PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Diego Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Villa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaz
vs
Villa

180 cm
27
178 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

175 cm
25
184 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue 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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leo Villa!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villa swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Villa unleashes a big counter combination but Diaz bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Leo Villa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Villa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Diaz counters with a single leg into guard. Villa didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Villa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Villa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Diaz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Villa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz won't allow Villa to get back to his feet.
Villa pulls Diaz in to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Villa scores with a hook to the body. Diaz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Diaz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Diaz showed some decent athleticism there.
Diaz uses his free foot to push down on Villa's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Villa.
Villa is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Villa tries to reverse the position but Diaz maintains control.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Villa is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villa trying desperately to get to his feet.
Diaz controlling the pace for now.
Diaz pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Diaz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Villa regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Villa is staying active underneath Diaz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Villa wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villa is looking to control Diaz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Villa avoid being mounted?
Well, if Diaz is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Diaz wants to control but Villa is keeping him busy.
Diaz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Villa is looking to escape.
Diaz passes to full mount!
Diaz controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz landing shots from mount.
Villa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Diaz is landing with some decent strikes but Villa is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Villa is working to get back to half guard.

Diaz looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Diaz has control of Villa's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Villa regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Villa is looking to improve his position but Diaz isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Diaz dominated that 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.

Villa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Diaz feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Villa.
Villa misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Diaz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Villa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Villa can't break the clinch.
Diaz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Villa prevents it.
Villa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Diaz prevents Villa from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Diaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz goes for a double leg but Villa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Villa continues to drive forward.
Villa has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Diaz is landing a low percentage of strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Villa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Villa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Villa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Villa scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Villa circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Villa but Villa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Villa throws out a counter right but Diaz avoids it with no problem.
Villa working hard to break the clinch.

Diaz has hold of one of Villa's legs. Villa is fighting the takedown attempt but Diaz gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Villa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Villa keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Villa uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.
Villa dips to his left and cracks Diaz with an uppercut!
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Villa tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Villa to the ground. Villa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Diaz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diaz stops Villa from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throwing shots but Villa is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Diaz there.
Diaz prevents Villa from standing back up.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Villa keeps working.
Diaz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Diaz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Villa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Diaz.
Villa is refusing to be controlled, as Diaz sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Villa is looking to improve his position.
Villa won't allow Diaz to pass to mount.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Villa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
A punch combination from Villa misses.

Diaz gets a takedown into half guard.

Diaz is trying to work for a kimura but Villa is defending well.
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 Diego Diaz will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Villa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diaz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Diaz shoots in but Villa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Diaz shoots in but Villa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Villa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Diaz shoots and misses
and Villa counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Villa lands a slapping body shot.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Villa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villa stuffs the takedown.
Villa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Villa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Villa punishes Diaz's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Diaz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Villa misses with a two punch combination.
Villa connects with a jab.
Villa lands with an overhand left.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
Villa is looking for the big counter here.

Villa has Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Villa prevents the takedown attempt.
Villa working hard to break the clinch.
Diaz tries to throw a body punch but Villa avoids it by throwing Diaz back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz wants to control but Villa is keeping him busy.

Villa makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Villa connects with a body shot that sends Diaz's belly button to the back.

Villa moves into the clinch.
Villa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Diaz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Diaz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Diaz gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Diaz is trying to control the action in half guard but Villa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Diaz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Villa wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Diaz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Diaz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Diaz trying to control from half guard but Villa is working away.

Diaz seems to be looking for submissions.
Diaz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Villa is trying to stand up here but Diaz is controlling him well.
Diaz seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Diaz trying to control from half guard but Villa is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Diego Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Diaz looks for a takedown but Villa sprawls well.
Villa scores with a one two! Diaz had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Leo Villa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Villa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Diaz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Diego Diaz!
An intense looking Diego Diaz took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Eu treino com os melhores do mundo. Minhas habilidades estão ficando melhor a cada luta. Vou continuar a melhorar e fazer meus fãs e país orgulhoso. (I train with the best in the world. My skills are getting better every fight. I will continue to improve & do my fans & country proud)'.