PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Miroslav Walker (ranked 7767 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Diaz (ranked 25164 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz has chosen Ambitionz Az a Ridah as his entrance music. Joey Diaz is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Walker
vs
Diaz

179 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miroslav Walker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Joey Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz shoots in but no luck this time.

Walker moves into the clinch.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Walker clinches with his opponent.

Walker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Walker looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Diaz!
Walker working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Walker is chipping away with strikes.
Walker tries to score with some ground and pound. Diaz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Diaz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Walker is controlling him well.
Walker remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Walker moves into full mount!
Diaz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Diaz tries to hold on but Walker postures up.
Diaz is trying to stand but he's just given Walker his back.

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.
Walker just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Walker has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Diaz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Walker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Walker's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker lands a shot to the head.
Diaz trying to control the hands but Walker won't let him.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Walker seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Diaz for as long as he can get away with.

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.

Walker is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Diaz rolls, trying to escape but Walker keeps control of the position.
Walker keeps control of the position easily here as Diaz tries to buck him off.
Diaz rolls, trying to escape but Walker keeps control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
I would not like to be Diaz right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miroslav Walker dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Walker has managed to clinch.
Walker is working for takedown but Diaz is calmly controlling the position for now.

Walker manages to break the clinch.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Walker shows good takedown defense.

Walker shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Diaz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Diaz wants to get back to his feet but Walker is dominant here and he's now got Diaz's back!
Walker slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Walker looking to break Diaz's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Diaz remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Walker will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Diaz looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
What can Diaz do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Diaz.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Walker really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Diaz.
Walker is punishing Diaz with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Can Diaz hold on?! Walker is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Walker is working the ground and pound. Can Diaz escape?
Walker biding his time, looking for the opening.
Walker avoiding Diaz 's attempts to control his hands.
Diaz is trying to break free.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Walker controlling the positon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker lands a shot to the body.
Walker is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Diaz showing good submission defense here.

Walker is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Diaz has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Walker keeps control of the position easily here as Diaz tries to buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walker scores with punches from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walker controls the position.
Diaz is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Walker trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Diaz doesn't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miroslav Walker dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Walker 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.
Walker slips nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Walker in particular looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Walker is going to stand back up.
Walker passes into side control, despite Diaz's attempt to control the position.

Walker thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Walker in side control lands a decent elbow.
Walker controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Walker.
Walker continues to stall.
Diaz tries to bench press Walker off him but Walker keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker slows the pace down.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Diaz is trying to get back to half guard.

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

Walker manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Diaz on his heels. He'll look to pass Diaz's guard now, I'm sure.
Diaz being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walker slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Walker is chipping away with strikes.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miroslav Walker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Walker has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miroslav Walker!
In defeat, Joey Diaz stepped up to the mic, saying 'We win some, we lose some. I'll be back and stronger next time. Thank you fans for being here and supporting us. '.