PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bartel Diakite (ranked 4086 p4p, 365 weight class) and Fabio Bianconi (ranked 1553 p4p, 160 weight class). Diakite comes into the arena with Diamonds blaring out of the sound system. Bartel Diakite has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Diakite
vs
Bianconi

186 cm
27
161 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

182 cm
23
164 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Pit Bull Development

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 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bartel Diakite!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Fabio Bianconi!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bianconi scores with a leg kick.
Diakite dives in for a single leg takedown but Bianconi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Diakite drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Diakite trying to control the position from guard on top but Bianconi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diakite controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Diakite won't allow Bianconi to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bianconi holds on and takes a little breather.
Diakite looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bianconi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bianconi pushes down on Diakite's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Diakite wants to improve his position but Bianconi is controlling well.
Bianconi slows the pace down in half guard.
Diakite wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Diakite wants to improve his position but Bianconi is controlling well.

Bianconi is looking for a kimura here.
Bianconi wants to take a breather but Diakite is having none of it.
Bianconi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Diakite really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Diakite wants to get back to full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Bianconi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bianconi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bianconi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bianconi wants it to stay on the feet.
A nice side step and Bianconi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bartel Diakite. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bianconi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bianconi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diakite.
Bianconi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bianconi wants it to stay on the feet.
Bianconi leaves Diakite with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bianconi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bianconi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Diakite is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bianconi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diakite misses with a takedown
and Bianconi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diakite tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bianconi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diakite somewhat.
Bianconi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Diakite shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bianconi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Bianconi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fabio Bianconi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diakite shoots in but no luck this time.
Bianconi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Diakite keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diakite shoots in looking for a takedown but Bianconi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Diakite's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bianconi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diakite sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bianconi.
Bianconi tries a low kick but Diakite avoids it.
Diakite misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Bianconi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Diakite is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bianconi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bianconi enables Diakite to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bianconi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bianconi keeping moving, preventing Diakite from controlling successfully.
Bianconi pulls Diakite in to control the position.
Bianconi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diakite manages to get himself to full guard.

Bianconi wants to control from the top but Diakite keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diakite looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bianconi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diakite swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diakite tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bianconi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Diakite is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bianconi trying to control the position from guard on top but Diakite is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bianconi won't allow Diakite to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bianconi wants to control from the top but Diakite keeps moving.
Bianconi is stalling in the full guard.

Diakite looking for a guillotine here but Bianconi defends easily.
Bianconi trying to control the position from guard on top but Diakite is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Diakite shoots in and drives through. Bianconi sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bianconi stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bartel Diakite. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bianconi tries to bum rush Diakite with a series of wild strikes but Diakite uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bianconi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diakite.
Bianconi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Diakite.
Nice sprawl there from Bianconi as Diakite shoots in.
Diakite shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bianconi pinned against the cage. Bianconi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bianconi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bartel Diakite is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diakite fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diakite shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bianconi pinned against the cage. Bianconi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Diakite changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bianconi tries to avoid it but Diakite manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bianconi to the ground. Bianconi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bianconi tries a quick counter leg kick but Diakite is wise to it.
Bianconi stuffs the takedown attempt from Diakite. Diakite gets slowly back to his feet.
Diakite shoots in looking for a takedown. Bianconi tries to sprawl out of it but Diakite keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bianconi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Diakite shoots for a double leg takedown but Bianconi sprawls well. He's pushed Diakite's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bianconi unleashes a big counter combination but Diakite bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Diakite fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diakite shoots in looking for a takedown but Bianconi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Diakite's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bianconi flicks out a counter leg kick but Diakite steps away.
Bianconi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Diakite rather than just go for the knockout.
No luck for Diakite with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A jab from Bianconi misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Bianconi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Bianconi misses with a double jab.
Diakite dives in for a single leg takedown but Bianconi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bianconi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diakite shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bianconi as he avoids it easily.
Diakite looks for a takedown but Bianconi sprawls well.
Bianconi feints a counter leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bartel Diakite. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bianconi.
Diakite fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Diakite or perhaps it was just good defense by Bianconi, which made it look bad.
Fabio Bianconi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diakite dives in and grabs Bianconi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bianconi pushes down on Diakite's head and hops out.
Diakite gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bianconi counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Oooooh!!! Bianconi has knocked Diakite down with a huge combo! Bianconi steps away and waves a wobbly Diakite back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Diakite is rocked!

It looks like Bartel Diakite has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bianconi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bianconi wants it to stay on the feet.
Oh Diakite is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A slapping leg kick lands for Bianconi.
Bianconi jabs at Diakite's body.
Bianconi cracks Diakite's jaw with two stiff jabs then ducks low and throws a soul-severing right uppercut to the mouth!! Diakite slumps to the ground with blood on his lips. The referee steps in before Bianconi can do further damage! This one is done, son!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Fabio Bianconi!