PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Stefaniak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alberto Diagana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diagana comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Judas Priest - Painkiller kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stefaniak
vs
Diagana

175 cm
21
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

168 cm
27
133 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent elbows
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Stefaniak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Alberto Diagana!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stefaniak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stefaniak keeps the fight on the outside.
Stefaniak getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Diagana tries to keep at a distance but Stefaniak has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stefaniak on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Diagana tries to throw a body punch but Stefaniak avoids it by throwing Diagana back against the cage.
Diagana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stefaniak managing to block the knees to the body from Diagana.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Stefaniak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diagana is looking to clinch but Stefaniak is avoiding it.
Sloppy strikes from Diagana. Those never looked like landing.

Stefaniak pushes Diagana up against the cage in a clinch.
Diagana connects with a knee to the head.
Stefaniak avoids the elbow strike from Diagana, against the cage.
Diagana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefaniak has had enough of the clinch but Diagana keeps him there for the moment.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stefaniak.
Diagana swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stefaniak lands a body punch in the clinch.
Stefaniak wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diagana has him pressed against the cage.
Diagana wants to stall.
Diagana misses with an elbow strike.
Stefaniak lands a left hand that snaps the head of Diagana backwards.
Diagana misses with a body punch.
Stefaniak managing to block the knees to the body from Diagana.
Diagana just leaning against Stefaniak, taking a breather.
Diagana lands a body shot.
Diagana tries to land a knee to the head but Stefaniak blocks with his arms.
A short left from Diagana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diagana has him pressed against the cage.
Stefaniak on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stefaniak blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stefaniak.
Stalling in the clinch from Diagana.
Diagana stalling in the clinch but Stefaniak improves position.
Diagana works on Stefaniak's body with a couple of short punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stefaniak creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stefaniak wants to get back to striking at distance but Diagana won't allow it.
Diagana scores with a knee to the head.
Diagana looking to throw knees to the head but Stefaniak is blocking nicely.
Stefaniak being controlled against the cage.
Stefaniak throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stefaniak lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stefaniak tries to circle away but Diagana has him pinned against the cage.
Diagana landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Diagana struggles to land a body shot inside as Stefaniak controls his hands.
Stefaniak on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stefaniak avoids the elbow strike from Diagana, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A knee to the head by Diagana.
Stefaniak is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Diagana.

Stefaniak breaks from the clinch.

Stefaniak closes the distance and pushes Diagana back into the cage.
Diagana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stefaniak.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diagana tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Diagana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stefaniak is defending well for now.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Diagana's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Diagana looking to slow down the pace here.
Stefaniak is trying to break the clinch but Diagana is controlling him.
Diagana throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stefaniak can't break the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Stefaniak.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stefaniak will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Diagana up against the cage.
Diagana has a couple of punches blocked by Stefaniak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alberto Diagana will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diagana tries to clinch up.
Stefaniak attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Stefaniak gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stefaniak scores with a three punch combo!

Stefaniak moves into the clinch successfully.
Stefaniak creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Stefaniak misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diagana lands an elbow just above Stefaniak 's eye.
Stefaniak has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Diagana tries a knee to the head but Stefaniak blocks it.
Diagana using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stefaniak has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Diagana lands an elbow that stopped Stefaniak in his tracks for a moment.
Stefaniak working hard to break the clinch.
Stefaniak blocking some punches.
Stefaniak struggles to land a body shot inside as Diagana controls his hands.
Diagana throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefaniak gets through Diagana's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Diagana gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Diagana lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stefaniak is trying to break the clinch but Diagana is controlling him.
Diagana misses with a knee to the head.
Diagana lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Diagana displaying some good clinch control by pressing Stefaniak up against the cage.
Diagana missing with knees to the body.
Diagana tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Diagana throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diagana.
Diagana trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diagana tries to land knees in the clinch but Stefaniak avoids the damage to the body.
Diagana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stefaniak.
Diagana lands a knee to the body.
Diagana tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Stefaniak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Stefaniak darts in and clinches Diagana up against the cage.

