PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz has chosen Pantera - A New Level 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!

Phillips
vs
Diaz

190 cm
18
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
243 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fernando Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phillips shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Phillips showed some decent athleticism there.
Phillips thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Phillips thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.
Phillips not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Diaz gets back to full guard.
Phillips postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Diaz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phillips moves away.
A combination from Phillips does no damage.
Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Phillips holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Diaz blocks a body shot from Phillips.
Phillips is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Diaz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Phillips is trying to break free.

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz works the jab nicely.

Phillips scores with a takedown into Diaz's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Diaz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phillips accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Phillips tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Phillips thows a big elbow that misses.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet but Phillips is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Phillips has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Phillips slips under a jab from Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phillips closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Diaz did well to prevent Phillips getting side control.
Phillips is breathing heavily.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Diaz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Diaz.
Phillips throwing strikes but missing.
Phillips postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Diaz has Phillips pulled in close to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Diaz is on top in guard.
Diaz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips is trying to control the position but Diaz postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Diaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Phillips on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Phillips tries to get out of the position.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Phillips is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Phillips is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diaz is controlling him.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Diaz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Diaz trying to control but Phillips is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fernando Diaz will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Phillips ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.
Fernando Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Phillips scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Diaz makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Phillips fails with a takedown attempt.

Diaz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Phillips keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diaz landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz scoring with punches and elbows.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Phillips is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diaz working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Phillips takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A lull in the action here as Diaz stalls from top position.
You can see the frustration on Phillips's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Diaz wants to control but Phillips is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz cracks Phillips with a big right hand but Phillips just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Diaz. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Diaz lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Phillips down.
Diaz wants to control but Phillips is keeping him busy.
Diaz lands some shots froms side control.
Diaz scoring with punches and elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Phillips is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Phillips tries to escape but Diaz is in control.
Diaz grinds an elbow into Phillips's temple.
Phillips tries to escape but Diaz is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Diaz is chipping away with strikes.
Phillips stops Diaz from passing to mount.
Diaz working the ground and pound from side control.
Diaz connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Phillips some visible discomfort.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Phillips is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diaz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Phillips is trying to get back to his feet.
Diaz trying to control the action but Phillips is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Diaz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Phillips takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Diaz works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Diaz lands an elbow.
Diaz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Diaz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Diaz with a poor takedown

and Phillips counters with a takedown into side control.
Diaz manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Diaz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Phillips's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Phillips's back!
Diaz not allowing Phillips to control his hands.
Phillips covers up after that shot from Diaz.
Phillips is trying to get back to his feet but Diaz has full control of the position and if anything, Phillips has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Diaz landing with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Phillips is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Diaz gets his way!
Phillips trying to control but not successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips staying busy and making it hard for Diaz to control.
Diaz lands strikes to the head.
Phillips tries to break free.
Diaz loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Phillips hold on?
Diaz lands strikes to the head.
Diaz has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Phillips.
Diaz lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Diaz.
Diaz trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Phillips doesn't escape.
The referee is taking a good look at Phillips as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Diaz!
Phillips covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Diaz gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Diaz gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Diaz apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Diaz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Diaz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Phillips to see if he's OK.
Diaz grinds an elbow into Phillips's temple.
Diaz working the ground and pound from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz lands a nice forearm strike.
Phillips can't do much from the bottom here.
Diaz working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is chipping away with strikes.
Diaz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Diaz trying to control the position but Phillips is working away.
Diaz working the head and body with strikes.
Diaz controlling from side mount.
Diaz working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Phillips is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Phillips takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Diaz in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working the ground and pound.
Diaz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Phillips to see if he's OK.
Diaz remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Diaz connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Phillips some visible discomfort.
Diaz trying to control the action but Phillips is working from the bottom.
Diaz advances to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Phillips tries to lock up and control but Diaz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fernando Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Diaz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

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