PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manu Ahonen (ranked 156 p4p, 23 weight class) and Mat Diaz (ranked 334 p4p, 45 weight class). Ahonen's entrance music is For Heavy Metal we will die!. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Diaz's choice of entrance music: I Got Five On It. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ahonen
vs
Diaz

182 cm
26
175 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

180 cm
28
184 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System
Red Light Coffeeshop

Bullet Proof System
Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manu Ahonen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mat Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahonen digs a good hook to Diaz's body.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ahonen as he avoids it easily.
Nice straight punches there by Ahonen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ahonen.
Ahonen misses with a leg kick.
Ahonen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Mat Diaz has been cut.
The crowd cheers as Diaz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ahonen doesn't seem phased though.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Diaz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ahonen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diaz throws the left hand but Ahonen avoids the punch easily.
Ahonen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Diaz slips a straight right by Ahonen.
Ahonen connects with a leg kick. Diaz looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ahonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A slow jab from Diaz misses its intended target.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ahonen - that will leave a mark!
Diaz blocks a jab.
Ahonen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ahonen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Diaz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Diaz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ahonen looks to land a left hand but Diaz moved out of range nicely.
It seemed like Diaz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Some bone on bone action there as Diaz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ahonen tries to score with a low kick but Diaz moves his leg out of the way.
Diaz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Diaz misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz takes a swing at Ahonen's ribcage but misses.
Diaz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ahonen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diaz misses with a straight right.
Ahonen throws a low kick but Diaz avoids it.
Diaz punishes Ahonen's body with a nice straight punch.
Diaz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ahonen.
Nice shot by Ahonen.
Diaz looks to land a left hand but Ahonen moved out of range nicely.
Diaz throws a body punch but Ahonen moves out of range.
Ahonen tried to counter with a leg kick but Diaz avoided it.
Diaz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Manu Ahonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ahonen jabs at Diaz's body.
Ahonen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ahonen connects with a solid leg kick.
Ahonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ahonen.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ahonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ahonen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Diaz is out of range and Ahonen settles back down.
Diaz with the counter takedown but Ahonen avoids it easily.
Ahonen sizes up Diaz with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Diaz throws a hook but Ahonen avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Diaz moves out of range of the body kick from Ahonen.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Diaz! But no joy.
Sloppy strikes from Ahonen. Those never looked like landing.
Ahonen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diaz. That did some damage!
Ahonen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz slips a jab from Ahonen.
A telegraphed right hand from Diaz misses the target.
Ahonen throws a front kick aimed at Diaz's knee but Diaz avoids it well.
Diaz dips to his left and cracks Ahonen with an uppercut!
That kick from Ahonen tenderised Diaz's leg. Diaz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Diaz throws a hook to the side of Ahonen's head but Ahonen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diaz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ahonen on the side of the head.
Ahonen throws a low kick, looking for Diaz's leg but Diaz calmly moves out of range.
Diaz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ahonen takes one to the side of the head.
Ahonen slips a straight right by Diaz.
Ahonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diaz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ahonen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ahonen misses with a low kick.
Ahonen walks into a straight right hand from Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a jab to the body
and Ahonen counters with a one-two to the body.
That kick from Ahonen tenderised Diaz's leg. Diaz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Decent striking displayed by Ahonen there.
Diaz takes a swing at Ahonen's ribcage but misses.
Ahonen jabs at Diaz's body.
Ahonen throws a chopping leg kick but Diaz manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ahonen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ahonen throws a low kick but Diaz moves out of range easily.
Diaz takes a swing at Ahonen's ribcage but misses.
Ahonen misses with a hook.
Ahonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Diaz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A jab from Diaz finds it's way through Ahonen's defenses.

Diaz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Diaz showed some decent athleticism there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz wants to take a breather but Ahonen is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ahonen's head.
Diaz is trying to control. Ahonen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Diaz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ahonen's head.
Ahonen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Ahonen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ahonen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Diaz is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diaz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Diaz lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Ahonen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mat Diaz's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ahonen scores with a body shot.
Nice shot lands for Diaz.
Good standup being displayed there by Ahonen as he connects with a hook.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ahonen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ahonen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Diaz scoring with punches from side control.
Ahonen regains half guard.
Diaz thows a huge punch but Ahonen dodges it nicely.

Ahonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ahonen taking some punishment here, with Diaz in his half guard.
Diaz working over Ahonen with some ground and pound. Ahonen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz prevents Ahonen from improving his position.
Ahonen trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.
Diaz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ahonen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ahonen.
Ahonen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Diaz's guard.

Ahonen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ahonen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ahonen stays in close to Diaz's body and controls the position.
Ahonen landing with the ground and pound.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Ahonen is proving a slippery customer.
Diaz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen is looking to control Diaz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ahonen avoid being mounted?
Ahonen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ahonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Ahonen looking for subs off his back but Diaz has passed one foot through into half guard.
Ahonen wants to improve his position but Diaz is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Diaz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ahonen is trying to maintain the position but Diaz is very close to passing his half guard.
Diaz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Diaz working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Diaz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ahonen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ahonen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mat Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mat Diaz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ahonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ahonen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Diaz has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ahonen.
Ahonen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Diaz.
Ahonen looks for the body kick but Diaz saw that one coming.
Diaz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Donk. Diaz catches Ahonen right on the button with a cross.
A slow jab from Diaz misses its intended target.
Diaz throws a body shot but no joy.
Ahonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Diaz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ahonen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Diaz trying to control the pace.
Ahonen is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Diaz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ahonen defending well though.
Diaz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Diaz is keen to just control but Ahonen is a slippery customer.
Diaz seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ahonen gets back to full guard.
Mat Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ahonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

Ahonen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Diaz defends it easily.
Ahonen trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Diaz misses with a hook. Ahonen ducked under it nicely.
Diaz moves away from the strike by Ahonen.
A jab lands there for Diaz.
Ahonen lands a jab.
Ahonen throws a good cross that connects.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Ahonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diaz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ahonen missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ahonen throws a head kick that misses.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diaz throws a hook but Ahonen blocks it.
Ahonen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ahonen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Diaz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ahonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Diaz misses with a straight left.
Diaz throws a body punch but Ahonen moves out of range.
Diaz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Diaz misses with a looping left.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ahonen manages to avoid it.
Diaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Diaz.
Diaz throws a body punch but Ahonen moves out of range.
Ahonen throws a right hand that Diaz ducks under and follows up with a left that Diaz also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mat Diaz really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mat Diaz's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Diaz tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ahonen lands with a hook. Diaz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ahonen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ahonen moves away.
Ahonen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Diaz! But no joy.
Ahonen misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Diaz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ahonen can pounce on him.
Diaz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Diaz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ahonen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Diaz sizes up Ahonen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Diaz throws a hook but Ahonen blocks it.
Manu Ahonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Diaz loads up on a big right hand but Ahonen slips the punch.
Ahonen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ahonen stalks Diaz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Diaz's face. Diaz staggers backwards, shaken.
Diaz digs a good body shot into Ahonen's ribs.
Diaz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ahonen looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Diaz gets a double leg takedown into Ahonen's guard.
Diaz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Diaz throws a big elbow that misses.
Diaz working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ahonen's head.

Ahonen is rocked!
Diaz lands a couple of digs.
Oh Ahonen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Diaz advances to half guard.
Diaz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ahonen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Diaz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ahonen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Diaz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Diaz lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Ahonen! More strikes land and this one is all over! Diaz jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mat Diaz!
Mat Diaz is the new welterweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Mat Diaz thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.