PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jewel Diaz (ranked 710 p4p, 698 weight class) and Joe Tidd (ranked 100 p4p, 96 weight class). Diaz comes to the cage accompanied by Killa Whale - Andre Nickatina. Jewel Diaz had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Diaz
vs
Tidd

174 cm
23
154
9 - 2 - 1

155 cm
30
149
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Core Combat
© Trap House

MKFC
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jewel Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Tidd!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Diaz is predictable there

and Tidd counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Tidd has control of the leg.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tidd.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz keeping control of the position.
Tidd trying to control from half guard but Diaz is working away.
Tidd not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tidd working the head and body with strikes.
Tidd keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tidd is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Well, if Tidd is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tidd wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.
Tidd thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.
Diaz is pressing down on Tidd's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Tidd from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tidd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tidd scoring with some ground and pound.
Tidd slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tidd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tidd has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tidd throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tidd stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tidd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Diaz pulls Tidd in close to his closed guard and prevents Tidd from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A leg kick checked by Diaz.
Tidd throws a sloppy head kick
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tidd sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diaz lands a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Diaz.
Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lunges at Tidd with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tidd's hand.
Tidd shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Diaz as he jumps to the side.
Diaz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A nice inside leg kick there by Diaz. That's going to slow Tidd down.
Diaz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tidd checks a low kick from Diaz.
Tidd throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tidd walks into a stiff left hand from Diaz.
Tidd blocks a jab.
Tidd with the counter takedown but Diaz avoids it easily.
Diaz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a jab to the body

so Tidd counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Diaz pulls Tidd in close to prevent any damage.
Tidd pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Tidd throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz looking to control.
Tidd loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tidd slips nicely into half guard.
Tidd takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Diaz trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Tidd will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A low kick from Diaz misses

and Tidd counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tidd looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Diaz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Diaz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tidd scores with a couple of nice shots.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

Tidd is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tidd drops an elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tidd throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Diaz to regain full guard.
Diaz has control of Tidd's left arm, preventing Tidd from doing any damage.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tidd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tidd throws a big right hand that misses.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tidd trying to move into half guard but instead Diaz has managed to sweep!

Diaz trying to control but Tidd is working from the bottom.
Tidd looking for a sweep. Not yet Tidd, not yet.
Tidd has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz postures up.
Tidd wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Tidd is controlling Diaz's posture.
Diaz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Diaz throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tidd is trying to keep Diaz in close.
Tidd looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Diaz is fighting to break Tidd's control of his arms but Tidd is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Diaz is looking to work some ground and pound but Tidd has wrist control.
Tidd wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Diaz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tidd's head.
Diaz lands a couple of elbows.
We've been hearing that Diaz has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Diaz postures up.
Diaz trying to control but Tidd is working from the bottom.
Diaz is working Tidd over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tidd trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz lands a couple of elbows.
Diaz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tidd trying to keep a closed guard but Diaz is proving a slippery customer.
Tidd has his hands on Diaz's head, controlling the position.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tidd is on top in guard.

In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Tidd working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Tidd throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tidd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tidd sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Diaz's guard.
Tidd missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Diaz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tidd.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tidd.
Diaz trying to control from the bottom.

Tidd is working for a kimura here but Diaz manages to reverse the position and he's now in Tidd's guard.
Tidd pulls Diaz in to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tidd working a defensive guard here.
Tidd tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Tidd will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tidd moves away from the strike by Diaz.
Tidd tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tidd tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Tidd.
Tidd misses with a double jab.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Diaz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tidd feints the counter takedown.
Tidd blocks a jab.
Diaz lands with a straight right. Tidd didn't see that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tidd defending well as Diaz loads up on a big left hand.
Diaz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Diaz throws a shot from downtown. Tidd moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tidd misses with a takedown
and Diaz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tidd takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tidd fails with a takedown attempt.
Tidd avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tidd changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tidd drops his hands momentarily and Diaz takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Diaz throws a right hand that misses

so Tidd counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Tidd is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Diaz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Diaz has escaped and now he's on top!

Diaz lands a couple of digs.

Tidd is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tidd works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tidd preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Diaz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tidd managing to control the position.
Tidd manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaz manages to get himself to full guard.

Tidd postures up in Diaz's guard and throws a big left but Diaz blocks it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tidd's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joe Tidd has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tidd's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz is pulling down on Tidd's head to control his posture.
Tidd slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
An elbow from Tidd crashes against the mat.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
Tidd grinds an elbow into Diaz's temple.
Diaz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tidd wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tidd landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Tidd lands some shots froms side control.
Tidd looks up at the clock and then as Diaz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Tidd smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tidd fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tidd working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Tidd working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Diaz tries to bench press Tidd off him but Tidd keeps the position.
Check out the look on Tidd's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Tidd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.
Tidd lands a few punches from side control.
Tidd is chipping away with strikes.
Tidd throws an elbow but Diaz slips to the side and avoids it well.
Tidd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diaz keeps working.

Tidd tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Tidd.
I've got Tidd winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Tidd!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Joe Tidd waved his t-shirt featuring The Glue Factory's logo in front of the cameras.
Jewel Diaz was interviewed post fight and said 'My opponent was better than me tonight. Trust the process not the results. '.