PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Artison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alberto Diagana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diagana has chosen Judas Priest - Painkiller as his entrance music. 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.

Artison
vs
Diagana

165 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

168 cm
34
156 lbs
19 - 23 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Artison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 23 - 0, fighting out of London, Alberto Diagana!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Artison throws the left hand but Diagana avoids the punch easily.
A head kick misses from Diagana.
A big left from Artison misses.
Diagana bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Artison connects with a crisp jab.
Artison will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Artison throws a shot from downtown. Diagana moves away and avoids it.

Artison tries to keep at a distance but Diagana has taken the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Artison.
Diagana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Diagana slows down the pace here.
Artison doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Diagana using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Diagana digs a right hand underneath Artison's ribcage. Artison let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Diagana taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diagana.
Diagana tries to work over Artison's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Artison is trying to pull guard but Diagana turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Diagana tries a body shot but Artison blocks it.
Diagana scores with a shot to the side of Artison's head.
Artison swings wildly with an uppercut but Diagana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Artison fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Artison fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Diagana.
Artison is trying to pull guard but Diagana has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Artison. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diagana scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diagana content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Diagana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Artison jumps guard but Diagana turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Diagana tries to throw a body punch but Artison avoids it by throwing Diagana back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Artison doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diagana looking to throw knees to the head but Artison is blocking nicely.
Diagana with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like James Artison has been cut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Diagana.
Diagana lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Artison doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Diagana.
Artison is trying to force a seperation but Diagana has the dominant position.
Artison misses with a short punch on the inside.
Artison misses with the head strike.
Diagana blocks an uppercut.
Artison takes a knee right on the jaw!
Artison tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Diagana.

Artison breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Artison stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Artison throws a big shot that misses.
Diagana tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Artison with a nice cross.
Diagana tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Artison lands a lovely overhand right.
Diagana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diagana fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diagana ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Artison misses with a right hand

and Diagana decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Artison's guard.
Diagana controls from within his opponent's guard.
Diagana throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Artison works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Artison looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diagana is one step ahead there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Artison looking for a guillotine here but Diagana defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diagana is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Artison can't keep his opponent in guard - Diagana advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Diagana seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Artison does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Artison looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diagana trying to control the action but Artison is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Artison is looking for a sweep. Diagana is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alberto Diagana dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Artison's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diagana has Artison up against the cage in a clinch.
Artison throws a head punch that misses.
Artison jumps guard but Diagana turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Diagana lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Diagana controlling the action here for a moment.
Artison jumps guard but Diagana turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Still in the clinch, Diagana scores with a nice short uppercut.
Diagana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Diagana working some nice short punches in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diagana creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Alberto Diagana seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Diagana is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Diagana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Diagana.
Diagana lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Artison doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diagana working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Artison misses with a hook from the clinch.
Artison is trying to pull guard but Diagana has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Artison. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diagana dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Artison decides to pull guard.

Artison is looking for a triangle but Diagana pushes his legs off easily.

Artison has an active guard here but Diagana has managed to pass into half guard.
Diagana is thwarting Artison's attempts to control the position.

Artison looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diagana slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Artison tries to get to full guard but Diagana has control of the leg.

Artison looking for submissions off his back.
Diagana looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Diagana is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diagana moves nicely into side control.
Artison manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Artison is staying active underneath Diagana, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Diagana is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Artison is pressing down on Diagana's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Artison escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diagana gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Diagana got a little sloppy there for a moment and Artison has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diagana has managed to get both his arms back between Artison's legs - danger averted.
Artison can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Diagana controls the pace.
Diagana postures up in Artison's guard and throws a big left but Artison blocks it.

Diagana avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Diagana postures up and lands a big shot to Artison's brow.
Artison keeping moving, preventing Diagana from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diagana not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diagana pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Artison is keeping the position for now.
Diagana is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Artison throws his legs up looking for a submission but Diagana uses it to pass to side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Diagana decides to stand back up.
Diagana takes a shot to the body in his stride.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Diagana darts in and clinches Artison up against the cage.
Diagana lands a right hand.
Diagana stalling.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Diagana.
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 cut man is working on James Artison's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Diagana is looking to clinch but Artison is avoiding it.
Diagana misses with a head kick.
Alberto Diagana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Artison throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diagana with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Artison to score with a decent uppercut.
Diagana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Artison paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Artison swats away the attempt to clinch by Diagana.
A swing and a miss from Artison.
Artison blocks the body kick.
Diagana gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Artison counters with a nice body shot.
Diagana fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Artison throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Diagana closes the distance and pushes Artison back into the cage.
Artison fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Diagana stalling the fight.
Diagana gets through Artison's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Diagana.
Artison misses with a body punch.
Diagana is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Diagana tries to land knees in the clinch but Artison avoids the damage to the body.
Artison being controlled against the cage.
Artison fails to pull guard.
Artison misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diagana is pressed up against the cage. Artison has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Diagana down to the mat. Diagana 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 James Artison. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Diagana moves into range and clinches up with Artison.
Diagana gets through Artison's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diagana blocking some punches.
Diagana blocking some punches.
Artison has a couple of punches blocked by Diagana.
Artison misses with a hook from the clinch.
Diagana will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Artison up against the cage.
Artison jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Diagana walks away with a smile on his face. Artison gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Artison looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Artison throws a shot from downtown. Diagana moves away and avoids it.
Artison throws a poor cross that misses
and Diagana counters with a two punch combo.
Diagana avoids the body shot from Artison.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diagana fails with the takedown.
A combination from Diagana does no damage.
Diagana thows a body shot but no joy.
Artison doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Diagana counters by clinching up.
Alberto Diagana is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Artison throws a head punch that misses.
Artison misses with a short punch on the inside.
Artison swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Diagana lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Diagana using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Artison has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Diagana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Diagana blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diagana.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Diagana takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Artison tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Diagana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diagana lands a nice elbow.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Diagana.
Artison throws a punch but it's blocked by Diagana.
A short right from Diagana.
Artison is trying to pull guard but Diagana turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Artison goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diagana lands an elbow just above Artison 's eye.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diagana manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alberto Diagana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Diagana winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alberto Diagana!
A very excited looking Alberto Diagana made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.