PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between DJ Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Payne
vs
Diaz

160 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, DJ Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz moves in looking to clinch but Payne pushes him off.
Diaz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Diaz checks a leg kick.

Payne clinches up against the cage.

Diaz pulls guard effortlessly.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Payne has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Payne throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz controls Payne momentarily but Payne frees himself.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Payne thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Payne from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne trying to stand up but can't free himself from Diaz's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Payne misses with a head kick.
Diaz closes the distance but Payne moves to the side

and Payne counters by moving into the clinch.
Payne gets underhooks to prevent Diaz's takedown attempt.
Diaz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Payne.
Payne is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Payne goes for a takedown attempt but Diaz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Payne instigates a clinch.
Payne stalling.

That's two 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.
Payne using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Diaz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice body punch from Payne.
Diaz trying to land knees to the body.
Payne wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Payne working hard to break the clinch.
Diaz goes for a takedown attempt but Payne pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Diaz closes the distance but Payne moves to the side

and Payne moves into the clinch.
Payne can't get the takedown.
Diaz is pressed up against the cage. Payne has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Diaz down to the mat. Diaz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DJ Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payne bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Diaz's head.

Payne forces Diaz back against the cage and clinches.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz has his takedown stuffed

and Payne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz prevents the takedown attempt.
Payne is breathing heavily.
Diaz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Payne is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Diaz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Diaz prevents Payne from breaking the clinch.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
Payne fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Diaz shoots in but no luck this time.

Payne moves into the clinch.
Diaz tries to score a body lock takedown but Payne shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Payne lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Diaz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Payne pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Payne is looking to break free of the clinch but Diaz has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Payne.
Payne looking for a takedown.
Diaz goes for a takedown attempt but Payne pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Payne as he avoids it easily.

Payne clinches with his opponent.
Diaz lands a knee to the body.
Diaz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Payne avoids it.
Payne gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.

Payne jumps guard and drags Diaz to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Payne dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Payne darts in and clinches Diaz up against the cage.
Payne gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Payne tries for a takedown. No joy.
Payne changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Diaz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Diaz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Payne counters with a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payne shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Diaz sprawls well. Diaz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Payne gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DJ Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice takedown defense from Payne. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Payne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diaz wants a takedown.
Payne drops down looking for an ankle pick but Diaz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Payne comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Payne displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diaz.

Payne gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diaz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Payne tries to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling the position.

Diaz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Diaz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Payne is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Diaz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Diaz has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz passes Payne's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Payne is looking to improve his position.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Payne keeps working.
Diaz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Diaz is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Payne!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Payne is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Payne has given up his back.
Payne is keeping busy.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Payne is trying to break free.

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 tries to keep control of the position but Payne is staying busy.
Diaz biding his time, looking for the opening.
Payne tries to break free.
Payne is trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Payne is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Diaz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Diaz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Diaz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Payne defends it nicely.

Payne looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Payne is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Payne tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.

Payne drops back, looking for a kneebar! Diaz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Diaz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Diaz!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz advances nicely into full mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz content just to control the position here.
Payne wants to control but Diaz is having none of it.

That's two 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 controlling the position easily from mount.
Payne flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Diaz controlling from mount.
Payne is working to get back to half guard.
Diaz content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Daniel Diaz just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diaz is defended easily by Payne.
Payne has a takedown stuffed.
Diaz looks to clinch
enabling Payne to counter with a crisp jab.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
DJ Payne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Diaz.
Payne circles away from the clinch attempt.

Diaz tries to keep at a distance but Payne has taken the fight into the clinch.

Diaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Payne shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
Payne fails to land the takedown.
Diaz slaps away a takedown attempt from Payne, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Daniel Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
Diaz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Diaz wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Payne stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Payne wants it to stay on the feet.
Diaz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Payne is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Payne circles away and we're back to standing.

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 DJ Payne.
I think Payne 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DJ Payne!