PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Draydon Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Diaz
vs
Fitzgerald

177 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

186 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite 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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodrigo Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Draydon Fitzgerald!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzgerald fails with a takedown attempt.
Fitzgerald misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Fitzgerald shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Diaz's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Fitzgerald is proving a slippery customer.

Fitzgerald stands up and waves to Diaz to follow him.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Fitzgerald shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diaz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fitzgerald defending well though.
Diaz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Fitzgerald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diaz stops Fitzgerald from getting back to his feet.

Fitzgerald has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Diaz is on him like a limpet, forcing Fitzgerald back against the cage.
Fitzgerald tries to break free but Diaz pushes him back against the cage.

Fitzgerald breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fitzgerald shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.
Rodrigo Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Draydon Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
It looks like Fitzgerald is going to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Fitzgerald decides to stand and escape the position.
Fitzgerald looks winded!
Fitzgerald with a lazy takedown attempt

and Diaz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fitzgerald won't be happy with that.
Diaz connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Fitzgerald some visible discomfort.
Diaz throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fitzgerald keeps working.
Fitzgerald pushes Diaz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Diaz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Diaz throws an elbow but Fitzgerald slips to the side and avoids it well.
Fitzgerald managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a strike aimed at the side of Fitzgerald's head but Fitzgerald avoids it well.
Diaz misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Diaz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Diaz trying to control the position but Fitzgerald is working away.
Fitzgerald managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Diaz.
Fitzgerald pushes Diaz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Diaz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Diaz misses with the ground and pound.
Diaz content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Diaz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Diaz trying to control the action but Fitzgerald is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald tries to escape but Diaz is in control.
Diaz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Diaz trying to control the position but Fitzgerald is working away.

Diaz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Fitzgerald, who protects the arm well.

Diaz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Diaz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Diaz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
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 Rodrigo Diaz will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fitzgerald tries for a takedown but Diaz circles away easily

so Diaz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Diaz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fitzgerald works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diaz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fitzgerald wants to stand up but Diaz is controlling him.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzgerald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Diaz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fitzgerald defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diaz.
Fitzgerald shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Fitzgerald's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Diaz looks for a takedown but Fitzgerald sprawls well.
Nice sprawl there from Diaz as Fitzgerald shoots in.
Rodrigo Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Draydon Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald is breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Fitzgerald or perhaps it was just good defense by Diaz, which made it look bad.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.
Diaz goes for a takedown attempt but Fitzgerald pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald tries for a takedown but Diaz circles away easily
and Diaz counters with a left and a right that stings Fitzgerald.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Fitzgerald counters with a left to the body.
Fitzgerald shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Diaz pinned against the cage. Diaz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Diaz lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rodrigo Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fitzgerald manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Fitzgerald closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Diaz to the mat! Diaz manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzgerald wants to stand but Diaz is controlling his posture from full guard.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fitzgerald is one step ahead there.

Fitzgerald stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fitzgerald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz fails to land the takedown.
Fitzgerald fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Fitzgerald keeps it at a distance.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz slaps away a takedown attempt from Fitzgerald, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fitzgerald shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Diaz sprawls well. Diaz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fitzgerald gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Diaz dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Diaz is looking to clinch but Fitzgerald is avoiding it.
Diaz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fitzgerald misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Diaz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fitzgerald circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzgerald shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fitzgerald slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to clinch.
Fitzgerald shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
Rodrigo Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Draydon Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fitzgerald misses with a takedown
and Diaz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fitzgerald misses with a takedown attempt

and Diaz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
Diaz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fitzgerald gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Fitzgerald to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Diaz tries to score a body lock takedown but Fitzgerald shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fitzgerald gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Fitzgerald tries to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling the position.
Diaz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fitzgerald after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fails to pull guard.
A frustrated look appears on Fitzgerald's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Diaz has Fitzgerald pressed against the cage, preventing Fitzgerald from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Fitzgerald turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Fitzgerald can't break the clinch.
Diaz fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Fitzgerald breaks the clinch.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Fitzgerald shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Fitzgerald sprawls well.
Fitzgerald shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Diaz defends it nicely.
Fitzgerald shoots for a takedown but Diaz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fitzgerald fails to land the takedown.
Diaz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fitzgerald avoids it really well and circles away.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Fitzgerald shows good takedown defense.

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 Rodrigo Diaz.
Well Diaz 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Diaz!