PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Master Splinter (ranked 2885 p4p, 316 weight class) and Jose Diaz (ranked 2749 p4p, 305 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Splinter
vs
Diaz

179 cm
25
169 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Master Splinter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jose Diaz!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz lands a jab to Splinter's midsection.

Splinter fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diaz, pushing him back against the cage.
Splinter is trying to stall.

Splinter is trying to trip Diaz. He has hold of a leg but Diaz is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Splinter persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Diaz working for a triangle but Splinter defends it easily.
Splinter passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz trying to control here.

Diaz actively working from the bottom here.
Diaz has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Island Safe Space. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Splinter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
Splinter missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Splinter not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.
Splinter definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Splinter looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Splinter is working for a submission of some sort.
Diaz trying to control here.

Splinter is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Diaz trying to control here.
Splinter trying to pass the guard but Diaz defending well.

Splinter is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Diaz sees it coming and defends easily.
Splinter is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Diaz!
Diaz is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Splinter lands a nice shot to the head.
Splinter controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Splinter.
Diaz wants to hold on but Splinter pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Splinter can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Diaz is looking to escape.
Splinter raining down hammerfists from mount.
Splinter avoids the attempt from Diaz to control.
Splinter looking to control and managing it successfully.

Splinter working for a guillotine from mount but Diaz is in no mood to give up.
Diaz tries to hold on but Splinter pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Splinter has hold of Diaz's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Diaz manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Splinter is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Diaz can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Diaz tries to lock up and control but Splinter gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Splinter looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Splinter avoids the attempt from Diaz to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Splinter uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diaz.
Nice body punch from Diaz.
Diaz works Splinter's body with a nice hook.
Diaz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Diaz throws an off balance right hand

and Splinter counters with a single leg into guard. Diaz didn't expect that.
Splinter pushing down on Diaz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Splinter wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.
Splinter is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
Diaz is refusing to be controlled, as Splinter sits in half guard.
Master Splinter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Splinter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Splinter trying to control from half guard but Diaz is working away.

Diaz actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Splinter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.
Splinter tries to pass to full mount but Diaz defends it.
Diaz is positioning himself well to prevent Splinter advancing to mount.

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Splinter pulls his head out easily.
Splinter tries to pass the half guard into mount. Diaz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.

Splinter looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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 trying to control here.
Splinter trying to control from half guard but Diaz is working away.
Splinter missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Splinter missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Splinter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Splinter is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to control Splinter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diaz avoid being mounted?
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Splinter wants to work for an arm triangle but Diaz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Splinter is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Diaz connects with a body shot.
Splinter takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Diaz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Splinter looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diaz misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands a nice hook to Splinter's body. Splinter takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Diaz jabs at Splinter's body.
Diaz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Diaz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Splinter moved out of range.
Some wild striking there from Diaz.
Diaz jabs at Splinter's body.
Diaz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Splinter rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz jabs at Splinter's body.
Splinter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz punishes Splinter's body with a nice straight punch.
Diaz misses with an uppercut

and Splinter counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Diaz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Splinter is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Splinter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Splinter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Splinter walks into a jab.
Splinter throws a jab when Diaz was well out of range.
A big right from Diaz misses.
Diaz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Splinter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diaz throws a hook but Splinter blocks it.
Diaz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Splinter attempts a counter takedown but Diaz avoids it well and moves away.
Diaz lands a jab to Splinter's midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz digs a good body shot into Splinter's ribs.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Splinter.
Splinter half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jose Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Splinter drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
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!
Splinter pushes down on Diaz's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Splinter is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Splinter.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Splinter is working for a submission of some sort.
Diaz trying to hold on to Splinter's head to control him but Splinter postures up.

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.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Diaz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Splinter.
Splinter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.

Splinter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Diaz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Diaz gets back to full guard.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Diaz is pulling down on Splinter's head. It's preventing any offense from Splinter, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz looking for a guillotine here but Splinter defends easily.
Diaz has Splinter pulled in close to control his posture.
Splinter with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Diaz trying to control the position here.
Splinter trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Splinter trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A left and a right from Diaz both land. Nice combination.

Splinter shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Splinter wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Splinter slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Diaz wants to control but Splinter postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Splinter tries for a kimura but Diaz is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Master Splinter.
I think Splinter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!