PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renilio Gracie Slaughter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz comes to the cage accompanied by Boombastic (Mr Lover Lover) by Shaggy. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Diaz
vs
Gracie Slaughter

179 cm
24
163 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

180 cm
21
167 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Fernando Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Renilio Gracie Slaughter!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gracie Slaughter napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gracie Slaughter struggling a bit here.
Diaz is staying tight to Gracie Slaughter's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Diaz advances nicely into full mount.
Gracie Slaughter really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Diaz controlling his opponent.
Diaz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie Slaughter is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Diaz prevents Gracie Slaughter from getting the reversal.
Diaz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gracie Slaughter for as long as he can get away with.
Gracie Slaughter wants to control but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz takes Gracie Slaughter's back.
Diaz keeps control of the position as Gracie Slaughter tries to break free.
Gracie Slaughter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie Slaughter trying to control the action but Diaz just sinks the hooks in.
Diaz has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Gracie Slaughter's body.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Diaz.

Diaz is persistently looking for the submission but Gracie Slaughter is defending it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz not allowing Gracie Slaughter to control his hands.
Gracie Slaughter wants to escape the position.
Gracie Slaughter keeps trying to improve his position.
Gracie Slaughter trying to control the hands but Diaz won't let him.
I would not like to be Gracie Slaughter right now.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Diaz's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Gracie Slaughter tries to escape but Diaz has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control.
Gracie Slaughter is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Diaz trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Gracie Slaughter doesn't escape.

Gracie Slaughter is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Gracie Slaughter trying to control the hands but Diaz breaks the grip.
Good control from Diaz.
Gracie Slaughter trying to control the position but Diaz manages to sink in the hooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to get the hooks in deep but Gracie Slaughter pushed the leg off.
Diaz has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Gracie Slaughter's body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie Slaughter tries to roll but Diaz sticks to his back.
Diaz struggling to keep hold of the position.
Gracie Slaughter is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Diaz.
You can see the frustration on Gracie Slaughter's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Diaz trying to control momentarily.
Diaz is hanging on to Gracie Slaughter's back as he tries to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie Slaughter showing good submission defense here.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Diaz controlling the positon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Diaz dominated that round.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gracie Slaughter gets the takedown into side control.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Diaz gets back to half guard.
Diaz wants to control but Gracie Slaughter is keeping busy.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie Slaughter throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Gracie Slaughter has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Club Pain. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz actively working from the bottom here.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaz wants to control but Gracie Slaughter is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Gracie Slaughter has control of the leg.
Diaz trying to control here.
Gracie Slaughter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie Slaughter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
Gracie Slaughter is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz manages to get to full guard.
Gracie Slaughter throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie Slaughter throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Diaz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie Slaughter can do to turn this around?
Gracie Slaughter throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie Slaughter postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Diaz controls Gracie Slaughter momentarily but Gracie Slaughter frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie Slaughter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie Slaughter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie Slaughter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Diaz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie Slaughter is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie Slaughter trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.

Diaz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie Slaughter defends it easily.

Diaz looking for a guillotine here but Gracie Slaughter defends easily.
Gracie Slaughter postures up in Diaz's guard and throws a big left but Diaz blocks it.
Gracie Slaughter trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.

Diaz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie Slaughter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie Slaughter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gracie Slaughter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Diaz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Diaz has Gracie Slaughter pulled in close to control his posture.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Diaz is trying to keep Gracie Slaughter in close.
Gracie Slaughter wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.

Diaz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie Slaughter defends well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie Slaughter got a little sloppy there for a moment and Diaz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie Slaughter has managed to get both his arms back between Diaz's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renilio Gracie Slaughter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Diaz swings for the body but Gracie Slaughter moves out of range.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie Slaughter unleashes a big counter combination but Diaz bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Gracie Slaughter looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Diaz trying to hold on to Gracie Slaughter's head to control him but Gracie Slaughter postures up.
Gracie Slaughter wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie Slaughter.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Gracie Slaughter is controlling well.
Diaz is not content to let Gracie Slaughter control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gracie Slaughter misses with a head shot. Diaz uses the momentum to regain guard.

Diaz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Gracie Slaughter tries to pass.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Gracie Slaughter from controlling successfully.
Diaz looking to control.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie Slaughter is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie Slaughter trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Diaz working for a triangle but Gracie Slaughter defends it easily.
Gracie Slaughter is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie Slaughter is aware though and is defending well.

Gracie Slaughter got a little sloppy there for a moment and Diaz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie Slaughter has managed to get both his arms back between Diaz's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie Slaughter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie Slaughter postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie Slaughter is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie Slaughter throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Gracie Slaughter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie Slaughter wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.

Diaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie Slaughter doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie Slaughter manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Slaughter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie Slaughter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Diaz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Gracie Slaughter from controlling successfully.

Diaz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie Slaughter defends it easily.
Gracie Slaughter throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie Slaughter throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but Gracie Slaughter pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie Slaughter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Diaz is trying to keep Gracie Slaughter in close.
Gracie Slaughter is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz has wrist control.

Diaz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie Slaughter throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie Slaughter not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie Slaughter dives in and scores a takedown into Diaz's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renilio Gracie Slaughter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gracie Slaughter has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renilio Gracie Slaughter!