PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marco Ajax (ranked 287 p4p, 34 weight class) and Bruce Diehard (ranked 383 p4p, 51 weight class). Ajax kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is For Heavy Metal we will die!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ajax
vs
Diehard

160 cm
39
158 lbs
39 - 20 - 1

180 cm
36
158 lbs
31 - 16 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marco Ajax!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Diehard!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diehard misses the body punch
and Ajax connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ajax misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Diehard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Diehard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ajax scores with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diehard. Ajax does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diehard keeps the fight on the outside.
Diehard throws a leg kick but Ajax moved away.
Ajax feinted with a counter takedown.
Diehard missing with a left hand there. Ajax was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ajax fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ajax throws a lazy uppercut
and Diehard counters with a straight right hand.
Ajax throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Diehard counter with a right hand.
Diehard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ajax half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've been hearing reports that Ajax has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Ajax misses the target.
Diehard ducks under a wild hook from Ajax.
Ajax bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ajax slips a jab from Diehard.
Diehard throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ajax connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Diehard. That's going to slow Ajax down.
Bruce Diehard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ajax tries to work over Diehard's front leg with a kick but Diehard checks it.
Diehard misses with a body shot.
Diehard misses with a head kick.
Diehard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ajax throws a quick inside leg kick.

Ajax gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diehard tries to improve position but can't.
Diehard is still trying to improve position.
Ajax connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Diehard some visible discomfort.
Diehard is trying to work for a sweep but Ajax has mounted him!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diehard slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ajax trying to control the action but Diehard is working from the bottom.
Diehard on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajax working Diehard over with strikes.
Diehard is looking to control Ajax's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diehard avoid being mounted?
Diehard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ajax.
Diehard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ajax content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ajax 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.
Ajax wants to control from the top but Diehard keeps moving.
Diehard wants to sweep but no luck.
Diehard keeps trying to improve his position.
Ajax postures up in Diehard's guard and throws a big left but Diehard blocks it.
Diehard controls Ajax momentarily but Ajax frees himself.
Diehard pulls Ajax in close to his closed guard and prevents Ajax from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ajax scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Diehard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ajax.
Ajax trying to control the position from guard on top but Diehard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diehard is pulling down on Ajax's head to control his posture.
Ajax with a flurry of punches that miss.
Diehard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Diehard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ajax postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Diehard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ajax postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Diehard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Diehard wants to control from the top but Ajax keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ajax throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diehard looking to pass the guard.
Ajax might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Ajax working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Diehard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Diehard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Diehard slips nicely into half guard.
Diehard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marco Ajax will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ajax throws a leg kick but Diehard sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Diehard misses the jab.
A slow jab from Ajax misses its intended target.
Diehard takes one on the button.
Diehard throws a body punch but Ajax moves out of range.
As Diehard backs away, Ajax returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Diehard lands with a thumping leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Ajax misses.
A little jabbing left from Diehard on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ajax cracks Diehard with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Marco Ajax seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diehard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ajax moves away.
Ajax lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Diehard defending well as Ajax loads up on a big left hand.
Diehard checks a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Diehard! But no joy.
Bruce Diehard seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Ajax looking to score a takedown here. Diehard is defending well but Ajax drives through and ends up in Diehard's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diehard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Diehard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marco Ajax overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ajax chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diehard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ajax is one step ahead there.

Diehard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ajax in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diehard has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ajax won't allow Diehard to sweep him here.
Ajax throwing strikes from guard but Diehard blocks nicely.
Diehard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ajax's guard.

Ajax looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajax manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diehard manages to get himself to full guard.

Ajax is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ajax trying to control but Diehard is working from the bottom.
Diehard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ajax lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ajax preventing the sweep.
Ajax is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diehard can do to turn this around?
Ajax postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ajax's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ajax is in close to Diehard's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ajax is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ajax stands up over Diehard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ajax working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ajax throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ajax chips away with some ground and pound.
Ajax working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ajax slips nicely into half guard.
Ajax lands strikes from half guard.
Ajax looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Diehard gets full guard.
Diehard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Diehard is trying to control the action in half guard but Ajax is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ajax is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ajax regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ajax looking for a guillotine here but Diehard defends easily.
Ajax tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ajax trying to keep a closed guard but Diehard is proving a slippery customer.

Ajax had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Diehard defends it easily.
Diehard trying to move into half guard but instead Ajax has managed to sweep!

Ajax trying to control the position from guard on top but Diehard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ajax lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Diehard just misses with a punch to the body.
Ajax looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Ajax with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Ajax is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Diehard's half guard.
Ajax trying to control the action but Diehard is working from the bottom.
Diehard wants to control but Ajax is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ajax not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ajax is keen to just control but Diehard is a slippery customer.
Diehard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Diehard.
Ajax looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diehard wants to sweep here but Ajax controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ajax accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ajax has gone for a leg lock! Diehard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ajax's guard.

Diehard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ajax looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Diehard puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ajax tries to get to full guard but Diehard has control of the leg.
Ajax works his way to full guard. Good work.
Diehard controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Ajax isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Diehard stacks Ajax on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Diehard!

Diehard tries for a kimura but Ajax is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diehard tries to advance to mount but Ajax denies him.
Ajax is looking for a sweep.
Ajax prevents Diehard from improving position.
Ajax tries to bench press Diehard off him but Diehard keeps the position.
Diehard trying to control the position but Ajax is working away.
Ajax is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diehard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Diehard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Diehard working away.
Ajax is looking to reverse the position.
Diehard tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ajax tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Diehard wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Diehard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ajax has escaped the position, nice work there.
Diehard tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Ajax is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Diehard's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ajax tries to get to full guard but Diehard has control of the leg.
Diehard moves into full mount! Ajax won't be happy about that!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diehard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ajax is looking to escape.
Diehard is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Bruce Diehard just about did enough to take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ajax shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ajax looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ajax moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ajax throws a body punch but Diehard moves out of range.
A low kick from Ajax misses
enabling Diehard to counter with a crisp jab.
Diehard throws a jab but it's blocked by Ajax.
Ajax will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Diehard lands a head shot.
Ajax connects with a leg kick. Diehard looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ajax uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diehard.
Ajax jabs at Diehard's body.
Diehard has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ajax.

Ajax closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Diehard to the mat! Diehard manages to get full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ajax stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Diehard has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Ajax manages to get his head free but now Diehard has transitioned to an armbar! Ajax grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Diehard! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bruce Diehard!
Bruce Diehard was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.