PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between King Diamond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Ramirez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Ramirez struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 157.7lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Diamond
vs
Ramirez

167 cm
24
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
169 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, King Diamond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anthony Ramirez!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ramirez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ramirez can't break the clinch.
Ramirez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Diamond is defending well for now.

Ramirez is trying to trip Diamond. He has hold of a leg but Diamond is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ramirez persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ramirez throws a big right hand that misses.
Diamond keeping full guard, as Ramirez tries to pass.
Ramirez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Diamond might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ramirez controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ramirez prevents Diamond from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ramirez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ramirez trying to control but Diamond is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ramirez wants to pass the guard but Diamond 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.
Ramirez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Diamond.

It looks like Anthony Ramirez has been cut.

Ramirez clinches up with Diamond and pushes him back against the cage.
Ramirez tries to pull guard but Diamond forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Diamond working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Diamond drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ramirez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ramirez just misses with a punch to the body.
Ramirez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Diamond swivels and escapes.
Diamond tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ramirez manages to circle out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamond misses with a wild combination.
Diamond throws a series of punches but Ramirez avoids them all with ease.

Diamond closes the distance and pushes Ramirez back into the cage.
Ramirez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Ramirez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Diamond's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ramirez prevents a takedown attempt there.

Diamond gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez trying to keep a closed guard but Diamond is proving a slippery customer.
Diamond looking to sit in guard and control but Ramirez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ramirez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ramirez trying to control but Diamond is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ramirez stands up from Diamond's guard - Ramirez perhaps looking for a knockout.

Ramirez moves into range and clinches up with Diamond.
Diamond jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ramirez walks away with a smile on his face. Diamond gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for King Diamond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ramirez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Diamond but Diamond pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Diamond has been working on his balance at Highland CT & Spar, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Ramirez.

Diamond has Ramirez up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Diamond has picked Ramirez up - he's going for a ride! Diamond dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
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 King Diamond will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Anthony Ramirez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Diamond moves into the clinch.

Ramirez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ramirez gets off balance looking for a body kick

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Diamond moves into the clinch.
Diamond throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Diamond goes for a takedown attempt but Ramirez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Diamond scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Diamond gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diamond is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ramirez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Diamond working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ramirez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Diamond walks away with a smile on his face. Ramirez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ramirez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diamond circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diamond is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ramirez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for King Diamond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diamond moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ramirez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Anthony Ramirez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diamond looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diamond is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ramirez can do to turn this around?

Diamond rushes Ramirez and presses him up against the cage.
Diamond keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ramirez's efforts to push away.
Diamond lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
King Diamond has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Diamond trying to land knees to the body.
Ramirez fails to pull guard.
Diamond tries for a takedown. No joy.
Diamond has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ramirez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamond is pressed up against the cage. Ramirez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Diamond down to the mat. Diamond avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Diamond closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diamond is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ramirez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diamond.
Diamond keeps control of Ramirez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Diamond tries for a takedown but Ramirez manages to get underhooks.
Diamond tries to pull guard but Ramirez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Diamond drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Diamond has Ramirez pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Diamond pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ramirez tumbling to the mat - Diamond dives into Ramirez's guard.
Diamond looking to sit in guard and control but Ramirez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ramirez controlling the position from side mount.
Diamond tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Anthony Ramirez has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Ramirez is looking to take a break and control but Diamond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ramirez working the ground and pound.
Ramirez trying to control the action but Diamond is working from the bottom.
Diamond takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Diamond dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Ramirez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Diamond moves into the clinch.
Ramirez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Diamond walks away with a smile on his face. Ramirez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Diamond rushes Ramirez and presses him up against the cage.
Diamond is stalling here.
Come on Diamond - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Diamond is looking for a takedown.
Ramirez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ramirez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Diamond prevents Ramirez from breaking the clinch.
Good body shot from Diamond.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramirez stops a takedown attempt from Diamond.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for King Diamond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diamond has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ramirez after a bit of a struggle.

Diamond has clasped his hands together around Ramirez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ramirez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ramirez trying to control from half guard but Diamond is working away.

Ramirez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Diamond doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ramirez.
Ramirez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diamond keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez working the head and body with strikes.
Diamond is looking for a sweep. Ramirez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ramirez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ramirez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
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!
Ramirez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Diamond knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez wants to control but Diamond is keeping him busy.
Diamond is trying to get back to full guard.

Ramirez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Ramirez stands up and beckons Diamond to join him on the feet.
King Diamond is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ramirez throws a head kick that misses

and Diamond counters by moving into the clinch.

Diamond lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ramirez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ramirez.
Ramirez wants to get back to his feet but Diamond is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Diamond looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diamond trying to control but Ramirez is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anthony Ramirez.
I think Diamond 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... King Diamond!
King Diamond thanked the fans post fight for their support.