PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Gorden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz de Vivar comes to the cage accompanied by Clint Eastwood. Gorden has chosen Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Diaz de Vivar
vs
Gorden

168 cm
23
143 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

170 cm
30
142 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Gorden!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz de Vivar misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Diaz de Vivar misses

and Gorden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diaz de Vivar's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gorden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Diaz de Vivar trying to keep a closed guard but Gorden is proving a slippery customer.
Diaz de Vivar lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gorden!
Gorden tries to lock up and control but Diaz de Vivar gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Diaz de Vivar throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Gorden really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorden sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gorden is pressing down on Diaz de Vivar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Diaz de Vivar preventing the sweep.

Gorden looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Diaz de Vivar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gorden utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz de Vivar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Diaz de Vivar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gorden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gorden utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz de Vivar looking to sit in guard and control but Gorden gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gorden throwing strikes but missing.
Gorden throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz de Vivar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz de Vivar working a defensive guard here.
Gorden is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz de Vivar has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz de Vivar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gorden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz de Vivar is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Diaz de Vivar keeping moving, preventing Gorden from controlling successfully.
Gorden looking to pass the guard.
Diaz de Vivar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Diaz de Vivar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorden stays in close to Diaz de Vivar's body and controls the position.

Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Gorden checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A left lands for Diaz de Vivar.
Diaz de Vivar scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Diaz de Vivar throws a leg kick but Gorden checks it.
Diaz de Vivar throws a solid leg kick but Gorden takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Diaz de Vivar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz de Vivar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gorden looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz de Vivar is just out of range.
Gorden checks a leg kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gorden dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Gorden.
Gorden rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diaz de Vivar moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice sprawl there from Diaz de Vivar as Gorden shoots in.
Gorden connects with a jab.
Diaz de Vivar buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gorden checks a leg kick.
Diaz de Vivar thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Gorden if he has to take too many more of those.
Diaz de Vivar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gorden.
Gorden misses with a looping right.
Diaz de Vivar connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz de Vivar digs a good hook to Gorden's body.

Gorden throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Diaz de Vivar tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gorden is in Diaz de Vivar's guard.
Gorden passes into half guard.
Diaz de Vivar trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Gorden manages to pass to mount!
Gorden postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Diaz de Vivar looks a forlorn figure.
Gorden working the ground and pound effectively.
Diaz de Vivar slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorden thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Diaz de Vivar to regain full guard.
Gorden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gorden won't allow Diaz de Vivar to sweep him here.
Gorden is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz de Vivar has wrist control.
Diaz de Vivar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gorden with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ben Gorden has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz de Vivar is trying to control the position but Gorden postures up.
Gorden connects with a couple of short punches.
Diaz de Vivar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gorden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gorden is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz de Vivar has wrist control.
Gorden is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz de Vivar has wrist control.
Gorden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gorden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Diaz de Vivar keeping moving, preventing Gorden from controlling successfully.
Gorden throws a strike but Diaz de Vivar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Diaz de Vivar stopping the sweep attempt from Gorden.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz de Vivar passes Gorden's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gorden trying to control here.
Gorden is pressing down on Diaz de Vivar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz de Vivar content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gorden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Gorden on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gorden stuffs the takedown attempt from Diaz de Vivar. Diaz de Vivar gets slowly back to his feet.
A clash of legs there as Gorden blocks the low kick.
Nice sprawl there from Diaz de Vivar as Gorden shoots in.
Diaz de Vivar misses with an attempted mid kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gorden.
Gorden fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A low kick from Diaz de Vivar misses
and Diaz de Vivar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Diaz de Vivar throws a chopping leg kick but Gorden manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A big left from Diaz de Vivar misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Gorden.
Diaz de Vivar moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Diaz de Vivar throws a leg kick but Gorden moved away.
Diaz de Vivar scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice body kick from Diaz de Vivar.
Diaz de Vivar throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gorden takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Diaz de Vivar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gorden.
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar is winning the standup battle so far.
Gorden looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz de Vivar is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorden shoots in and drives through. Diaz de Vivar sprawls well.
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gorden.
Gorden throws a low kick, looking for Diaz de Vivar's leg but Diaz de Vivar calmly moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Gorden.
Diaz de Vivar misses with a low kick as Gorden jumps back.
Diaz de Vivar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gorden has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Diaz de Vivar.
Gorden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ben Gorden is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice sprawl there from Diaz de Vivar as Gorden shoots in.
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden throws a head kick but Diaz de Vivar moves out of range.
Gorden rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Diaz de Vivar counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Diaz de Vivar dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gorden. That did some damage!
A bone on bone clash there as Diaz de Vivar blocks the leg kick.
Diaz de Vivar feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gorden's calf.
Diaz de Vivar tries to work over Gorden's front leg with a kick but Gorden checks it.
Gorden checks a leg kick.
Diaz de Vivar throws out a leg kick but Gorden moves out of range and Diaz de Vivar only half commits.
Diaz de Vivar tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gorden is able to avoid easily.
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz de Vivar tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gorden is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz de Vivar uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gorden.
Diaz de Vivar misses with a low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Gorden checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gorden throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz de Vivar moves out of range easily.
Diaz de Vivar cracks the inside of Gorden's front leg.
Gorden tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diaz de Vivar sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gorden somewhat.
Gorden rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Diaz de Vivar counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gorden's knee momentarily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gorden is defended easily by Diaz de Vivar.
Gorden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz de Vivar misses with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gorden 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

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