PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alex Dimagiba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremiah Bernales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Dimagiba
vs
Bernales

173 cm
25
142 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

167 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Dimagiba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jeremiah Bernales!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bernales tries to sprawl but Dimagiba drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Dimagiba is controlling the pace.
Dimagiba wants to get back to his feet.
Dimagiba is trying to control. Bernales wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Dimagiba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bernales is just riding it out for now. Dimagiba eventually gives up the hold.
Bernales is refusing to be controlled, as Dimagiba sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bernales manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernales looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bernales looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bernales keeping moving, preventing Dimagiba from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Bernales looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dimagiba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bernales content to stall in guard here.
Bernales trying to control but Dimagiba is working from the bottom.
Bernales content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernales trying to control but Dimagiba is working from the bottom.
Dimagiba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bernales stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dimagiba swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dimagiba closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dimagiba lands in his opponent's guard.
Dimagiba trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bernales manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Dimagiba keeping moving, preventing Bernales from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dimagiba wants to get back to his feet but Bernales is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bernales wants to pass the guard but Dimagiba is keeping the position.
Bernales content to stall in guard here.
Dimagiba is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Dimagiba is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dimagiba is trying to keep Bernales in close.
Bernales is pushing down on Dimagiba's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dimagiba is fighting to maintain full guard but Bernales has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bernales uses his free foot to push down on Dimagiba's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Dimagiba.
Bernales controlling his opponent.

That's four 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.
Bernales avoids the attempt from Dimagiba to control.
Bernales content just to control the position here.
Bernales trying to control but Dimagiba is having none of it.

Bernales is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Dimagiba has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Dimagiba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bernales trying to control but Dimagiba is having none of it.
Bernales controlling his opponent.
Dimagiba is squirming around, avoiding Bernales's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Dimagiba dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

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

Dimagiba is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bernales sees it coming and defends easily.
Bernales is looking to control Dimagiba's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bernales avoid being mounted?

Dimagiba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Dimagiba is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bernales has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dimagiba seems to be working for a kimura but Bernales defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernales is staying active underneath Dimagiba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bernales has his hands clasped together around Dimagiba's back. He's all about the action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Dimagiba is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Bernales shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bernales content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernales is trying to control. Dimagiba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dimagiba tries to get to full guard but Bernales has control of the leg.

Bernales is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dimagiba defends it well.
Bernales trying to control the pace.
Bernales trying to control from half guard but Dimagiba is working away.
Bernales works his way into side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bernales taking a breather here.

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.

Dimagiba drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bernales is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bernales looking to control but Dimagiba passes into half guard.
Dimagiba wants to take a breather but Bernales is having none of it.

Dimagiba stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Dimagiba decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dimagiba is stalling here. Bernales is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Dimagiba seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bernales has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Dimagiba is not content to let Bernales control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dimagiba tries to buck Bernales off but Bernales is having none of it.
Dimagiba is trying to escape the position but Bernales is controlling the position.

Bernales is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dimagiba has escaped the position, nice work there.

Bernales is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dimagiba knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bernales trying to control the position but Dimagiba is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dimagiba is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Dimagiba dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bernales darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bernales trying to control from half guard but Dimagiba is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bernales is pressing down on Dimagiba's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dimagiba is holding on for now.
Dimagiba is trying to get back to full guard.

Bernales is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dimagiba actively working from the bottom here.
Dimagiba trying to control but Bernales postures up.
Dimagiba is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernales seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dimagiba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alex Dimagiba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bernales looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Dimagiba!
Dimagiba tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bernales wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dimagiba regains half guard.
Dimagiba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bernales with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Alex Dimagiba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bernales prevents Dimagiba from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bernales is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernales seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dimagiba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dimagiba is looking for a sweep. Bernales is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bernales passes to side control.

Bernales decides to stand back up. Bernales steps back and let's Dimagiba get back to his feet.

Bernales shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dimagiba napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bernales wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dimagiba keeps working.
Bernales controlling the position from side mount.
Bernales wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dimagiba keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dimagiba is looking to reverse the position.
Dimagiba is trying to escape the position but Bernales is controlling the position.
Bernales trying to control the position but Dimagiba is working away.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Dimagiba shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Dimagiba wants to pass the guard but Bernales is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernales looking to control but Dimagiba passes into half guard.
Bernales trying to control here.
Bernales is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Dimagiba is keen to just control but Bernales is a slippery customer.

Dimagiba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bernales doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dimagiba.
Alex Dimagiba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dimagiba seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bernales does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremiah Bernales comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dimagiba 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Dimagiba!