PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Diabate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diabate is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd. Kyle Powers has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Powers
vs
Diabate

196 cm
26
288 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

183 cm
19
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samuel Diabate!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diabate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diabate walks into a stiff left hand from Powers.

Powers is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Diabate's half guard.
Powers wants to control but Diabate is keeping him busy.
Powers uses his free foot to push down on Diabate's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Diabate.
Diabate is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Diabate really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Powers. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Powers is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Diabate is surviving well by controlling Powers's body position as best he can.

Powers working for a submission but Diabate is keeping him at bay.
Powers prevents Diabate from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Powers is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Diabate is surviving well by controlling Powers's body position as best he can.
Diabate is desperately trying to improve his position but Powers has a good base and remains in mount.
Powers has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Powers is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Diabate has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Powers has control of Diabate's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Diabate regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Powers is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Diabate can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diabate is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diabate is squirming around, avoiding Powers's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Diabate tries to hold on but Powers pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Diabate can do anything to dispel that myth.

Powers working for a guillotine from mount but Diabate is in no mood to give up.

Powers is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Powers shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Powers was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diabate is looking to improve his position but Powers isn't that keen on the idea.

Powers is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Diabate has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Diabate is looking to improve his position but Powers isn't that keen on the idea.
Powers scoring with strikes but Diabate is staying in there.

Powers is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Diabate is surviving well by controlling Powers's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Powers dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Diabate feints and as Powers raises his hands in defense, Diabate changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diabate stays in close to Powers's body and controls the position.
Powers looking for a sweep. Not yet Powers, not yet.
Diabate trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Diabate won't allow Powers to sweep him here.
Diabate is stalling in the full guard.
Powers looking for a sweep. Not yet Powers, not yet.
Powers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Powers is pulling down on Diabate's head. It's preventing any offense from Diabate, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Diabate tries for a takedown but Powers circles away easily

and Powers counters with a shoot takedown. Diabate fights it but they end up in guard.
Diabate is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Powers is controlling him.

Powers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Powers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Powers drops back looking for a leg! Diabate is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diabate manages to kick Powers off! Powers jumps back into Diabate's guard.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Diabate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diabate working a defensive guard here.
Powers has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Diabate is proving hard to escape from.
Diabate looking for a sweep. Not yet Diabate, not yet.

Powers thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Powers wants to stand but Diabate is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers drops back looking for a leg! Diabate is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diabate manages to kick Powers off! Powers jumps back into Diabate's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diabate has a closed guard, preventing Powers from standing up.
Diabate looking to hit a scissor sweep but Powers is one step ahead there.
Powers looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Powers drops back looking for a leg! Diabate is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diabate manages to kick Powers off! Powers jumps back into Diabate's guard.
Diabate looking to hit a scissor sweep but Powers is one step ahead there.
Diabate is trying to control the position but Powers postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Powers is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kyle Powers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diabate looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
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 Kyle Powers will probably get the nod.
That's time! Powers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Diabate pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diabate gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Powers counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Powers.
Powers scoring with some ground and pound.

Powers thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Diabate working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Powers.

Powers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Powers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Powers is looking to work some ground and pound but Diabate has wrist control.
Diabate wants to sweep here but Powers controlling him for the moment.
Powers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Diabate is not content to let Powers control the position.

Powers is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diabate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Powers is working away from the top position though.

Powers is looking for a kimura here.
Diabate tries to get to full guard but Powers has control of the leg.

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

Powers is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Diabate is just riding it out for now. Powers eventually gives up the hold.
Diabate tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Powers has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Powers working for a guillotine from mount but Diabate is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers wants to finish this one by submission but Diabate is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Powers.
Diabate is desperately trying to improve his position but Powers has a good base and remains in mount.
Powers throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Diabate because Powers loaded up on that one.

Powers is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Diabate to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Diabate shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diabate really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Powers is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Diabate is surviving well by controlling Powers's body position as best he can.
Diabate tries to hold on but Powers pushes him away.
Samuel Diabate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Powers tries to control but Diabate wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diabate throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Kyle Powers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Diabate working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Powers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Powers has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:26
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Powers!