PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Diego Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Erschov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Diaz
vs
Erschov

180 cm
33
178 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

170 cm
30
180 lbs
13 - 23 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 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 13 - 23 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Erschov!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erschov is looking to clinch.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Erschov fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Erschov is defended easily by Diaz.
Erschov tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.

Diaz looking to score a takedown here. Erschov is defending well but Diaz drives through and ends up in Erschov's guard.
Diaz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Erschov is looking for a triangle but Diaz pushes his legs off easily.

Erschov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Diaz uses it to pass to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erschov trying to control but Diaz flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Erschov wants to control his opponent's hands but Diaz gets his hands free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz keeps control of the position as Erschov tries to break free.
Diaz is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Diaz working for the choke.
Diaz lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erschov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Diaz keeps control of the position easily here as Erschov tries to buck him off.
Erschov is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Diaz off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Diaz keeps control of the position as Erschov tries to break free.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Diaz. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Diaz is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Diaz is hanging on to Erschov's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erschov wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Erschov hold on?!
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.

Diaz looking for the choke from the back.
Will Diaz go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Erschov preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Diaz.
Erschov trying to control the position but Diaz manages to sink in the hooks.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Diaz is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erschov prevents Diaz from getting a body triangle.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Erschov wants to control his opponent's hands but Diaz gets his hands free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz is hanging on to Erschov's back as he tries to escape.
Erschov is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Diaz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Erschov tries for a takedown but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Diaz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Erschov to the mat! Erschov manages to get full guard.
Erschov is looking to stand back up but Diaz counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Erschov.

Erschov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Erschov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Diaz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Erschov can do to turn this around?
Diaz trying to control but Erschov is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz stays in close to Erschov's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Erschov keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Erschov is on top in guard.

Diaz has his foot on Erschov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Erschov works his way back into a safe position though.

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 trying to stand up but can't free himself from Diaz's guard.
Erschov wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Erschov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Diaz dives on top into guard.

Diaz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Erschov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Diaz has picked Erschov up and slammed him! Erschov can't keep hold of the triangle and Diaz manages to pass to side control!
Diaz looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Erschov is looking to regain half guard here but Diaz keeps moving and retains side control.
Diaz trying to control the position but Erschov is working away.
Erschov pushes Diaz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Diaz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to advance to mount but Erschov denies him.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Erschov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diaz cracks Erschov with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Diaz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Diaz controls the position.

Diaz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Erschov, who protects the arm well.

Diaz tries for a kimura but Erschov is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erschov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Diaz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Erschov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Diaz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Erschov is pushing Diaz's head away, looking to escape. Diaz manages to hold on to the position though.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Erschov keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Diaz dominated that second round.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Erschov shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Diaz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Erschov is looking to get back to is feet but Diaz passes into side control.
Erschov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Diego Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Erschov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Diaz is controlling him well.
Erschov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Diaz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Erschov to see if he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Erschov keeps working.
Diaz slows the pace down.
Diaz trying to control the position but Erschov is working away.
Erschov is trying to buck Diaz off.
A lull in the action here.
Erschov manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz lands strikes from 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.
Erschov has hold of Diaz's hands but Diaz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Diaz drops an elbow to the side of Erschov's head.
Diaz works his way into full mount!
Diaz prevents Erschov from getting the reversal.
You get the feeling that Erschov really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Diaz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Erschov hang on?
Erschov working to try and regain half guard.
Diaz looking to finish Erschov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Erschov!
Erschov tries to hold on but Diaz postures up.
Diaz controlling the pace for now.

Diaz is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Erschov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erschov really wants to buck Diaz off and get back to his feet.
Erschov tries to lock up and control but Diaz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Diaz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Diego Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Erschov is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Erschov is squirming around nicely.
Alexei Erschov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz blocks Erschov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Diaz 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Diaz!