PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz comes to the cage accompanied by Calvin Harris - Feel So Close (Nero Remix). Bryan Joseph has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Diaz
vs
Joseph

225 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bryan Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Joseph pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Diaz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Joseph tries to buck Diaz off but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Joseph struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Joseph leaves Diaz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Joseph tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Diaz counters with a single leg into guard. Joseph didn't expect that.
Joseph throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Diaz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Joseph has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Diaz is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Joseph.
Joseph struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bryan Joseph.
Joseph tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
Joseph tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Diaz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Joseph darts in and clinches Diaz up against the cage.
Diaz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Diaz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Joseph is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Diaz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Joseph.
Joseph tries a knee to the head but Diaz blocks it.
Joseph is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Diaz is trying to drag Joseph to the mat but Joseph just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Joseph fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz drives through with a takedown into Joseph's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Diaz postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.
Joseph is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bryan Joseph has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Joseph getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
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 Dick Diaz 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.

Diaz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Diaz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Joseph sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Joseph moves into the clinch.
Joseph tries to land a knee to the head but Diaz blocks with his arms.
Joseph tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Joseph breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Joseph tries to clinch up

and Diaz counters with a takedown into side control.
Diaz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Joseph struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Diaz is staying active.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Joseph tries to bench press Diaz off him but Diaz keeps the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bryan Joseph wasn't active enough on the ground.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is wriggling around trying to escape.
Joseph tries to lock up and control but Diaz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Diaz controlling from mount.
Joseph wants to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Diaz content just to control the position here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Diaz looks for a takedown but Joseph sprawls well.
Diaz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Joseph is looking to clinch.
Joseph looks to clinch

and Diaz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph wants to control but Diaz is keeping busy.
Still in half guard, Diaz seems content to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Joseph throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Joseph tries to clinch up.
Diaz walks forward, straight into a front kick from Joseph.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck for Diaz with that takedown attempt.
Diaz has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Joseph.
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 Dick Diaz will probably get the nod.
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!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaz.
Joseph is trying to get back to half guard.
Joseph is trying to escape the position but Diaz is controlling the position.
Joseph is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.
Joseph is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Joseph wants to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Joseph. Those never looked like landing.
Joseph is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Joseph.

Diaz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph wants to improve his position but Diaz is controlling well.
Diaz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Joseph trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dick Diaz just wasn't active enough.
Joseph tries to clinch up.
Joseph moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.

Joseph moves into the clinch.
Joseph gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Joseph will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Diaz up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Joseph is pressed up against the cage. Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Joseph down to the mat. Joseph avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joseph tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Dick Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Joseph lands with a kick to the ribs.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joseph closes the distance but Diaz moves to the side

and Diaz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Joseph won't be happy with that.
Bryan Joseph has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joseph is looking to regain half guard here but Diaz keeps moving and retains side control.

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 Dick Diaz.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Diaz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dick Diaz!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Dick Diaz made sure he mentioned Narcissus Unlimited , along with how happy he was to win his fight.