PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randall Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dom Diego (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.

Cunningham
vs
Diego

188 cm
34
210 lbs
26 - 15 - 1

194 cm
35
223 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 1, fighting out of New York, Randall Cunningham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dom Diego!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunningham throws a leg kick but Diego sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cunningham buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Diego tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cunningham throws a body punch but Diego moves out of range.
Diego cracks Cunningham with a good jab.
Cunningham scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Dom Diego has been cut.
Diego throws a series of strikes that have Cunningham backpedaling.
Cunningham loads up on a big right hand but Diego slips the punch.
Cunningham misses with a low kick as Diego jumps back.
Cunningham misses with the combination.
Cunningham throws an overhand right that lands on Diego's shoulder, as Diego tries to avoid the shot.
Diego moves out of range of the body kick.
Diego uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cunningham has time to react.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diego takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Diego on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Diego scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Cunningham misses the target.
Diego closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cunningham circles away.

Diego shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Diego scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cunningham wants to get back to full guard.
Diego looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cunningham with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Diego sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cunningham defending well though.
Cunningham slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cunningham looking for a sweep. Not yet Cunningham, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cunningham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diego is one step ahead there.
Diego forces his way into half guard.
Cunningham is pressing down on Diego's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Diego with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cunningham is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cunningham trying to control the action but Diego is working from the bottom.
Diego is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Diego manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego 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.
Diego bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cunningham's guard.

Cunningham lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Diego keeping moving, preventing Cunningham from controlling successfully.
Diego looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Our spies down at at Canadian Elite Bruins Gym inform us that Diego has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Cunningham trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Cunningham got a little sloppy there for a moment and Diego has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cunningham has managed to get both his arms back between Diego's legs - danger averted.
Diego looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cunningham keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Diego's head.
Diego bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cunningham's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cunningham pulls Diego in to control the position.
Cunningham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Diego postures up and lands a big shot to Cunningham's brow.
Cunningham is trying to control the position but Diego postures up.
Diego wants to control from the top but Cunningham keeps moving.
Cunningham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Diego won't allow Cunningham to sweep him here.
Diego trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.

Cunningham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diego gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dom Diego will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dom Diego's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Diego lunges at Cunningham with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cunningham's hand.
Diego uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cunningham.
Cunningham seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Cunningham lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
That kick from Cunningham tenderised Diego's leg. Diego is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cunningham wants to slow Diego down by chopping away at his legs.
Cunningham throws a push kick but Diego slaps the foot to one side.
Diego scores with a three punch combo!
Cunningham takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Diego throws a body punch but Cunningham moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cunningham misses with a low kick.
Cunningham gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cunningham throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diego sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And Diego tries to counter it with a takedown but Cunningham pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Dom Diego is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cunningham throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diego drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diego trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cunningham wants to sweep here but Diego controlling him for the moment.
Dom Diego has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diego advances position into side control!
Diego tries to advance to mount but can't.
Diego works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Diego tries to score with some ground and pound. Cunningham controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cunningham is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cunningham is trying to improve his position.
Diego trying to control the position but Cunningham is working away.
Cunningham is looking to regain half guard here but Diego keeps moving and retains side control.
Cunningham is working hard here to advance position.
Cunningham takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Diego cracks Cunningham with a big elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diego working the ground and pound.
Cunningham takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Diego trying to control the position but Cunningham is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego cracks Cunningham with a big right hand but Cunningham just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Diego working the ground and pound.
Diego advances nicely into full mount.
Diego has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cunningham working to try and regain half guard.
Diego connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cunningham is squirming around, avoiding Diego's attempts to control the action.

Diego looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Diego has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cunningham is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diego breaks from Cunningham's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Cunningham tries to hold on but Diego pushes him away.
Diego with the ground and pound from mount.
Diego tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Diego lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cunningham is wriggling around trying to escape.
Diego looking to control but Cunningham is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Diego lands a couple of good shots and Cunningham has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Well, with Diego on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Cunningham is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Diego is hanging on to Cunningham's back as he tries to escape.
What can Cunningham do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Diego lands a shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Diego showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dom Diego's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cunningham walks into a stiff left hand from Diego.
Diego fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cunningham manages to avoid it.
Some bone on bone action there as Diego checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cunningham is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cunningham pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cunningham tries to score with a low kick but Diego moves his leg out of the way.
Diego tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cunningham tries to score with a low kick but Diego moves his leg out of the way.
Cunningham throws out a leg kick but Diego moves out of range and Cunningham only half commits.
Diego fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham takes one on the button.
Cunningham misses with a hook.
Diego slips a jab from Cunningham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego throws a good cross that connects.
Diego fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Cunningham throws a front kick aimed at Diego's knee but Diego avoids it well.
Diego fails to land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Cunningham on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cunningham looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Diego cracks Cunningham with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Diego rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cunningham moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Diego.
Diego lands a nice hook to Cunningham's body. Cunningham takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Diego blocks the body kick.
Diego throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cunningham counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dom Diego seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cunningham fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Diego.
Diego scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diego on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Diego lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Randall Cunningham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego throws a nice looking combination but Cunningham bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diego's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Diego misses with a two punch combination.
Cunningham throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cunningham feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Diego's calf.
Cunningham throws a chopping leg kick but Diego manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Diego on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cunningham. Cunningham obviously looking to wear him down.
Cunningham loads up on a big right hand but Diego slips the punch.
Diego throws a body shot but no joy.
Diego misses with a lunging right hand
and Cunningham counters with a low kick, right behind Diego 's knee.
Cunningham throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diego cracks Cunningham with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cunningham throws a series of punches but Diego avoids them all with ease.
Diego avoids the body shot from Cunningham.
Cunningham lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego throws a series of punches but Cunningham moves out of range.
Diego checks a leg kick.
Cunningham fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Diego checks it well.
Cunningham moves out of range of the strikes.
Cunningham takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cunningham throws a leg kick that is checked
and Diego counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cunningham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diego lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cunningham throws a lazy right hand but Diego sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diego looks to land a combination but Cunningham avoids it well.
Diego connects with a right hand. Cunningham shakes it off.
Cunningham takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Diego avoids the body shot from Cunningham.
Cunningham misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Cunningham. Beautiful body shot.
Randall Cunningham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diego takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Some wild striking there from Diego.
Diego doesn't manage to clinch there - Cunningham circles away.
A nice combination there by Diego.
Diego waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cunningham.
Cunningham half committed to a counter leg kick.
Cunningham tries to land a front kick but Diego steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cunningham lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Diego has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Diego and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Cunningham throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
No joy there for Diego, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diego moves out of range of the body kick from Cunningham.
Cunningham throws a lazy uppercut
and Diego counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cunningham thinking.
Good exchange - Diego coming out on top.
Cunningham attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dom Diego comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diego 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dom Diego!
Dom Diego took some time post fight to say the following; 'Came to knock this punk out. All he did was spam takedowns and subs big surprise.'.