PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hope Solo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Solo
vs
Diaz

181 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hope Solo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Solo rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz is trying to maintain a safe position but Solo gets an underhook and turns Diaz into the cage.
Diaz wants to get back to striking at distance but Solo won't allow it.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Solo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Solo tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Solo to the ground. Solo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Solo misses with a right hand

and Diaz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Solo!
Solo wants to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Solo is desperately trying to improve his position but Diaz has a good base and remains in mount.
Diaz blocks Solo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Solo is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Solo is working hard here to advance position.
Diaz trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Solo sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Solo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diaz.
Solo is looking to control Diaz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Solo avoid being mounted?
Diaz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Solo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Solo gets back to full guard.
Solo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solo has control of Diaz's left arm, preventing Diaz from doing any damage.
Solo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Diaz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Solo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Carlos Diaz.
Diaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Solo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diaz somewhat.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Solo as he avoids it easily.
Hope Solo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Diaz.
No luck for Diaz with that takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Solo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Solo has Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Solo lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Diaz manages to pull guard.
Solo wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.

Solo stands up from Diaz's guard - Solo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Solo scores with a nice right hand.
Solo throws a right hand that misses
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Solo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Solo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz lands a right hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Solo as he jumps to the side.
A telegraphed right hand from Solo misses the target.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Solo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Solo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diaz, pushing him back against the cage.

Solo jumps guard and drags Diaz to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Solo working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.
Solo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.
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 Hope Solo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice takedown defense from Solo. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.

Solo closes the distance and clinches.
Solo lands with a right to the head.

Solo 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.

Solo pushes Diaz off and scrambles back to his feet.
Diaz slips under a jab from Solo.
Solo tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Solo misses with a hook

and Diaz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Solo's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz preventing the sweep.

Solo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Solo is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz won't allow Solo to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Solo holds on and takes a little breather.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Solo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Solo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Solo is pulling down on Diaz's head to control his posture.
Solo trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Solo is retaining full guard.
Solo is trying to keep Diaz in close.
Diaz won't allow Solo to sweep him here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Solo clinches.
Diaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Solo won't allow it.
Hope Solo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Diaz.
Diaz wants to stall.
Solo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Diaz after a bit of a struggle.

Diaz gets control of Solo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Diaz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz 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.
Hope Solo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Solo's guard.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.

Diaz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Solo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diaz has managed to get both his arms back between Solo's legs - danger averted.
Solo wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.

Solo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Diaz is aware though and is defending well.

Diaz gets to his feet. Solo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Solo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Diaz in his tracks.

Solo closes the distance and pushes Diaz back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
Solo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Solo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A nice left hand lands by Solo.
Solo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Solo wants to get back to striking at distance but Diaz won't allow it.
Solo is trying to push Diaz away but Diaz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Diaz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Solo uses from the top position.
Solo throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Solo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Solo postures up in Diaz's guard and throws a big left but Diaz blocks it.
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 Hope Solo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Diaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Solo circles away.
No joy there for Solo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Solo tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Solo to the ground. Solo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Solo lands with a cross.
Carlos Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Solo throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Diaz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Solo misses with an uppercut.

Solo closes the distance and clinches.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A slow jab from Solo misses its intended target.
Hope Solo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz wants to clinch.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Solo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solo misses with an uppercut. Diaz saw that one coming.
Diaz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Solo is out of range and Diaz settles back down.
Solo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Solo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Solo is pushing Diaz's head away, looking to escape. Diaz manages to hold on to the position though.
Solo wants to control but Diaz postures up.
Solo wants to get back to his feet but Diaz drags him back down.
Solo is trying to improve his position.

Solo explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Solo fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz moves out of range of the strikes.
Diaz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Solo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diaz.
Solo missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hope Solo is winning the standup battle so far.
Solo lands an overhand right.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Solo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Solo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hope Solo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Diaz.
Diaz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Solo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diaz.
Solo misses with an uppercut. Diaz saw that one coming.
Solo missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solo misses the jab.
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Solo sprawls well.

Solo pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Solo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz trying to stall but Solo improves his position.
Solo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Solo throws a hook but Diaz avoids it easily.
Solo throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Diaz tries to land a leg kick but Solo saw it coming and moves away.
Diaz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Solo circles away quickly and effectively.

Diaz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Solo on his heels. He'll look to pass Solo's guard now, I'm sure.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Solo holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Solo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diaz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Solo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Solo uses the cage to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Solo looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
Carlos Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hope Solo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Solo loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hope Solo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Solo 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hope Solo!