PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Trevor Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Ricester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricester is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: War Vince DiCola. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Diaz
vs
Ricester

181 cm
22
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

190 cm
21
193 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

M/S Paint Fightwear *** Cheapest in town ***

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 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Trevor Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Ricester!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricester tries a low kick but Diaz avoids it.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ricester shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ricester will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz throws a body punch but Ricester moves out of range.
Ricester tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diaz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ricester somewhat.
Trevor Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Ricester.
Ricester avoids the body shot from Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricester misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ricester looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ricester shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ricester throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Ricester uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Ricester avoids the body shot from Diaz.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Ricester is just out of range.
Ricester keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two 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.
Ricester uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Diaz takes a swing at Ricester's ribcage but misses.
Ricester fails with a takedown attempt.
Diaz keeps the fight on the outside.
Ricester avoids the body shot from Diaz.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Ricester uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ricester looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ricester will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ricester shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
Ricester looks gassed!
Ricester uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Ricester shoots for a takedown but Diaz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ricester wants to clinch.
Diaz misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ricester.
Ricester looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Ricester persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Trevor Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ricester shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Diaz as he jumps to the side.
Ricester shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Diaz defends it nicely.
Diaz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trevor Diaz dominated that round.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diaz takes a swing at Ricester's ribcage but misses.
Ricester wants to clinch.
Ricester avoids the body shot from Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ricester.
Ricester shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Diaz as he jumps to the side.
Ricester is breathing heavily.
Ricester shoots in looking for a takedown. Diaz tries to sprawl out of it but Ricester keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Diaz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Trevor Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Ricester.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricester is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.
Ricester tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ricester takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Diaz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ricester shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Ricester's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ricester avoids the body shot from Diaz.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Ricester doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ricester manages to avoid it.
Diaz takes a swing at Ricester's ribcage but misses.
Ricester uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Ricester is just out of range.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ricester shoots in but no luck this time.
Ricester shoots in looking for a takedown. Diaz tries to sprawl out of it but Ricester keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Diaz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ricester.
Diaz takes a swing at Ricester's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ricester fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Diaz swings for the body but Ricester moves out of range.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ricester moves away.
Ricester shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Diaz but Diaz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ricester shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Ricester's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trevor Diaz dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Diaz thows a body shot but no joy.
Ricester will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ricester shoots in but no luck this time.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Ricester does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Toni Ricester seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ricester avoids the body shot from Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ricester.
Diaz throws a body punch but Ricester moves out of range.
Ricester takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ricester is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricester keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ricester will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Trevor Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Ricester.
Diaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ricester was well out of range. Poor timing from Diaz.
Toni Ricester is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz throws a body punch but Ricester moves out of range.
Ricester shoots in but no luck this time.
Ricester shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Diaz defends it nicely.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ricester.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diaz throws a body punch but Ricester moves out of range.
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Ricester. Ricester gets slowly back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Ricester does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Ricester shoots in looking for a takedown. Diaz tries to sprawl out of it but Ricester keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Diaz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ricester fails with a takedown attempt.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Ricester is looking to clinch.

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.

Ricester scores with a takedown into Diaz's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Diaz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ricester on the ground.
Diaz trying to strike off his back.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toni Ricester has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Trevor Diaz.
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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28

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