PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Diego Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jese Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Diego Diaz has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Diego Diaz seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Diaz
vs
Rodriguez

180 cm
34
178 lbs
13 - 16 - 0

184 cm
23
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 16 - 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jese Rodriguez !
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Rodriguez is avoiding it.

Diaz tries to sprawl but Rodriguez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez misses with a head shot. Diaz uses the momentum to regain guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
Rodriguez tries to stand but Diaz is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodriguez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Diaz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rodriguez has managed to get both his arms back between Diaz's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rodriguez trying to move into half guard but instead Diaz has managed to sweep!

Rodriguez wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.
Diaz looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Diaz has a closed guard, preventing Rodriguez from standing up.
Rodriguez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diaz wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but Rodriguez pushes his legs off easily.
Rodriguez wants to get up but he can't break Diaz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rodriguez wanted to stand there but Diaz had control of the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rodriguez stands and throws Diaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Diaz is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rodriguez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rodriguez controlling from side mount.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Diaz has his arm trapped.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodriguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rodriguez scores with a three punch combo!
Diaz tries to clinch but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Rodriguez avoids nicely.
Rodriguez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diaz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Diaz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaz.
Diaz landing a few strikes.
We've been hearing that Diaz has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodriguez keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The ground and pound from Diaz seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rodriguez misses with a lunging right hand
and Diaz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rodriguez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
Diaz throwing a counter right hand but Rodriguez manages to avoid it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Diaz or perhaps it was just good defense by Rodriguez , which made it look bad.
Diaz needs to keep his hands up - Rodriguez had a free shot at his head there.
Rodriguez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Diaz clinches up against the cage.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez throws a combination that misses
and Diaz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rodriguez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jese Rodriguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rodriguez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diaz tries to counter by clinching up but Rodriguez breaks away and moves out of range.
Diego Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Rodriguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Rodriguez .
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rodriguez takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Rodriguez throws a leg kick
and Diaz counters with a one-two to the body.
Rodriguez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Diaz goes for a double leg but Rodriguez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rodriguez continues to drive forward.
Rodriguez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.

Rodriguez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Diaz's guard.

Diaz pushes Rodriguez off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Diaz appears to be looking for a big counter.
Diaz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rodriguez misses with the combination.
Diaz attempts a counter takedown but Rodriguez avoids it well and moves away.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodriguez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Diaz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz landing with the ground and pound.
Diaz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Diaz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Rodriguez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Diaz controlling from the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rodriguez misses with a few strikes there.
Rodriguez misses with a wild combination.
Diaz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Diaz scores with a sloppy right hand. Rodriguez should have avoided that one.
Rodriguez stuns Diaz with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jese Rodriguez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Diaz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Diaz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rodriguez .
A punch lands to the side of Diaz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rodriguez lands a jab to the nose.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Rodriguez .
Rodriguez misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez connects with the punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodriguez . Diaz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rodriguez throws out a loose jab but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodriguez scores with a jab.

Diaz is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a jab but it's blocked by Diaz.
Rodriguez misses with a straight left.
Diaz wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Rodriguez .
A big right from Rodriguez misses.
Diaz appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rodriguez lands with an overhand left.
Oh Diaz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diaz.
Diaz seems to have got his legs back now.
Diaz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rodriguez misses with a double jab
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Diaz shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well. He's pushed Diaz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez misses with a looping left.
Diaz appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodriguez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diaz seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Diaz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz working away.
Rodriguez trying to remain calm as Diaz controls from the top position.
Diego Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaz trying to control the position but Rodriguez is working away.
Diaz tries to advance to mount but Rodriguez denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is chipping away with strikes.
Diaz trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rodriguez is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Diaz trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz throws an elbow but Rodriguez slips to the side and avoids it well.
The strikes coming from Diaz are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Jese Rodriguez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rodriguez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez dodges the ground and pound from Diaz.
Diego Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodriguez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jese Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rodriguez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jese Rodriguez !