PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kron Diego (ranked 177 p4p, 642 weight class) and Zhan Dhelan (ranked 23 p4p, 81 weight class). Zhan Dhelan has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kron Diego's chin.

Diego
vs
Dhelan

170 cm
28
145
18 - 6 - 1

150 cm
32
145
21 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Savage Fightwear

Core Combat

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 18 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Kron Diego!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zhan Dhelan!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diego tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice defenses there by Diego.
Diego throws a shot from downtown. Dhelan moves away and avoids it.

Dhelan drives through with a takedown into Diego's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Diego manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Diego is pressed up against the cage. Dhelan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Diego down to the mat. Diego avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A jab from Diego misses.
And Dhelan tries to counter it with a takedown but Diego pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Dhelan throws a body punch but Diego moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Dhelan ducks under a wild hook from Diego.
Diego throws a nice outside leg kick.
Diego ducks under a wild hook from Dhelan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diego scores with a jab. Dhelan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Dhelan moves away from the strike by Diego.
Diego connects with a jab.
Diego misses with a straight left.
Dhelan walks into a stiff left hand from Diego.
Diego throws a low kick but it's checked well by Dhelan.
Diego takes a swing at Dhelan's ribcage but misses.
Dhelan looks for a takedown but Diego sprawls well.
Dhelan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diego.
Dhelan misses the shot to the body.
Diego connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Diego.
Diego misses with a straight right.
Diego fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dhelan is out of range.
Dhelan looks for a takedown but Diego sprawls well.
Kron Diego has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhan Dhelan.
Diego throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dhelan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diego connects with a crisp jab.
Dhelan looks to land a right hand but Diego moved out of range.
Diego is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Good exchange - Diego coming out on top.
No luck for Dhelan with that takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Diego. Those never looked like landing.
Diego scores with a nice right hand.
Diego uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dhelan.
A swing and a miss from Dhelan.
Dhelan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diego.
An inside leg kick lands from Diego.
Diego jabs Dhelan right on the nose. Dhelan blinks but takes it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dhelan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diego is fending him off so far but Dhelan persists. Nope, Diego circles away and we're back to standing.
Diego fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Diego looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dhelan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dhelan takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dhelan.
The fighters circling - Dhelan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diego appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Diego fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dhelan manages to avoid it.
Kron Diego is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dhelan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diego.
Dhelan has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dhelan there as he acknowledges the shot.
Dhelan misses with a lunging right hand
letting Diego counter with a right hand.
Dhelan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Dhelan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diego circles away.
Dhelan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diego.
Dhelan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Diego.
Diego slips under a jab from Dhelan.
Dhelan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Diego tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dhelan was well out of range. Poor timing from Diego.
Diego uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Dhelan has time to react.
Dhelan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Diego swivels and escapes.
A telegraphed right hand from Dhelan misses the target.
Diego throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Dhelan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Diego sprawls well initially but Dhelan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Diego is trying to get back to full guard.
Diego keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Diego does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dhelan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dhelan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Dhelan is trying to work for a kimura but Diego is defending well.
Diego wants to get back to full guard.
Diego trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Diego wants to get back to full guard.

Dhelan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dhelan prevents Diego from standing back up.
Diego wants to improve his position but Dhelan is controlling well.

Dhelan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diego avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dhelan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kron Diego dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dhelan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dhelan lands with a right hand.
Diego bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diego throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diego throws a jab but it's blocked by Dhelan.
Diego is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Diego throws an overhand right that lands on Dhelan's shoulder, as Dhelan tries to avoid the shot.
Dhelan lands a nice looking body shot.
Dhelan connects with a looping right hand.
Diego displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dhelan.
Dhelan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diego was well out of range. Poor timing from Dhelan.
Diego scores with a jab.
Diego throws a jab but it's blocked by Dhelan.
Dhelan tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dhelan. Diego does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diego throws the left hand but Dhelan avoids the punch easily.
Dhelan works Diego's body with a nice hook.
Dhelan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kron Diego is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dhelan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Diego pinned against the cage. Diego gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice uppercut lands for Diego. That snapped Dhelan's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diego throwing a counter right hand but Dhelan manages to avoid it.
Diego takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Diego is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dhelan can do to turn this around?
Diego misses with a straight left.
Diego throws a poor cross that misses
and Dhelan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Diego tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dhelan is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Diego lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dhelan at a distance.
Diego lands an overhand right.
Diego connects with a single shot there.
Dhelan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dhelan slips a jab from Diego.
Dhelan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diego moves away.
A swing and a miss from Dhelan.

Dhelan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Diego wants to get back to his feet but Dhelan is dominant here and he's now got Diego's back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Dhelan is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Diego defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Zhan Dhelan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dhelan looking to break Diego's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Diego remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Dhelan will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dhelan working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Diego is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Dhelan has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Diego taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Zhan Dhelan!
Zhan Dhelan spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.