PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juan Diego (ranked 4093 p4p, 4690 weight class) and AJ Gardener (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diego has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Diego
vs
Gardener

175 cm
25
155
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
147
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Juan Diego !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, AJ Gardener!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diego throws a left and a right that both miss

and Gardener counters with a shoot takedown. Diego fights it but they end up in guard.
Diego is breathing heavily.
Gardener throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diego works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gardener is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gardener is stalling in the full guard.
Gardener's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardener throws a big right hand that misses.
Gardener 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.
Diego wants to stand but Gardener is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardener sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gardener avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gardener misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Diego misses with a hook to the body

and Gardener counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gardener.

Gardener has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Diego regains guard immediately.
Diego being controlled here, momentarily.
Gardener throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diego works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardener content to stall in guard here.
Gardener working some strikes from top position.
Diego preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gardener with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gardener looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego wants to get back to his feet but Gardener is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gardener shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Diego as he jumps to the side.
Diego seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Gardener takes the fight into the clinch.
Gardener drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Juan Diego has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Gardener.
Diego wants to get back to striking at distance but Gardener won't allow it.
Gardener looking for a takedown.
Gardener is working for takedown but Diego is calmly controlling the position for now.

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.
Gardener goes for a takedown in the clinch but Diego prevents it.
Gardener is working for takedown but Diego is calmly controlling the position for now.
Diego gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gardener.

Gardener has picked Diego up - he's going for a ride! Gardener dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Gardener working the head and body with strikes.
Gardener wants to control but Diego is keeping him busy.
Diego is trying to stand up here but Gardener is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gardener controlling the action here.
Gardener landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Gardener dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Gardener darts in and clinches Diego up against the cage.
Diego is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gardener blocks an uppercut.

Gardener gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gardener throwing strikes from guard but Diego blocks nicely.

Gardener gets to his feet. Diego looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Diego doesn't manage to clinch there - Gardener circles away.
Gardener throws out a counter right but Diego avoids it with no problem.

Diego tries to keep at a distance but Gardener has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gardener has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Diego avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego is pressed up against the cage. Gardener 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.
Diego tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diego fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gardener paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gardener fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diego , pushing him back against the cage.

Gardener turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gardener manages to end up in side control.
Diego is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gardener is controlling him well.
Diego takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Gardener scoring with punches and elbows.
Gardener takes a little break here. Diego wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Let's hope that Gardener 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gardener thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gardener scoring with punches from side control.
Gardener scoring with punches from side control.
Gardener is looking to take a break and control but Diego is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gardener scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Diego 's face as Gardener controls the position.
Gardener trying to control the position but Diego is working away.
Gardener is staying tight to Diego 's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Diego might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gardener wants to control but Diego is keeping him busy.

That's four 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gardener has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No luck for Gardener with that takedown attempt.
Juan Diego has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Gardener.
Diego moves in looking to clinch but Gardener pushes him off.

Gardener changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Diego looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gardener trying to control the action but Diego is working from the bottom.

Gardener is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Diego is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gardener landing strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Gardener showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Diego enables Gardener to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Diego manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Diego is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gardener is controlling him.
Gardener sitting in guard here, content to control.
AJ Gardener has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gardener is looking to work some ground and pound but Diego has wrist control.
Gardener engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Diego wants to get back to his feet but Gardener is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardener content to stall in guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gardener advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardener connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Diego some visible discomfort.

Gardener tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gardener has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gardener is staying tight to Diego 's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Diego takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Gardener controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gardener is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gardener lands a nice forearm strike.
Gardener staying calm.
Gardener scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Diego to see if he's OK.
AJ Gardener is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gardener taking a breather here.

Gardener tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gardener has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardener taking a breather here.
Gardener lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gardener trying to control the action but Diego is working from the bottom.
Gardener is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Diego 's shoulder. That is not cool.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Juan Diego is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gardener scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diego wants to get back to his feet.
Gardener is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Diego wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gardener performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Gardener comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gardener 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Gardener!