PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sheldon Hammond (ranked 23500 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Diaz (ranked 3924 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hammond
vs
Diaz

158 cm
26
178 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

183 cm
25
169 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Sheldon Hammond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mario Diaz!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz is trying to control the action in half guard but Hammond is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hammond trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.
Hammond holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz is controlling the pace.
Diaz is thwarting Hammond's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Hammond is defending well.
Diaz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Diaz lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Diaz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hammond really is a fat lump.
Diaz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Hammond's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is pushing Hammond up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hammond has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Diaz pushes Hammond back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
Diaz avoiding damage as Hammond throws knees to the body.
Diaz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hammond's efforts to push away.
Hammond prevents a body shot from Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond has Diaz pressed against the cage, preventing Diaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The referee is keeping an eye on Diaz - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hammond doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diaz is trying to break free.
Diaz wants to get back to striking at distance but Hammond won't allow it.

Diaz turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Diaz manages to end up in side control.
Hammond tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Diaz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hammond tries to control but Diaz manages to take his back.
Diaz missing with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Hammond is defending well though. Diaz let's go of the attempt for now.
Diaz trying to control.

Diaz has got his arm under Hammond's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Hammond has spun round into Diaz's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Hammond postures up in Diaz's guard and throws a big left but Diaz blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Diaz has his foot on Hammond's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hammond works his way back into a safe position though.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Diaz has managed to clinch.
Diaz lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hammond avoiding damage as Diaz throws knees to the body.
Diaz tries to break free but Hammond pushes him back against the cage.

Hammond breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz connects with a body shot that sends Hammond's belly button to the back.
Mario Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Diaz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Diaz wants to break free but Hammond has control.
Diaz is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hammond is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammond is trying to force a seperation but Diaz has the dominant position.

Hammond breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hammond moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A left and a right from Diaz both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Sheldon Hammond has been cut.
Diaz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hammond throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Hammond moves out of range.
Diaz sizes up Hammond with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Diaz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hammond is adopting a defensive guard.

Diaz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hammond is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Diaz, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond preventing the sweep.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Diaz throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hammond uses it to pass to side control.
Diaz pushes Hammond away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hammond gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Hammond goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Diaz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hammond but great work by Diaz.

Diaz swings around for an armbar but Hammond sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Diaz's guard.
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond distracts Diaz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hammond accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Hammond postures up.
Hammond is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mario Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hammond's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammond is in close to Diaz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Hammond postures up.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Hammond isn't so interested in that idea.
Hammond connects with a couple of short punches.
Diaz is breathing heavily.

Diaz working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hammond has passed into half guard!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hammond is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sheldon Hammond's cut.
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!

Diaz scores with a jab.
Diaz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Diaz shoots in and bounces Hammond off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz throws a strike but Hammond rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammond stands up over Diaz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hammond connects with a couple of short punches.
Diaz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hammond in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammond might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Diaz wants to stand and escape but Hammond is having none of it.

Diaz is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Hammond escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some bone on bone action there as Hammond checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Hammond is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a few strikes there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Hammond does a little dance to reset his feet.

Diaz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diaz advances position into side control!

Diaz decides to stand back up. Diaz steps back and let's Hammond get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Diaz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hammond, pushing him back against the cage.
Hammond tries to throw a body punch but Diaz avoids it by throwing Hammond back against the cage.
Hammond leaning against his opponent.

Hammond breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Diaz throws a leg kick but Hammond checks it.
Hammond takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches.
Diaz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diaz trying to stall but Hammond improves his position.
Diaz working hard to break the clinch.

Hammond breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hammond shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Diaz counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands a two punch combo.
Diaz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Diaz defending well as Hammond loads up on a big left hand.
Diaz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Diaz shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hammond manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mario Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diaz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Diaz tries to stand but Hammond is controlling from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diaz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Diaz!
Mario Diaz seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.