PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Guilherme Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francis Castiglione (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castiglione has chosen War Zone - Rob Zombie as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Diaz
vs
Castiglione

183 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Guilherme Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francis Castiglione!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Dean Styles and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castiglione looks to land a combination but Diaz avoids it well.
Castiglione throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diaz.
Castiglione 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.

It looks like Guilherme Diaz has been cut.
Diaz loads up on a big right hand but Castiglione slips the punch.
Castiglione avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Castiglione.
Diaz avoids a punch combination nicely.
A combination from Castiglione does no damage.
Castiglione misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Castiglione fails to land with a series of punches.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Castiglione will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Castiglione scores with a nice right hand.
Diaz scores with a three punch combo!
Castiglione misses with a double jab

and Diaz counters by moving into the clinch.
Castiglione looks gassed!
A right hook to the body lands for Diaz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Castiglione.
Diaz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castiglione's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Diaz is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Castiglione can't fight it off and eventually Diaz manages to take the fight to the floor. Castiglione looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Diaz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castiglione striking off his back but it's not causing Diaz any problems.
Diaz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Castiglione looking for a sweep. Not yet Castiglione, not yet.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castiglione is keeping the position for now.
Castiglione striking off his back but it's not causing Diaz any problems.
Castiglione will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Castiglione doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Diaz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Diaz throws a jab when Castiglione was well out of range.
Castiglione throws a combination that misses
and Diaz counters with a nice uppercut.
Francis Castiglione seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castiglione throws a right hand that Diaz ducks under and follows up with a left that Diaz also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castiglione throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.
A right handed body shot lands from Diaz.
Diaz lands a nice uppercut.

Diaz has clasped his hands together around Castiglione's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castiglione throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
A lull in the action here as Diaz stalls from top position.
Diaz's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Diaz cracks Castiglione with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Castiglione's face as Diaz controls the position.
Castiglione regains half guard.
Castiglione flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Diaz in particular looking to stall.
Castiglione throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Castiglione is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Diaz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Castiglione wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Castiglione is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Castiglione punching from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castiglione is looking for a sweep. Diaz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
A lazy left from Castiglione finds it's target.
Castiglione misses with a double jab
and Diaz counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilherme Diaz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Guilherme Diaz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Castiglione throws a series of punches but Diaz avoids them all with ease.
Diaz jabs at Castiglione's body.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Diaz drops his hands momentarily and Castiglione takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A combination from Diaz does no damage.
Castiglione uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Diaz.
Castiglione tries to bum rush Diaz with a series of wild strikes but Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diaz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Castiglione counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Castiglione misses with a two punch combination.
Castiglione throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Diaz counters with a right hand to the body.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Castiglione circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diaz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Castiglione throws a left and a right that both miss

and Diaz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Castiglione ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A combination from Castiglione does no damage.
Diaz uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Castiglione moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Castiglione moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Diaz clinches up with Castiglione and pushes him back against the cage.
Castiglione has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Diaz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Diaz lands a nice shot to the body.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Castiglione throws a series of strikes that have Diaz backpedaling.
Castiglione looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diaz walks into a straight right hand from Castiglione.
Castiglione misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Castiglione misses with a combination
and Diaz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Castiglione misses with the combination.
Diaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Diaz looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Castiglione swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Diaz instigates a clinch.
Castiglione can't get the takedown.
Castiglione tries to score a body lock takedown but Diaz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Guilherme Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francis Castiglione.
Castiglione tries to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling the position.
Diaz stalling against the cage.
Diaz wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castiglione tries to break free but Diaz pushes him back against the cage.
Diaz prevents the takedown attempt.
Castiglione has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Diaz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Castiglione tries to circle away but Diaz has him pinned against the cage.
Castiglione is trying to break free.
Diaz stops a takedown attempt from Castiglione.
Castiglione can't break the clinch.
Diaz prevents the takedown attempt.
Diaz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Castiglione is trying to break the clinch but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz gets underhooks to prevent Castiglione's takedown attempt.
Castiglione's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Diaz works on Castiglione's body with a couple of short punches.
Castiglione can't get the takedown.
Diaz leaning against his opponent.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
Castiglione misses with a combination

and Diaz counters by clinching up.
Good body shot from Diaz.
Diaz is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Castiglione is keeping busy.
Diaz tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castiglione breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Castiglione throws a nice looking combination but Diaz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz throws a nice looking combination but Castiglione bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diaz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Castiglione fails to land with a series of punches.
Diaz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Castiglione misses with a two punch combination.
Castiglione avoids the body shot from Diaz.
Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Castiglione.
Diaz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castiglione.
Castiglione avoids a punch combination nicely.
Castiglione fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Castiglione.
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 Guilherme Diaz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Guilherme Diaz's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Castiglione misses with an uppercut. Diaz saw that one coming.
Diaz lands a lovely overhand right.
Castiglione misses with a wild combination.
Castiglione looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Castiglione scores with a jab to the jaw.
Some wild striking there from Diaz.
Diaz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Castiglione counters with a stiff right hand.
Castiglione swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Castiglione connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Castiglione walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Diaz takes a swing at Castiglione's ribcage but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castiglione lands with a nice combination. Diaz backs away looking to recover.
Castiglione swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castiglione throws a series of punches but Diaz moves out of range.
Castiglione misses with a combination

and Diaz counters by moving into the clinch.
Diaz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Castiglione tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Diaz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Diaz can't find room to land a body shot as Castiglione controls the action.
Castiglione tries to circle away but Diaz has him pinned against the cage.
Castiglione gets underhooks to prevent Diaz's takedown attempt.
Castiglione looking for a takedown.
Castiglione is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Diaz keeps control of Castiglione as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Castiglione is looking to break free of the clinch but Diaz has double underhooks.
Diaz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Castiglione backwards.
Diaz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Castiglione's efforts to push away.
Diaz digs a right hand into Castiglione's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Castiglione's gas tank.
Castiglione tries to score a body lock takedown but Diaz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Guilherme Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francis Castiglione.

Diaz has picked Castiglione up - he's going for a ride! Diaz dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Castiglione is staying active underneath Diaz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castiglione trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.
Diaz slows the pace down in half guard.
Castiglione keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Castiglione has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Castiglione is trying to get back to full guard.
Diaz stalling.
Castiglione is staying active underneath Diaz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Castiglione throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Diaz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Castiglione circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castiglione tests Diaz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Castiglione scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Castiglione is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Diaz.
Castiglione misses with a two punch combination.
Castiglione throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.
Castiglione might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Castiglione lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Diaz throws a nice looking combination but Castiglione bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diaz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Diaz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Castiglione.
Diaz lands a really nice looking cross but Castiglione seems unphased.
Diaz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Castiglione lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Diaz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Castiglione is trying to force a seperation but Diaz has the dominant position.
Castiglione drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Diaz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Diaz can't get the takedown.
Guilherme Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Castiglione tries to break free but Diaz pushes him back against the cage.
Diaz slows down the pace here.
Castiglione is trying to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling him.
Francis Castiglione has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castiglione is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Diaz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Diaz jumps guard and drags Castiglione to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz looking to control.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guilherme Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Diaz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guilherme Diaz!