PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sirium Dante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Diaz
vs
Dante

210 cm
21
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

210 cm
18
235 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sirium Dante!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A right-left combo lands from Dante.
Dante shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dante paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dante shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Diaz but Diaz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dante wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Diaz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dante connects with a good right hand that stumbles Diaz. Diaz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A bit of stalling here from Dante.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dante misses with the combination.

Dante shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Diaz manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dante in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Dante postures up.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Dante tries to pass.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Dante missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dante trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dante not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Dante drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dante trying to control the position but Diaz is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to reverse the position.
Dante lands a few punches from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Dante.
Dante scoring with punches and elbows.
Dante trying to control the action but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Dante working the strikes but Diaz uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is pressing down on Dante's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dante trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Diaz is trying to keep Dante in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dante accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dante postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dante lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dante tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dante scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dante lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dante accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dante scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dante is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dante missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dante with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dante lands a couple of digs.
Dante scoring with some ground and pound.
Dante wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sirium Dante dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dante swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dante tests Diaz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Good shot there by Dante.
Diaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dante's waist but Dante gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diaz off to one side.
Dante throws a head kick that misses.
Dante scores with a punch to the head.
Diaz fails with the takedown.
Dante tests Diaz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Dante tries to bum rush Diaz with a series of wild strikes but Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Dante clinches up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dante breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dante throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dante.
Dante throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Frank Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Dante, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dante throws a series of punches but Diaz moves out of range.
Dante scores with a nice strike.
Dante displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Diaz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Dante swinging wildly here.
Dante shoots in but no luck this time.

Dante shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Diaz's guard.
Dante stands up over Diaz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dante must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dante in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dante throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dante showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dante scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dante wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Dante is in close to Diaz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Diaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dante with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dante in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dante.
Dante throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dante misses with the combination.
Dante cracks Diaz with a right hand to the side of the head.

Dante shoots in and bounces Diaz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dante wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Dante loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dante makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dante postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dante's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dante works over Diaz with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dante accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Dante is proving a slippery customer.
Dante is in close to Diaz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Dante from controlling successfully.
Dante trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dante's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dante lands a couple of digs.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sirium Dante showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Dante throws a series of punches but Diaz moves out of range.
Dante cracks Diaz with an open hand slap.

Dante has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.
Dante lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dante working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Dante breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dante looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Dante persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.

Diaz darts in and clinches Dante up against the cage.
Dante wants a takedown but no success here.
Dante gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Diaz tries to land a knee to the head but Dante blocks with his arms.

Dante pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dante shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Diaz as he jumps to the side.
Frank Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sirium Dante.
Dante throws a head kick that misses.
Dante keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dante fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dante moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Dante throws a series of strikes that have Diaz backpedaling.
Sirium Dante seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Dante shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dante.
Dante working the head and body with strikes.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dante thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.
Dante is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
Dante working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dante not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Diaz has hold of Dante's hands but Dante slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Dante sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Dante throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Dante is just content to waste time from the top position. Diaz takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Dante throws a big right hand that misses.
Dante lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dante postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Dante got a little sloppy there for a moment and Diaz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dante has managed to get both his arms back between Diaz's legs - danger averted.
Dante in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Diaz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dante gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dante trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Frank Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dante misses with a two punch combination.
Diaz leaves Dante with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Diaz tries to clinch but Dante moves away
and Dante counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Diaz thinking.
Nice uppercut lands for Dante. That snapped Diaz's head back.
Dante darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Dante tries a head kick but it misses.
Dante throws a series of punches but Diaz avoids them all with ease.
Diaz takes a jab right on the kisser.
Good leg kick by Dante there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Dante scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Dante throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Diaz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dante.
Dante scores with a three punch combo!
Sirium Dante is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dante displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sirium Dante comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dante has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sirium Dante!