PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rex Diabolis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Ward
vs
Diabolis

175 cm
20
154 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

175 cm
23
145 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Poison Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arturo Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rex Diabolis!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diabolis is looking to clinch but Ward is avoiding it.
Ward takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ward misses with a few strikes there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ward.

Diabolis clinches up with Ward and pushes him back against the cage.
Diabolis misses with the head strike.
Diabolis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Diabolis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ward scores with a takedown into Diabolis's guard.
Diabolis looks gassed!

Ward thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Diabolis keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.
Ward is stalling in the full guard.
Diabolis looking to control.

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

Ward thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward prevents Diabolis from getting back to his feet.
Ward stands and throws Diabolis's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ward working the head and body with strikes.
Ward controls the position.

Ward is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Diabolis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Diabolis gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Diabolis wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Ward lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Diabolis is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ward has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward controlling his opponent.

Ward is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Ward shoots in for a double leg but Diabolis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from Diabolis as Ward shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arturo Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Diabolis on the side of the head.
A right-left combo lands from Ward.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ward drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ward trying to control but Diabolis is working from the bottom.
Ward trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ward slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ward passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward working the head and body with strikes.
Ward frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ward tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ward landing punches.
Ward takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Diabolis in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ward cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Diabolis tries to buck Ward off but he can't manage it.
Diabolis is working to get back to half guard.
Ward fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

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.

Diabolis has left one of his arms exposed and Ward doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Diabolis screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Arturo Ward!