PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Diamante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Lasha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diamante
vs
Lasha

190 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

200 cm
22
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Diamante!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jake Lasha!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diamante shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diamante fails to land the takedown.
Lasha takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Diamante moves into range and clinches up with Lasha.

Diamante manages to break the clinch.
Lasha slaps away a takedown attempt from Diamante, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Diamante. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diamante misses the shot to the body.
Lasha misses with a two punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Lasha. No joy for Diamante on that attempt.
Lasha throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Lasha, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diamante slips a jab and a cross from Lasha.
Lasha defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diamante.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diamante.
Diamante shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lasha defends it nicely.
Lasha misses with a wild combination.
Lasha throws a sloppy head kick and Diamante moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diamante rushes Lasha and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diamante stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lasha has had enough of the clinch but Diamante keeps him there for the moment.
Lasha wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lasha is trying to break the clinch but Diamante is controlling him.

Diamante's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, jab by Lasha - just one landing.
Diamante slips a jab and a cross from Lasha.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lasha lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Diamante has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Diamante and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Diamante misses with a takedown attempt - Lasha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lasha throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diamante.
Horrible takedown by Diamante or perhaps it was just good defense by Lasha which made him look bad.
Lasha connects with a jab.
Lasha misses with the combination.
Lasha swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lasha throws a nice looking combination but Diamante bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamante looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Diamante avoids the head kick by Lasha.
Diamante looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lasha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lasha misses with a series of wild punches.
Lasha throws a right hand that Diamante ducks under and follows up with a left that Diamante also avoids with ease.
Diamante misses with a head kick.
Diamante fails with the takedown.

Diamante darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Diamante sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lasha defending well though.
Still in half guard, Diamante seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lasha wants to control but Diamante is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lasha is staying active underneath Diamante, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lasha is trying to stand up here but Diamante is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lasha has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Diamante is working away from the top position though.

Diamante is working for a kimura but Lasha is defending it quite comfortably.
Diamante is breathing heavily.
Lasha is trying to stand up here but Diamante is controlling him well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lasha swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lasha misses with a wild combination.

That's four 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.
Lasha connects with a looping right hand.
Lasha misses with a double jab

and Diamante counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Diamante is looking to work some ground and pound but Lasha has wrist control.
Lasha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Diamante wants to get up but he can't break Lasha's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lasha wants to sweep but no luck.
Diamante wants to control from the top but Lasha keeps moving.

Diamante gets to his feet. Lasha looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Diamante shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lasha slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Diamante keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Diamante dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lasha misses with a leg kick.
Lasha throws a series of punches but Diamante moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Lasha misses the target.
Lasha throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diamante tries for a takedown but Lasha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lasha swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Diamante counters with a three punch combo that has Lasha backing up. Lasha nods at Diamante to acknowledge the strikes.
Lasha slips a jab and a cross from Diamante.
Nice sprawl there from Lasha as Diamante shoots in.
Lasha misses with a series of wild punches.
Lasha stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lasha wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Diamante. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lasha tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Lasha.
Michael Diamante seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Diamante gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lasha is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Diamante breaks the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Diamante gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Diamante keeps control of Lasha as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lasha wants to get back to striking at distance but Diamante won't allow it.
Diamante keeps control of Lasha as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Lasha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lasha paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lasha takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Diamante shoots in looking for a takedown. Lasha tries to sprawl out of it but Diamante keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lasha manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lasha scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Diamante rushes Lasha and presses him up against the cage.
Lasha wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Diamante breaks the clinch.
Lasha moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Diamante closes the distance and clinches.

Diamante breaks the clinch.
Diamante throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lasha counters with a straight right hand.
Lasha misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamante changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lasha tries to avoid it but Diamante manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lasha to the ground. Lasha escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lasha throws a good cross that connects.
Lasha throws a solid leg kick but Diamante takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lasha.
Lasha cracks Diamante with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jake Lasha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diamante shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lasha as he avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Lasha.
Lasha throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lasha looks to land a combination. Diamante sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Diamante shoots for a double leg takedown but Lasha sprawls well. He's pushed Diamante's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lasha tries to bum rush Diamante with a series of wild strikes but Diamante uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lasha misses with a wild combination.
Diamante fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lasha misses with a few strikes there.

Diamante gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Diamante manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lasha swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Diamante counters with a series of strikes. Lasha will be more careful next time no doubt.
Diamante will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lasha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diamante shoots in for a takedown but Lasha shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lasha stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lasha wants it to stay on the feet.
Lasha throws a left and a right that both miss

and Diamante counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lasha wants to get back to his feet but Diamante is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Diamante thows a big elbow that misses.
Diamante wants to get up but he can't break Lasha's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lasha is trying to keep Diamante in close.
Lasha is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diamante is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lasha wants to control the position but Diamante says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Lasha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diamante.
Lasha is looking to control Diamante's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lasha avoid being mounted?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Diamante fails with the takedown.
Diamante walks into a jab.
A punch combination from Lasha misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diamante is defended easily by Lasha.
Lasha misses with a two punch combination.
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 Michael Diamante will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lasha tries to bum rush Diamante with a series of wild strikes but Diamante uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diamante misses with a two punch combination.

Diamante shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lasha is trying to defend but Diamante finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lasha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diamante.
Diamante throws a strike but Lasha avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Lasha looking to control.
Diamante stopping the sweep attempt from Lasha.
Diamante wants to control from the top but Lasha keeps moving.
Diamanteis looking to pass into half guard but Lasha pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Lasha is in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lasha stops Diamante from standing up.
Lasha trying to control the position from guard on top but Diamante is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lasha swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Diamante counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diamante controlling the action here for a moment.
Diamante keeps control of Lasha as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Diamante lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lasha backwards.
Lasha is trying to break the clinch but Diamante has him pressed against the cage.
Diamante will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lasha up against the cage.

Diamante breaks from the clinch.
Lasha throws a one two combo.
Diamante shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lasha as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lasha avoids the body shot from Diamante.
Lasha lands a jab-cross combination.
Lasha misses with a few strikes there.
Diamante fails with the takedown.
A left and a right from Lasha both land. Nice combination.
Lasha misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lasha lands with a nice combination. Diamante backs away looking to recover.
Lasha tries to bum rush Diamante with a series of wild strikes but Diamante uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lasha misses with a series of wild punches.
Lasha misses with a few strikes there.
Diamante dives in and grabs Lasha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lasha pushes down on Diamante's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Diamante. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lasha throws a sloppy head kick and Diamante moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Lasha, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diamante misses with a takedown attempt - Lasha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lasha connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diamante tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lasha swivels and escapes.
Nice jab there from Lasha.
Lasha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Diamante pushes Lasha up against the cage in a clinch.
Lasha working hard to break the clinch.

Diamante breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lasha has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lasha lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lasha.
Lasha will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Lasha does no damage.

Diamante shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lasha controls Diamante momentarily but Diamante frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lasha wants to sweep but no luck.
Lasha throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Lasha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diamante has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lasha is proving hard to escape from.
Diamante has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Diamante won't allow Lasha to get back to his feet.
Diamante postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Diamante throws a looping overhand right but Lasha ducks down to avoid it.
Michael Diamante is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lasha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jake Lasha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A punch combination from Lasha misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jake Lasha.
I think Diamante has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!