PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Diagana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Houses (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diagana comes to the cage accompanied by Judas Priest - Painkiller. Dave Houses has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Alberto Diagana's chin.

Diagana
vs
Houses

168 cm
26
133 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

200 cm
26
135 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Alberto Diagana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Houses!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houses misses with a takedown

and Diagana moves into the clinch.
Diagana scores a nice knee to the body.
Houses avoiding damage as Diagana throws knees to the body.
Diagana throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Diagana putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Houses in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Diagana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Houses is defending well for now.
Houses is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Diagana lands a damaging elbow.
Diagana gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Houses on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Houses blocks an elbow strike.
Houses managing to block the knees to the body from Diagana.
Diagana tries to land knees in the clinch but Houses avoids the damage to the body.
Houses drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diagana with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Houses avoids the elbow strike from Diagana, against the cage.
Diagana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Houses is defending well for now.
Diagana scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Diagana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Houses avoids it.
Houses misses with a body punch.
Diagana throws a knee to the head but misses.
Diagana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Houses avoids it.

Houses breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Houses circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Houses counter with a right hand.

It looks like Alberto Diagana has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houses darts in and clinches Diagana up against the cage.
Houses looking for a takedown.
Alberto Diagana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Houses.
Nice body punch from Diagana.
Diagana lands a hook that snaps the head of Houses backwards.
Houses fails to pull guard.
Houses tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diagana smiles and moves away.
Houses fails with the takedown

and Diagana moves into the clinch.
Houses managing to block the knees to the body from Diagana.
Diagana lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Diagana looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Houses takes an elbow to the temple.
Diagana lands a damaging elbow.
Knees to the body from Diagana.
Diagana creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Houses takes a knee right on the jaw!
Diagana prevents a takedown attempt there.
Diagana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Houses avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houses avoiding damage as Diagana throws knees to the body.
Diagana gets underhooks to prevent Houses's takedown attempt.
Houses fails to pull guard.
Diagana throws an elbow but it misses.
Houses fails to pull guard.
Houses tries to stall but Diagana uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Houses avoids the elbow strike from Diagana, against the cage.
Houses avoiding damage as Diagana throws knees to the body.
Diagana lands a nice knee to the body.
Diagana throws an elbow that misses.
Houses drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Diagana gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Houses is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Houses throws a head punch that misses.
Diagana throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Houses lands a left hand.
Houses goes for a takedown in the clinch but Diagana prevents it.
Diagana with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Diagana pushes Houses back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Houses taking a breather.
Diagana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Houses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diagana tries to land knees in the clinch but Houses avoids the damage to the body.

Houses escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Houses circles away from the clinch attempt.

Diagana has Houses up against the cage in a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Diagana just misses with a elbow thrown towards Houses's brow.
Houses managing to block the knees to the body from Diagana.
Houses is looking to control Diagana's arms but Diagana gets an underhook and turns him. Now Houses has his back to the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Diagana.
Diagana is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Diagana is breathing heavily.
Diagana working Houses over with knees to the body.
Diagana trying to land knees to the body.

Houses pulls guard.
Houses tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diagana has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Houses is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diagana accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

Houses stands up and waves to Diagana to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diagana tries to clinch

and Houses counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Diagana!
Houses looking to control but Diagana is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Houses stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diagana tries to clinch but Houses moves away

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
and Houses counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diagana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Houses avoids it.
Diagana tries to land knees in the clinch but Houses avoids the damage to the body.
Diagana throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Houses tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Diagana using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dave Houses will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alberto Diagana's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Houses fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diagana avoids it really well and circles away.

Diagana moves into range and clinches up with Houses.
Diagana misses with a knee to the head.
Diagana throws an elbow but it misses.
Diagana presses Houses against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Diagana landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Diagana stops a takedown attempt from Houses.
Diagana working Houses over with knees to the body.
Houses blocks the elbow strike.
Houses with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Diagana keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Houses's efforts to push away.
Houses tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alberto Diagana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Houses.
Houses is breathing heavily.
Houses jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Diagana walks away with a smile on his face. Houses gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dave Houses seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Houses gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diagana missing with knees to the body.
Houses is looking to control Diagana's arms but Diagana gets an underhook and turns him. Now Houses has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diagana looking to throw knees to the head but Houses is blocking nicely.
Houses tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diagana smiles and moves away.
A good leg kick by Houses.
Houses thows a leg kick but Diagana checks it

and Diagana counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Diagana.
Houses misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diagana.
Diagana misses with a knee to the head.
Diagana working Houses over with knees to the body.
Houses tries to break the clinch but Diagana is controlling the position.
Diagana being controlled against the cage.
Diagana lands an elbow that stopped Houses in his tracks for a moment.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Diagana.
Houses tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diagana smiles and moves away.
Houses throws a lazy head kick

and Diagana counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Diagana.
Diagana lands a damaging elbow.
Diagana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Houses avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diagana misses with a knee to the head.

Houses pulls guard.
Houses looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diagana is one step ahead there.
Houses trying to keep a closed guard but Diagana is proving a slippery customer.
Diagana is looking to work some ground and pound but Houses has wrist control.
Houses is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Diagana looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diagana is staying active underneath Houses, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Houses lands a nice short elbow.
Diagana might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Diagana is trying to stand.
Diagana regains full guard. Nicely done.
Diagana controls Houses momentarily but Houses frees himself.

Houses drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Diagana manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Houses has Diagana in his guard.
Diagana wants to stand but Houses is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diagana trying to control but Houses is working from the bottom.
Diagana being controlled here momentarily.

Houses has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Diagana off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Diagana closes the distance but Houses moves to the side
and Houses counters with a head kick. That will keep Diagana thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Houses drives through and clinches with Diagana against the cage.
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 Alberto Diagana will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alberto Diagana's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Houses has taken the fight to the clinch.
Houses has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Diagana is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Houses takes an elbow to the forehead.
Houses trying to land knees to the body.
Houses looking for a takedown.
Houses tries to pull guard but Diagana holds him up against the cage and eventually Houses drops back down to his feet.
Alberto Diagana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Houses.
Diagana utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Houses has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Diagana regains guard immediately.
Houses stopping the sweep attempt from Diagana.

Diagana pushes Houses off and scrambles back to his feet.
Diagana tries to clinch but Houses is having none of it.

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

and Diagana counters by moving into the clinch.
Houses takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Diagana.
Diagana lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Houses backwards.
Houses tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diagana smiles and moves away.
Houses misses with a takedown attempt

and Diagana counters by clinching up.
Houses changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Diagana fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Diagana swinging wildly here.

Diagana gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diagana scores with a knee to the head.
Houses fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houses tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Diagana lands an elbow just above Houses 's eye.
A knee to the head by Diagana.
Diagana throws an elbow but it misses.
Diagana lands a knee to the body.
Diagana landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Houses blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A left hand lands to the body for Diagana.
Houses jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Diagana walks away with a smile on his face. Houses gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Houses avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diagana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Houses paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Houses with a poor takedown

and Diagana counters by clinching up.

Houses successfully pulls guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Houses holds on and takes a little breather.
Diagana would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Houses trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diagana trying to stand up but can't free himself from Houses's guard.

Diagana decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Diagana falls off balance throwing a combination

and Houses counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Houses works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Houses has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Houses sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diagana has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Houses's lack of action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diagana is looking to escape.

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 Alberto Diagana.
I think Diagana 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Alberto Diagana!