Stefaniak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stefaniak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diagana closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Diagana buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diagana looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diagana is looking to clinch but Stefaniak is avoiding it.
Diagana tries to close the distance and clinch but Stefaniak swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diagana is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diagana wants to clinch up but Stefaniak keeps it at a distance.
Anthony Stefaniak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stefaniak throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stefaniak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Stefaniak clinches.
Diagana with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Diagana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Diagana just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stefaniak's brow.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Diagana trying to land knees to the body.
Stefaniak lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Stefaniak is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Diagana is keeping busy.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Diagana obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak is looking to break free of the clinch but Diagana has double underhooks.
Diagana landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Diagana misses with a punch to the body.
Diagana landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Diagana on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Diagana with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stefaniak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diagana tries to clinch but Stefaniak is having none of it.
Stefaniak lands a really nice looking cross but Diagana seems unphased.
Stefaniak throws a low kick but Diagana moves out of range easily.
Stefaniak throws a shot from downtown. Diagana moves away and avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diagana wants to clinch up but Stefaniak keeps it at a distance.
Stefaniak lands with a nice combination. Diagana backs away looking to recover.
Stefaniak swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alberto Diagana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Left hook, right uppercut from Diagana.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stefaniak tries to stall but Diagana uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Stefaniak blocks the elbow strike.
Diagana tries to land a knee to the head but Stefaniak blocks with his arms.
Diagana throws an elbow that misses.
Diagana avoids a wild elbow strike from Stefaniak.
Diagana creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stefaniak's defenses.
Diagana using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stefaniak has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Diagana missing with knees to the body.
Stefaniak softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Stefaniak is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stefaniak is trying to break the clinch but Diagana is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diagana lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Stefaniak managing to block the knees to the body from Diagana.
Diagana digs a right hand underneath Stefaniak's ribcage. Stefaniak let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Diagana throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stefaniak blocks it with crossed arms.
A bit of stalling here from Stefaniak.
Stefaniak pushes off an throws an elbow but Diagana leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Diagana throws a knee to the head but misses.
Diagana trying to stall but Stefaniak improves his position.
Stefaniak tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Diagana obliges.
Diagana stalling in the clinch but Stefaniak improves position.
Stefaniak tries to stall but Diagana uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Diagana connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stefaniak's face.
Stefaniak wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diagana has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Diagana lands with a left to the head.
Diagana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stefaniak is defending well for now.

Stefaniak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alberto Diagana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stefaniak fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diagana, pushing him back against the cage.
Diagana takes an elbow to the temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stefaniak avoids a wild elbow strike from Diagana.
Diagana is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Stefaniak is keeping busy.
Diagana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stefaniak is defending well for now.
Diagana keeps control of Stefaniak as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stefaniak wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Diagana missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diagana throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stefaniak takes an elbow to the temple.
Stefaniak is trying to stall.
Diagana using the Thai clinch to land 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. Stefaniak is defending well for now.
Diagana tries to throw a body punch but Stefaniak avoids it by throwing Diagana back against the cage.
Alberto Diagana is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stefaniak working hard to break the clinch.
Diagana prevents Stefaniak from breaking the clinch.
Stefaniak leaning against his opponent.
Diagana keeps control of Stefaniak as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stefaniak takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diagana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stefaniak.
Diagana throws a punch but it's blocked by Stefaniak.
Diagana has Stefaniak pressed against the cage, preventing Stefaniak from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Diagana landing knees to the body.
Stefaniak wants to break the clinch but can't.
Anthony Stefaniak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short left from Diagana.
Diagana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stefaniak blocks a body shot from Diagana.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diagana scores with a nice hook to the head.
Diagana missing with knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Stefaniak is trying to break the clinch but Diagana has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alberto Diagana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diagana has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

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