PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jewel Diaz (ranked 427 p4p, 1014 weight class) and David Dilbrandt (ranked 53 p4p, 124 weight class). Diaz comes to the cage accompanied by Killa Whale - Andre Nickatina. Dilbrandt has chosen Rock the Dragon as his entrance music. 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.

Diaz
vs
Dilbrandt

174 cm
24
154
11 - 3 - 1

169 cm
21
147
8 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Core Combat
Voodoo Nutrition

Voodoo Nutrition

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 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jewel Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, David Dilbrandt!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dilbrandt tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Dilbrandt ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Dilbrandt sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diaz slips a jab from Dilbrandt.
Dilbrandt has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Dilbrandt loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Nice defenses there by Dilbrandt.
Diaz throws a big shot that misses.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Dilbrandt.
Diaz feinted with a counter takedown.
Dilbrandt throws a sloppy head kick

and Diaz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dilbrandt won't be happy with that.
Dilbrandt can't do much from the bottom here.
Dilbrandt manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Dilbrandt has control of the leg.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dilbrandt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dilbrandt is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.
Diaz gets full guard.
Dilbrandt trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz trying to control the position here.
Dilbrandt controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Dilbrandt trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dilbrandt looking to pass the guard.
Dilbrandt looking to sit in guard and control but Diaz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dilbrandt is controlling Diaz's posture.
Diaz postures up.
Dilbrandt has momentary wrist control but Diaz slips an elbow through the middle.
Diaz stands up over Dilbrandt, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dilbrandt keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz postures up in Dilbrandt's guard and throws a big left but Dilbrandt blocks it.
Diaz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dilbrandt is pulling down on Diaz's head to control his posture.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dilbrandt is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dilbrandt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dilbrandt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Diaz keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Dilbrandt content to control rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dilbrandt is continuing to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but David Dilbrandt will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice takedown defense from Dilbrandt. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.
David Dilbrandt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dilbrandt attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz has been working on his balance at The Heart of the BloodBath, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Dilbrandt.
Dilbrandt fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Diaz is out of range.
Dilbrandt moves away from the strike by Diaz.
Diaz slips a straight right by Dilbrandt.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dilbrandt wants to slow Diaz down by chopping away at his legs.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Dilbrandt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dilbrandt looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Dilbrandt looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.
Dilbrandt fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Diaz is out of range.
Diaz appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Dilbrandt misses the jab.
Diaz feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz stalks Dilbrandt and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dilbrandt's face. Dilbrandt staggers backwards, shaken.
Diaz moves away from the strike by Dilbrandt.
Diaz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dilbrandt throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diaz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dilbrandt misses with a double jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Diaz blocks the leg kick.
Diaz tries to counter by clinching up but Dilbrandt breaks away and moves out of range.
Dilbrandt throws a jab but it's blocked by Diaz.
Diaz attempts a counter takedown but Dilbrandt avoids it well and moves away.
Dilbrandt loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz slips under a jab from Dilbrandt.
A nice leg kick from Dilbrandt, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dilbrandt scores with a push kick.
Dilbrandt throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dilbrandt takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Diaz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Diaz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Dilbrandt is looking for a sweep.
Diaz working away.
Diaz working the head with strikes.
Dilbrandt is trying to improve his position.
Diaz misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dilbrandt sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Dilbrandt trying to control here.
Dilbrandt tries to roll over but Diaz keeps him under control.
Dilbrandt taking some punishment here, with Diaz in his half guard.
Jewel Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dilbrandt wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dilbrandt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Diaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working over Dilbrandt with some ground and pound. Dilbrandt looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dilbrandt makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dilbrandt.
Dilbrandt seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Let's hope that Dilbrandt has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Diaz throws an elbow that misses. Dilbrandt uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Diaz's guard. Nice move by Dilbrandt!

Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Diaz managing to control the position.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Dilbrandt from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but David Dilbrandt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Dilbrandt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Diaz is looking to counter the offense by Dilbrandt and move into the clinch.
Dilbrandt misses with a hook.
Diaz tries to counter with a takedown but Dilbrandt is quick to defend against it.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Dilbrandt sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dilbrandt staying out of range there.

Diaz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diaz thows a huge punch but Dilbrandt dodges it nicely.
Diaz prevents Dilbrandt from improving his position.
Diaz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dilbrandt on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dilbrandt gets full guard.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dilbrandt works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dilbrandt working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.
Dilbrandt working a defensive guard here.
Diaz works over Dilbrandt with some ground and pound from guard.
Dilbrandt looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Diaz working some strikes from top position.
Jewel Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.
Dilbrandt controlling Diaz's posture.
Diaz trying to move into half guard but instead Dilbrandt has managed to sweep!

Dilbrandt wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Diaz managing to control the position.
Diaz looking to control.
David Dilbrandt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dilbrandt looking to pass the guard.
Diaz looking for a sweep. Not yet Diaz, not yet.
Dilbrandt showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
David Dilbrandt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dilbrandt throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.
Dilbrandt throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Diaz takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Dilbrandt connects with a body shot that sends Diaz's belly button to the back.
Diaz fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dilbrandt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
As Dilbrandt tries to get set, Diaz tries to push him back and clinch up but Dilbrandt manages to avoid the attempt.
Dilbrandt connects with a leg kick.
Dilbrandt loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Dilbrandt feints and then cracks Diaz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Diaz down.
Dilbrandt misses with a hook.
Diaz ducks right into an uppercut from Dilbrandt.
Dilbrandt tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
Dilbrandt lands a jab to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dilbrandt throws a nice inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dilbrandt manages to avoid it.
Dilbrandt misses with a kick to the body

and Diaz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Diaz.

Dilbrandt manages to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Dilbrandt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dilbrandt 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... David Dilbrandt!
A relieved looking David Dilbrandt thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Jewel Diaz was interviewed post fight and said 'My opponent was better than me tonight. Trust the process not the results. '.