PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stafford Alois (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alois comes into the arena with Promised Land blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alois
vs
Diaz

194 cm
26
270 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
256 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stafford Alois!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, AJ Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alois darts in and clinches Diaz up against the cage.
Diaz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alois is defending well for now.
Alois keeps control of Diaz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Alois has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Diaz uses from the top position.
Alois controlling Diaz's posture.
Alois looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alois pulls Diaz in to control the position.

Alois has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Diaz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Diaz closes the distance but Alois moves to the side
and Alois counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alois throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alois lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Alois throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Alois shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alois not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Alois throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alois is nestled in close to Diaz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Alois prevents Diaz from standing back up.
Diaz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Alois.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Alois seems content to control.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Diaz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alois. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alois is looking to advance position but Diaz won't allow it.
Alois perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Alois throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.

Alois decides to stand and escape the position.
Diaz connects with a high kick.
Diaz looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to clinch but Alois slips to the side
and Alois counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alois circles away from the clinch attempt

and Alois counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Diaz down! Alois is looking to finish but Diaz is intelligently defending himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz wants to stand but Alois is controlling the position.

Alois decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Diaz, up you get!
Alois scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like AJ Diaz has been cut.
AJ Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Alois, right into the meat.
Alois stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

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

Alois breaks from the clinch.
Alois scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Diaz doesn't seem bothered though.
Diaz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Alois stalks Diaz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Diaz's face. Diaz staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alois darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Alois sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
Alois takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Alois trying to mount his opponent but Diaz defends it.
Alois drops an elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Alois stands up out of the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stafford Alois dominated that round.
The cut man is working on AJ Diaz's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Diaz looks to clinch
enabling Alois to counter with a crisp jab.

Alois instigates a clinch.
Alois blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Diaz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Alois.

Alois manages to break the clinch.
Alois circles away from the clinch attempt

and Alois moves into the clinch.
Diaz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alois pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A knee to the head by Alois.
Nice body punch from Alois.
Diaz missing with knees to the body.
Diaz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Alois.

Alois escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Alois gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Alois scores with a nice short uppercut.

Alois's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alois throws a series of strikes that have Diaz backpedaling.
Diaz takes one to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alois with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Alois closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Alois.

Alois manages to pull guard.
Alois pulls Diaz in close to his closed guard and prevents Diaz from doing any damage or advancing position.

Alois pushes Diaz off and gets back to his feet.
Alois is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Alois clinches with his opponent.
Diaz has had enough of the clinch but Alois keeps him there for the moment.

Alois has clasped his hands together around Diaz's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Diaz pushes Alois away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Alois gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alois lands a nice forearm strike.
Alois will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alois misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Alois tries to score with some ground and pound. Diaz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sloppy strikes there by Alois.

Alois stands up and beckons Diaz to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Alois moves into the clinch.
Alois just leaning against Diaz, taking a breather.
Alois keeps control of Diaz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Alois breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alois is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
Diaz tries to clinch

and Alois holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alois jumps guard and drags Diaz to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Alois looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alois trying to control the position here.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Alois won't let him.
Alois is pulling down on Diaz's head. It's preventing any offense from Diaz, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Alois kicks Diaz off and gets to his feet.
Diaz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Alois feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Diaz's calf.
Alois is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Alois lands an overhand right.

Alois pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Alois stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Alois works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alois scores with a shoulder strike.
A short left from Alois.
Alois lands a body punch in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Alois.
Alois scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stafford Alois dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on AJ Diaz's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Alois moves into the clinch successfully.

Alois lands a takedown into guard.
Diaz wants to stand and escape but Alois is having none of it.
Alois not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Alois throws a big right hand that misses.
Alois is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Diaz wants to stand and escape but Alois is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Alois throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alois thows a big elbow that misses.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alois controls the pace.
Alois passes Diaz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Alois throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Stafford Alois overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Alois in particular looking to stall.
Alois seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Diaz for as long as he can get away with.

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.
Diaz is looking to escape.
Alois lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Alois is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.
Diaz is trying to stand up here but Alois is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alois is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Diaz sees it coming and defends easily.
Alois seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Alois stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alois wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Diaz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Alois.
Alois wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.
Alois throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
AJ Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stafford Alois is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alois wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stafford Alois showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alois 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:25
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:25
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stafford Alois!