PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Farro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Trick Daddy - Let's Go ft Twista & Lil Jon. 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
Farro

169 cm
26
145 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

165 cm
23
145 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
KO power

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oscar Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Farro!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Farro throws a hook to the side of Diaz's head but Diaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diaz throws a jab when Farro was well out of range.
Farro misses with an uppercut. Diaz saw that one coming.
Farro scores with a jab. Diaz acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Farro has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Farro there as he acknowledges the shot.

It looks like Ben Farro has been cut.
Farro stalks Diaz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Diaz's face. Diaz staggers backwards, shaken.
Farro tries to bum rush Diaz with a series of wild strikes but Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ben Farro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Farro throws a solid leg kick but Diaz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Farro.
Diaz throws a lazy right hand but Farro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.
Farro misses with a low kick.
Farro throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diaz throws a combination that misses
and Farro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Farro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Farro connects with a jab.
Farro looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
The fighters circling - Diaz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz misses with a few strikes there.
Farro slips under a jab from Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farro misses with a combination
enabling Diaz to counter with a crisp jab.
Diaz sizes up Farro with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Farro throws a series of punches but Diaz avoids them all with ease.
Diaz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Farro.
Farro misses with a straight right.
No luck for Farro with that takedown attempt.
Farro takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Farro.
Farro throws a predictable looking body shot

and Diaz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Farro is keeping the position for now.

Farro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diaz defends well.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a big right hand that misses.

Farro is looking for a triangle but Diaz pushes his legs off easily.
Diaz trying to control but Farro is working from the bottom.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz cracks Farro with a solid left hand.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Farro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Farro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Farro wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Diaz postures up in Farro's guard and throws a big left but Farro blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farro keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Farro looking for a sweep. Not yet Farro, not yet.
Farro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Farro avoids nicely.
Farro lands a nice looking body shot.
Farro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Diaz swinging wildly here.
Diaz avoids a punch combination nicely.
A slow jab from Farro misses its intended target.
Diaz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Diaz throws out a powerful jab.
Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Diaz blocks a low kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farro throws a jab when Diaz was well out of range.
Diaz digs a good body shot into Farro's ribs.
Farro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Farro persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.

Farro drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Farro looks gassed!
Farro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Farro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Diaz can't keep his opponent in guard - Farro advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Farro pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Farro 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Diaz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Farro'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 shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Farro works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Farro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Diaz is aware though and is defending well.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Farro is keeping the position.

Farro looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Farro looking for a sweep. Not yet Farro, not yet.
Farro keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Farro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Farro working a defensive guard here.

Farro has an active guard here but Diaz has managed to pass into half guard.

Diaz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Farro is just riding it out for now. Diaz eventually gives up the hold.
Farro wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Diaz scores with a sloppy right hand. Farro should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Farro instigates a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Farro.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Farro manages to get underhooks.
Diaz being controlled against the cage.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Farro moves out of range as Diaz strikes.
Farro lands a nice looking body shot.
Farro throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Farro. That's going to slow Diaz down.

Farro shoots in and bounces Diaz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Diaz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farro chips away with some ground and pound.
Farro stops Diaz from standing up.

Diaz looking for a guillotine here but Farro defends easily.
Farro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Farro is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Farro landing some decent shots from guard.
Diaz wants to improve his position but instead Farro has moved into half guard.
Farro landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Farro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Farro working over Diaz with some ground and pound. Diaz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Farro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farro drops an elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Farro scores with a couple of nice shots.
Farro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.
Farro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
Farro works his way into side control.
Farro lands a nice forearm strike.

Farro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Farro grinds an elbow into Diaz's temple.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.

Farro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diaz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ben Farro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Farro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ben Farro's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Farro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Farro.
A lazy left from Farro finds it's target.

Farro closes the distance and clinches.
Farro lands a body punch.
Farro trying to stall but Diaz improves his position.
The referee calls for Farro to work.
Farro fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Farro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A big right from Farro misses.
Diaz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Farro misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Farro there.
The crowd cheers as Diaz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Farro doesn't seem phased though.
Farro connects with a right hand. Diaz shakes it off.
Farro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Farro lands with a nice body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Farro.
Farro misses with an uppercut. Diaz saw that one coming.
A slow jab from Diaz misses its intended target.
Diaz cracks a nice hook into Farro's ribs.
A telegraphed right hand from Farro misses the target.
A big right from Diaz misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Farro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaz misses the jab.
Farro throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farro tries to work over Diaz's front leg with a kick but Diaz checks it.
Farro takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Farro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz connects with a nice looking jab.
Diaz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Farro.
Farro finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Diaz slips a jab from Farro.
Diaz misses with an uppercut. Farro saw that one coming.
Diaz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Farro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Farro throws an overhand right that lands on Diaz's shoulder, as Diaz tries to avoid the shot.

Farro shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Farro showed some decent athleticism there.
Diaz has hold of Farro's hands but Farro slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Farro is controlling well.
Farro looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Diaz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farro stops Diaz from getting back to his feet.
Diaz tries to roll over but Farro keeps him under control.
Farro is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Farro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.
Diaz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Farro scores with a couple of nice shots.
Diaz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Farro scores with a couple of nice shots.
Farro prevents Diaz from standing back up.
Diaz is looking to control Farro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diaz avoid being mounted?

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Farro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Farro scores with the left hand. Diaz knows he should have avoided that one.
Farro wants to clinch.

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.
Farro's corner calls for a 1-2. Farro obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Farro drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Farro is one step ahead there.
Farro advances position into side control!
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.

Farro wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Diaz, who protects the arm well.
Farro working the head and body with strikes.
Diaz is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Farro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Farro has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Farro!