PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kai Diao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Warburton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Diao
vs
Warburton

173 cm
22
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kai Diao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Grant Warburton!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Warburton shoots in for a takedown but Diao shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Diao moves away from the strike by Warburton.
Diao tries to clinch but Warburton is having none of it.
Warburton shoots in for a takedown but Diao shows good takedown defense.
Diao tries to close the distance and clinch up but Warburton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diao defending well as Warburton loads up on a big left hand.
Warburton throws and low kick but Diao moves out of range easily.
A jab from Warburton misses.
Warburton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diao sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Warburton somewhat.
Kai Diao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grant Warburton.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diao shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Warburton moves into the clinch.
Diao stalling in the clinch.
Warburton should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Diao pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diao looking to hit a scissor sweep but Warburton is one step ahead there.
Diao keeping full guard, as Warburton tries to pass.
Diao wants to get back to his feet but Warburton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Warburton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diao works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Warburton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Diao on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Diao tries to get out of the position.

Diao has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Warburton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Warburton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Diao looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Diao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diao stalls.
Warburton tries for a takedown but Diao manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diao pulls Warburton into guard.
Warburton advances position into side control!
Diao knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Warburton on the ground.
Warburton is working Diao over with some ground and pound from side control.
Diao tries to escape but Warburton is in control.
Warburton is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Diao's shoulder. That is not cool.
Warburton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Warburton looks gassed!
Warburton creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Warburton postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warburton gets to mount! Diao was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Warburton wants to control the pace but Diao is squirming around nicely.
Diao is trying to stand.
Diao taking shots to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diao is trying desperately to improve position.
Diao wants to control but Warburton is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Diao tries to clinch but Warburton moves out of range.
Diao tries to clinch up but Warburton circles away and keeps his distance.
Diao tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Warburton counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Diao!
Diao manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Diao wants to control but Warburton is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Warburton is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warburton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diao's head.
Warburton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Diao is refusing to be controlled, as Warburton sits in half guard.
Diao is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Warburton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Diao is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diao closes the distance but Warburton moves to the side

and Warburton counters with a single leg into guard. Diao didn't expect that.
Diao wants to stand up but Warburton is controlling him.
Diao wants to sweep here but Warburton controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diao wants to stand and escape but Warburton is having none of it.
Diao bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Warburton's guard.
Diao postures up.
Diao has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Diao wants to control from the top but Warburton keeps moving.
Warburton wants to stand but Diao is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Diao content to stall in guard here.
Warburton wants to sweep here but Diao controlling him for the moment.
Diao wants to control from the top but Warburton keeps moving.
Warburton has a closed guard, preventing Diao from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Warburton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Warburton tries for a takedown but Diao circles away easily

so Diao counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Warburton keeping moving, preventing Diao from controlling successfully.
Diao tries to stand but Warburton is controlling from the bottom.
Diao trying to control the position from guard on top but Warburton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Warburton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diao is controlling him.
Warburton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diao would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warburton keeping moving, preventing Diao from controlling successfully.

Diao gets to his feet. Warburton looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Diao fails in his attempt to clinch.

Warburton gets caught flat footed, as Diao shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Warburton wants to stand and escape but Diao is having none of it.
Warburton is trying to keep Diao in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diao looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Diao trying to stand up but can't free himself from Warburton's guard.

Diao decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Warburton, up you get!
Diao wants to clinch up but Warburton keeps it at a distance.

Warburton gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warburton is striking off his back. Diao thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Diao sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Warburton wants to control but Diao is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kai Diao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Warburton is not content to let Diao control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Diao has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Diao tries to control but Warburton wriggling away.
Kai Diao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grant Warburton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Diao working for a guillotine from mount but Warburton is in no mood to give up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kai Diao showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Warburton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!