PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Hippolati (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hippolati comes into the arena with Monster Mash blaring out of the sound system. Jesse Hippolati has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hippolati
vs
Diaz

177 cm
18
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jesse Hippolati!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Diaz!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hippolati throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mike Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Hippolati tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
Hippolati misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hippolati lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Hippolati misses with the combination.
Diaz tries to land a front kick but Hippolati steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Diaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hippolati's waist but Hippolati gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diaz off to one side.

Diaz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hippolati sprawls well initially but Diaz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Diaz is thwarting Hippolati's attempts to control the position.
Hippolati tries to kick Diaz off but Diaz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Hippolati kicks Diaz off and gets back to his feet.
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hippolati is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Hippolati circles away and we're back to standing.
Hippolati throws a series of punches but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Diaz there as he acknowledges the shot.

Hippolati takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hippolati lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Diaz has Hippolati pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hippolati manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jesse Hippolati has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Diaz.

Hippolati breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice uppercut there from Hippolati.
Hippolati scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hippolati lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A combination from Hippolati does no damage.
Hippolati throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.
Hippolati misses with a wild combination.
Hippolati throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Hippolati sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hippolati misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hippolati looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hippolati misses with a wild combination.
Hippolati scores with a jab.
Hippolati misses with the combination.
Hippolati will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hippolati misses with a series of wild punches.

Hippolati moves into the clinch.
Hippolati wants to break free but Diaz has control.
Diaz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hippolati gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hippolati can't find room to land a body shot as Diaz controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hippolati working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hippolati wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hippolati.
Hippolati drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Diaz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hippolati wants to get back to striking at distance but Diaz won't allow it.

Hippolati gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Diaz regains guard.

Hippolati gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Hippolati sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Hippolati darts in and clinches Diaz up against the cage.
Hippolati struggles to land a body shot inside as Diaz controls his hands.
Diaz keeps control of Hippolati as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Diaz misses with the head strike.
Hippolati fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hippolati lands a left hand.
Hippolati wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Diaz prevents Hippolati from breaking the clinch.
Diaz throws an elbow that misses.
Hippolati tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hippolati works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hippolati wants to break free but Diaz has control.

Hippolati lands a takedown into guard.
Hippolati tries to stand but Diaz is controlling from the bottom.

Hippolati gets to his feet - Diaz follows without any prompting.
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hippolati is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Hippolati circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hippolati closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Hippolati darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hippolati is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hippolati will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Diaz misses with a takedown

and Hippolati holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Hippolati.
Hippolati wants to get back to striking at distance but Diaz won't allow it.
Hippolati has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Diaz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Hippolati has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Diaz clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Hippolati working for a choke but Diaz is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diaz trying to control but not successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hippolati controls the action.

Hippolati has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Diaz has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Hippolati has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Hippolati tries to get the hooks in deep but Diaz pushed the leg off.

Hippolati is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Diaz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to hold on to Hippolati's head to control him but Hippolati postures up.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Hippolati keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Diaz is defending against the submission attempts here by Hippolati.

Hippolati wants to work for an arm triangle but Diaz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Diaz is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hippolati tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hippolati.
Hippolati scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hippolati throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hippolati fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hippolati tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jesse Hippolati is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hippolati works Diaz's body with a nice hook.

Hippolati takes the fight into the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Hippolati as the two fighters clinch.
Nice body punch from Hippolati.
Hippolati tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hippolati works on Diaz's body with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hippolati throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Diazs head.
Diaz trying to control the position but instead, Hippolati has worked for underhooks and has pushed Diaz into the cage.

Hippolati has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Diaz is trying to keep an underhook but Hippolati manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hippolati 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.
Diaz wants to control but Hippolati is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hippolati wants to take a breather but Diaz is having none of it.
Hippolati not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hippolati missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hippolati is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hippolati lands a nice short elbow.

Hippolati stands up out of the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Hippolati 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. This is the final round!

Hippolati lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Hippolati circles away easily

and Hippolati counters by moving into the clinch.
Hippolati wants to get back to striking at distance but Diaz won't allow it.
Hippolati has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Diaz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Hippolati.
Diaz keeps control of Hippolati as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hippolati lands a nice uppercut.
Hippolati digs a right hand into Diaz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Diaz's gas tank.
Hippolati scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hippolati tries to score a body lock takedown but Diaz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hippolati is pressed up against the cage. Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hippolati down to the mat. Hippolati avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hippolati shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Hippolati. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz fails with the takedown

and Hippolati counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Diaz!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hippolati jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Diaz is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Diaz and Hippolati has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hippolati working away.

Hippolati decides to stand back up. Hippolati steps back and let's Diaz get back to his feet.
Diaz fails with the takedown
and Hippolati counters with a two punch combo.
Hippolati misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Hippolati swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hippolati counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hippolati wants to take a breather but Diaz is having none of it.
Hippolati thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hippolati not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hippolati's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hippolati's back!
Hippolati trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Hippolati looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Diaz has the hooks in. Hippolati is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Diaz is looking for the choke from the back position but Hippolati is controlling his hands well.
Hippolati is trying to stand back up.
Diaz keeps control of the position as Hippolati tries to break free.
Hippolati trying to control the hands but Diaz breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to control but Hippolati is keeping busy.
Diaz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Hippolati trying to control the hands but Diaz won't let him.
Hippolati controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Hippolati manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hippolati counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hippolati lands a jab-cross combination.
Diaz keeps the fight on the outside.
Hippolati fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hippolati avoids a kick to the body.

Hippolati takes the fight into the clinch.

Hippolati turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Jesse Hippolati overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.
Diaz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mike Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jesse Hippolati is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hippolati has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good standup being displayed there by Diaz as he connects with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Hippolati showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hippolati 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 Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Hippolati!