PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Erschov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexei Erschov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Erschov
vs
Diaz

170 cm
26
180 lbs
11 - 16 - 0

180 cm
30
178 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 11 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Erschov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Erschov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Diaz looking to sit in guard and control but Erschov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Erschov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Erschov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Erschov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Erschov wants to get up but he can't break Diaz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Erschov trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Erschov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Diaz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Erschov has managed to get both his arms back between Diaz's legs - danger averted.
Erschov with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erschov throws a strike but Diaz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Diaz won't allow Erschov to sweep him here.
Diaz stays in close to Erschov's body and controls the position.

Erschov 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 Erschov.
Diaz is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Erschov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Erschov wants to get back to his feet but Diaz drags him back down.
Diaz tries to score with some ground and pound. Erschov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Erschov keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is staying tight to Erschov's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Erschov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Diaz working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Diaz tries for a kimura but Erschov is defending well.
Diaz is staying tight to Erschov's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Erschov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Erschov wants to get back to his feet.
Erschov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Diaz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz prevents Erschov from escaping the position.
Erschov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Diaz landing strikes.
Diaz lands a nice forearm strike.
Diaz trying to control the action but Erschov is working from the bottom.
Erschov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Diaz is controlling him well.
Erschov is looking to reverse the position.
Diaz trying to control the position but Erschov is working away.
Diaz advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is working for a guillotine from mount but Erschov frees his head quite easily.
Erschov wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Erschov looks a forlorn figure.
Diaz lands a heavy elbow.
Erschov wants to try and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Diaz tries to control but Erschov wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Diaz dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Erschov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Erschov fails with the takedown.
Diaz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Erschov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Diaz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Erschov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Diaz as he jumps to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Erschov. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.
Diaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Erschov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diaz somewhat.
Erschov dodges the punch combination from Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erschov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Diaz shoots in and bounces Erschov off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Diaz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Diego Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a head shot. Erschov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Diaz slips nicely into half guard.
Diaz is trying to control the action in half guard but Erschov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Diaz prevents Erschov from improving his position.

Erschov actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Diaz seems to be working for a kimura but Erschov defends the submission attempt.
Diaz trying to control from half guard but Erschov is working away.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Diaz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Erschov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Erschov is trying to stand up here but Diaz is controlling him well.
Diaz trying to control from half guard but Erschov is working away.

Erschov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erschov is looking to control Diaz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Erschov avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Erschov gets caught flat footed, as Diaz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Erschov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.
Erschov wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Erschov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Erschov keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erschov working a defensive guard here.

Erschov has his foot on Diaz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diaz works his way back into a safe position though.
Erschov wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Erschov.

Diaz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Erschov has momentary wrist control but Diaz slips an elbow through the middle.
Erschov keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Erschov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Erschov.
Diaz with the counter takedown but Erschov avoids it easily.
Erschov avoids the head kick by Diaz.
Diaz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Diaz shoots in but Erschov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Diaz feints and as Erschov raises his hands in defense, Diaz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Erschov keeps moving.
Diaz passes Erschov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Erschov with the active half guard here but Diaz passes nicely into side control.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Erschov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erschov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Erschov keeps working.
Erschov regains half guard.
Erschov moves into full guard.
Erschov wants to stand up but Diaz is controlling him.

That's two 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.
Diaz trying to control but Erschov is working from the bottom.
Erschov being controlled here, momentarily.
Diaz chips away with some ground and pound.
Diaz is looking to work some ground and pound but Erschov has wrist control.
Diaz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Erschov is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz shoots in and bounces Erschov off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Erschov wants to stand up but Diaz is controlling him.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Diaz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Erschov trying to keep a closed guard but Diaz is proving a slippery customer.

Diaz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Erschov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diaz has managed to get both his arms back between Erschov's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz passes Erschov's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Diaz seems to be looking for submissions.

Diaz is looking for a kimura here.
Diego Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Alexei Erschov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Erschov looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diaz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Diaz!
As Diego Diaz got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: 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)'.