misses.
Still in the clinch, St James scores with a nice short uppercut.
St James misses with the head strike.
St James cracks Diaz with a nice body shot.
Diaz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
St James lands a right hand.
St James gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from St James as the two fighters clinch.
St James lands a right hand.
St James misses with a hook from the clinch.
St James gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
St James lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
St James lands a body shot.
Diaz takes a shot to the head.
St James has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
St James lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from St James.

Diaz is rocked!
Diaz takes a shot to the head.
Diaz is still on wobbly legs! Can St James finish him?
St James digs a right hand into Diaz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Diaz's gas tank.
Diaz seems to have recovered his senses.
St James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
St James stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
St James lands with a short punch from the clinch.
St James has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
St James lands a hook that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Diaz blocks an uppercut.
St James misses with a short punch on the inside.
St James lands a left hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
St James lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
St James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diaz.
St James scores with a nice hook to the head.
St James swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St James doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diaz blocking some punches.
St James misses with some punches.
St James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
St James lands with a short shot to the head.
St James throws a head punch that misses.
St James has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
St James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Diaz blocking some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for St James.
St James lands a body punch in the clinch.
St James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
St James working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
St James misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
St James works on Diaz's body with a couple of short punches.
St James throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.
St James misses with some punches.
Diaz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, St James scores with a nice short uppercut.
St James has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
St James lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mark St James has scored more points in the clinch so far.
St James working aggressively here.
St James lands a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, St James scores with a nice short uppercut.
Still in the clinch, St James scores with a nice short uppercut.
Diaz blocking some punches.
A body shot lands from St James.
St James lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
St James gets underhooks to prevent Diaz's takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark St James showed his dominance in that final round.
I think St James 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 48:46
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 48:46
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark St James!
Mark St James retains his lightweight title!