PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ashley Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Diggler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diggler has chosen War by Hed Pe as his entrance music. Ashley Bender could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Derek Diggler's chin.

Bender
vs
Diggler

192 cm
25
229 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
21
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ashley Bender!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Derek Diggler!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Francis DeMontford and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bender.
Diggler is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ashley Bender seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bender misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Bender drops Diggler with a beautiful combination! Diggler stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Bender is looking for the KO!

It looks like Derek Diggler has been cut.

Diggler tries to keep at a distance but Bender has taken the fight into the clinch.
Diggler misses with a body punch.

Bender jumps guard and drags Diggler to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diggler wants to stand but Bender is controlling his posture from full guard.
Bender not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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.
Bender looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diggler is one step ahead there.

Bender has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diggler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bender looking for a sweep. Not yet Bender, not yet.

Bender is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bender is breathing heavily.
Bender has momentary wrist control but Diggler slips an elbow through the middle.
Bender knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Diggler on the ground.
Diggler's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Diggler is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Diggler working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Diggler working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender being controlled here, momentarily.
Diggler is pushing down on Bender's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bender is fighting to maintain full guard but Diggler has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Diggler is trying for a kimura here. Bender looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Diggler wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Derek Diggler!
Derek Diggler is the new heavyweight champion!
After winning the bout, Derek Diggler thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.