PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robb Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz's entrance music is Serenade. A fine choice. Robb Stark has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Diaz
vs
Stark

180 cm
20
173 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

170 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Pedro Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Robb Stark!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stark rushes Diaz and presses him up against the ropes.
Diaz lands a knee to the body.
Diaz is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stark fails to pull guard.

Diaz gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Diaz blocks the strikes from Stark.
Stark has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Diaz is working away from the top position though.
Diaz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
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.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Diaz stalling away here and it's allowed Stark to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Stark is trying to control the position but Diaz postures up.
Diaz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diaz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Stark is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz won't allow Stark to sweep him here.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Diaz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stark quickly recovers to half guard.
Stark is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaz is trying to control. Stark wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stark wants to control but Diaz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stark blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to control but can't.
Stark gets back to full guard.
Diaz advances to half guard.
Stark wants to improve his position but Diaz is controlling well.
Stark trying to control but Diaz postures up.
Stark tries to roll over but Diaz keeps him under control.
Diaz trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark gets full guard.

The fighters are working up against the ropes. Stark manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the ropes.

Diaz jumps guard.
Stark is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Stark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Diaz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Diaz tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark 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.
Stark wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Stark shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stark is trying to control the action in half guard but Diaz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pedro Diaz will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stark closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stark lands in his opponent's guard.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stark prevents Diaz from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stark accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stark sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Diaz scores with a takedown into Stark's guard.
Diaz trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stark holds on and takes a little breather.
Diaz trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark looking for a sweep. Not yet Stark, not yet.
Stark wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.
Stark has control of Diaz's left arm, preventing Diaz from doing any damage.
Stark wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stark darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stark throws a strike but Diaz avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to stand but Stark is controlling the position.
Stark scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stark postures up and lands a big shot to Diaz's brow.
Stark trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.

Diaz pushes Stark off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stark sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diaz somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stark closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Diaz jumps guard.
Stark controlling from the top position.
Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stark.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stark wants to stand but Diaz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Diaz wants to stand and escape but Stark is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Robb Stark will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stark changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Diaz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Diaz throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Stark closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Diaz quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
It looks like Stark is going to stand back up.
Stark is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Diaz reverses the position - he's now on top in Stark's guard.
Stark lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark stops Diaz from standing up.
Stark looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stark lands a couple of elbows.
Pedro Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stark wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.

That's two 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 to stand up but Stark isn't so interested in that idea.
Stark wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Stark postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Stark working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Stark is working Diaz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark wants to stand but Diaz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stark seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
An inside leg kick from Stark misses.
Diaz tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Stark manages to circle out of the way.

Stark 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.
Stark wants to stand and escape but instead Diaz has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Stark looking for a sweep. Not yet Stark, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz prevents Stark from getting back to his feet.
Stark pulls Diaz in to control the position.
Diaz postures up.
Stark looking to control but Diaz passes into half guard.
Stark moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stark looking to control.
Diaz looking to sit in guard and control but Stark gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robb Stark.
I think Stark 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Pedro Diaz!
An out of breath Pedro Diaz thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.