PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Toby Diaby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Raymond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaby comes to the cage accompanied by Trying'da hold me down. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaby
vs
Raymond

185 cm
26
198 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
195 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Toby Diaby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ben Raymond!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raymond moves away from the strike by Diaby.
Raymond throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diaby misses with a hook
and Diaby takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Diaby thows a left - swing and a miss!

Diaby shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Raymond's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raymond wants to sweep here but Diaby controlling him for the moment.
Diaby landing with the ground and pound.
Raymond 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.
Diaby looking to pass the guard.
Raymond manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaby manages to get himself to full guard.
Raymond slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raymond trying to control but Diaby is working from the bottom.
Raymond slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ben Raymond was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Diaby throws a right hand that Raymond ducks under and follows up with a left that Raymond also avoids with ease.
Raymond wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaby throws a lazy uppercut
letting Raymond counter with a right hand.
Raymond swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Diaby.
Diaby shoots for a double leg takedown but Raymond sprawls well. He's pushed Diaby's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Raymond bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Diaby's head.
Raymond tries to clinch but Diaby is having none of it.
Diaby drops his hands momentarily and Raymond takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Raymond throws a right and a left that Diaby avoids nicely.
Diaby keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raymond misses with a straight right.
Raymond fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ben Raymond is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raymond thuds his right hand into Diaby's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jab from Raymond.
Raymond on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Raymond as Diaby shoots in.
Raymond misses with an uppercut. Diaby saw that one coming.
Toby Diaby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaby lands a really nice looking cross but Raymond seems unphased.
Diaby scores with a nice right hand.
Raymond lands with a hook. Diaby tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Raymond is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Diaby had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Raymond throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raymond. Diaby does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaby misses with an uppercut. Raymond saw that one coming.
No joy there for Raymond, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaby throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Raymond counters with a series of strikes. Diaby will be more careful next time no doubt.
Raymond moves away from the strike by Diaby.
Raymond fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaby manages to avoid it.
Both fighters circling a little - Diaby finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diaby is defended easily by Raymond.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toby Diaby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaby. Raymond does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaby cracks a nice hook into Raymond's ribs.
Raymond throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Diaby counter with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaby. Raymond does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raymond misses the shot to the body.
Raymond throws a shot from downtown. Diaby moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Raymond misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raymond misses with a leg kick

and Diaby decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Raymond's guard.
Raymond wants to sweep here but Diaby controlling him for the moment.
Diaby makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Toby Diaby will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raymond waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diaby.
Diaby takes a swing at Raymond's ribcage but misses.
Diaby swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raymond jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Diaby moves away from the strike by Raymond.
Diaby fails in his attempt to clinch.

Diaby scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diaby is keen to just control but Raymond is a slippery customer.
Raymond wants to get back to his feet.
Raymond is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaby thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Raymond's head.
Diaby winds up and cracks Raymond with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Raymond tries to get to full guard but Diaby has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaby thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Diaby stalling away here and it's allowed Raymond to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Diaby trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Raymond looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Raymond really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Diaby. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Diaby trying to control but Raymond is working from the bottom.
Raymond wants to stand up but Diaby is controlling him.
Diaby trying to control the position from guard on top but Raymond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raymond avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaby pushes down on Raymond's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Diaby wants to pass to mount but Raymond is defending the position.
Diaby is trying to control the action in half guard but Raymond is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Raymond wants to get back to his feet.
Diaby wants to pass the guard but Raymond is defending well.
Raymond is looking for a sweep. Diaby is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Diaby seems to be working for a kimura but Raymond defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaby has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raymond has given up his back here.
Raymond has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Diaby working for the choke.
Diaby connects with a big shot to the side of Raymond's head.
Diaby is looking to control Raymond but Raymond is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaby scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

Raymond is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good control from Diaby.
Raymond is still in real trouble! Can Diaby finish him?
Raymond tries to escape the position.
Diaby has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Diaby has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Raymond is in real trouble here. Diaby gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Raymond is tapping out! Diaby wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Toby Diaby!