PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sasa Sladkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Sladkov
vs
Diaz

190 cm
19
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
256 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sasa Sladkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, AJ Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sladkov avoids it really well and circles away.

Diaz lands a left and a right that sends Sladkov crashing to the canvas! Diaz dives into mount looking to finish!

It looks like Sasa Sladkov has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Diaz thowing shots but they're missing.
Sladkov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sladkov blocking the ground and pound.
Diaz is landing with some decent strikes but Sladkov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Sasa Sladkov's cut is getting worse.
The referee warns Sladkov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sladkov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sladkov tries to get out of the position.
Sladkov trying desperately to get to his feet.
Diaz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sladkov hang on?
Diaz throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Diaz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sladkov looks a forlorn figure.
Sladkov is breathing heavily.
Sladkov blocking the ground and pound.
Diaz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sladkov blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sladkov?
Sladkov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Diaz tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Diaz fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Diaz misses with a head shot.
Sladkov's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
A nice elbow there by Diaz.
Diaz with the ground and pound from mount.
Diaz lands with some strikes.
Diaz lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sladkov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Diaz.
Diaz working Sladkov over with strikes here.
Sladkov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Diaz tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looking to ground and pound but Sladkov is blocking nicely.
Sladkov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Diaz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sladkov is trying to stand up.
Diaz unloads with some shots from mount but Sladkov bucks and avoids them well.
Sladkov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sladkov wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Diaz lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sladkov blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sladkov really wants to buck Diaz off and get back to his feet.
Diaz scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Diaz won't let Sladkov get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Diaz lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Diaz looking to finish with strikes here!
Diaz scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Diaz throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sladkov because Diaz loaded up on that one.
Diaz won't let Sladkov get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Diaz lands a heavy elbow.
Diaz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sladkov hang on?
Diaz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sladkov looks a forlorn figure.
You get the feeling that Sladkov really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Diaz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
A nice elbow there by Diaz.
Diaz dominating with strikes here.
Poor strikes thrown by Diaz there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Diaz sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Diaz throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sladkov because Diaz loaded up on that one.
Diaz landing punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sladkov wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Diaz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sasa Sladkov's cut.
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.

Diaz throws a right hand that Sladkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Sladkov also avoids with ease.
Diaz misses with a wild combination.
Sladkov looks to land a combination. Diaz sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sladkov misses with a series of wild punches.
Diaz fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sladkov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sladkov manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Diaz does no damage.
Sladkov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Diaz.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Sladkov.
Diaz shoots for a double leg takedown but Sladkov sprawls well. He's pushed Diaz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches.
Sladkov tries to pull guard but Diaz won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sladkov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sladkov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Sladkov trying to land knees to the body.
Diaz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sasa Sladkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants a takedown but no success here.
Sladkov prevents the takedown attempt.
Diaz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sladkov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sladkov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Diaz working some strikes from top position.
Sladkov wants to stand up but Diaz is controlling him.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Sladkov is retaining full guard.
Sladkov wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
AJ Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Diaz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Sladkov pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Sladkov jumps guard but Diaz stands there with Sladkov around his waist. Sladkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Diaz goes for a takedown attempt but Sladkov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sladkov clinches with his opponent.

Diaz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Diaz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sladkov, who protects the arm well.
Diaz postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Diaz in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Diaz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Diaz misses with the ground and pound.

Diaz decides to stand back up.

Sladkov rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz wants a takedown but no success here.
Diaz goes for a takedown attempt but Sladkov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sladkov tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz blocks a head kick by Sladkov.
Sladkov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sladkov counters with a left and a right that stings Diaz.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Diaz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sladkov is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Diaz fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Diaz lands a big elbow.
Sladkov really wants to buck Diaz off and get back to his feet.
Diaz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sladkov tries to buck Diaz off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working the ground and pound effectively.
Sladkov is bucking up trying to escape but Diaz cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sladkov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Diaz landing strikes from the mount and Sladkov is in trouble!
Diaz throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Diaz has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sladkov's face.
Sladkov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Diaz on the ground.
Sladkov is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Diaz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Diaz lands a nice shot to the head.
Sladkov tries to buck Diaz off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but AJ Diaz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sasa Sladkov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Diaz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sladkov avoids it really well and circles away.

Sladkov clinches with his opponent.
Sladkov gets underhooks to prevent Diaz's takedown attempt.

Sladkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sladkov rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.

Sladkov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but Sladkov pushes his legs off easily.

Diaz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Sladkov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Diaz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sladkov!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz lands a big elbow.
Diaz landing strikes from the mount.
Diaz unloads with some shots from mount but Sladkov bucks and avoids them well.
Diaz punching from mount but Sladkov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sladkov wants to get back to his feet.
Sladkov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sladkov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Diaz.
Diaz won't let Sladkov get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Diaz throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Diaz looking to ground and pound but Sladkov is blocking nicely.

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.
Diaz lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Diaz landing strikes from the mount.
Diaz lands a big shot there that rocks Sladkov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Diaz scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Diaz thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Diaz punching from mount but Sladkov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sladkov squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Diaz throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sladkov because Diaz loaded up on that one.
Sladkov is trying to stand.
Diaz throws some wild stikes that Sladkov manages to avoid easily.
Diaz cracks Sladkov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Diaz lands with some strikes.
Sladkov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz landing strikes, looking to finish!
Diaz thowing shots but they're missing.
Sladkov is trying to stand up.
Diaz throwing strikes here but Sladkov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Diaz throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
A nice elbow there by Diaz.
Diaz is landing with some decent strikes but Sladkov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sladkov tries to buck Diaz off but he can't manage it.
Diaz punching from mount but Sladkov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Diaz with a couple of short strikes.
Diaz thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Sladkov is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Diaz landing strikes, looking to finish!
Diaz dominating with strikes here.
Diaz is landing with some decent strikes but Sladkov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sladkov trying desperately to get to his feet.
Diaz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sladkov hang on?
Sladkov blocking the ground and pound.
Sladkov is trying to stand up.
Poor strikes thrown by Diaz there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Diaz thowing shots but they're missing.
Diaz looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 26:30

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