PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Juan Diego (ranked 6345 p4p, 6936 weight class) and Dmitri Sa (ranked 580 p4p, 605 weight class). The key to victory for Juan Diego has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Diego
vs
Sa

175 cm
26
155
2 - 4 - 0

165 cm
18
155
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dmitri Sa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diego clinches up with Sa and pushes him back against the cage.

Sa jumps guard.
Sa pulls Diego in to control the position.
Sa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diego .

Sa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Diego got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diego has managed to get both his arms back between Sa's legs - danger averted.
Diego chips away with some ground and pound.
Diego scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Diego 's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Diego with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Sa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Sa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diego can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sa is looking for a triangle but Diego pushes his legs off easily.
Diego stays in close to Sa's body and controls the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Diego slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Sa.

That's two 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.
Sa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Diego seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sa has hold of Diego 's hands but Diego slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sa wants to get back to his feet.
Diego wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Sa uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Sa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Diego postures up and lands a big shot to Sa's brow.
Diego looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Sa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diego gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Diego has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sa looks winded!

Diego stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sa gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

It looks like Dmitri Sa has been cut.
Sa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Diego drives through and clinches with Sa against the cage.
Sa is working for takedown but Diego is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sa jumps guard but Diego turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Diego pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Diego closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Diego scores with a nice short uppercut.
Diego lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sa backwards.
Sa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Diego is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Diego is trying to push Sa away but Sa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diego tries to break the clinch but Sa is controlling the position.
Diego is trying to break the clinch but Sa is controlling him.

Diego breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diego fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sa throws out a counter right but Diego avoids it with no problem.

Diego moves into the clinch successfully.
Diego lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Diego breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diego with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Diego lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diego .

Diego gets a clinch.

Diego pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Diego dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dmitri Sa's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diego has Sa up against the cage in a clinch.

Diego breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diego tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Diego pushes Sa up against the cage in a clinch.
Diego wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Diego breaks from the clinch.
A jab lands there for Diego .
Diego works Sa's body with a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego misses with a combination
and Sa counters with a head kick. That will keep Diego thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Diego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diego is looking to land body kicks.
Sa wants to counter with a clinch but Diego pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sa looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Sa keeps the fight on the outside.
Diego throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Diego uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sa has time to react.

That has opened up Dmitri Sa's cut even more.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Diego , as that shot connected.
Diego throws a sloppy head kick
letting Sa counter with a right hand.
Diego lands with a nice body punch.
Sa is breathing heavily.
Sa swats away the attempt to clinch by Diego .
A nice side step and Sa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Diego throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sa.
Diego is looking to clinch but Sa is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right-left combo lands from Diego .

Sa is rocked!

Diego forces Sa back against the cage and clinches.
Sa blocks an uppercut.
Diego tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch on the inside from Diego fails to land.
Diego wants to get back to striking at distance but Sa won't allow it.
Diego drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sa avoids the elbow strike from Diego , against the cage.
Sa is working for takedown but Diego is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego wants to break free but Sa has control.

Diego manages to break the clinch.
Diego lands an overhand right.

The cut above Dmitri Sa's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

Diego closes the distance and clinches.
Diego lands a right hand.

Diego breaks the clinch.
Diego is looking to land body kicks.
Diego lands with a good body shot.
Diego misses with a two punch combination.
Sa swats away the attempt to clinch by Diego .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diego lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Diego .
Diego misses with a double jab

and Sa moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sa manages to pull guard.

Sa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Diego wants to stand but Sa has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Diego throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diego working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sa has momentary wrist control but Diego slips an elbow through the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Diego dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dmitri Sa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Diego scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Diego misses with the combination.
Sa feints the counter takedown.
Diego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sa looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Sa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Diego moves into the clinch successfully.
Sa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Diego working aggressively here.
Diego is trying to break the clinch but Sa has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego scores with a shot to the side of Sa's head.
Diego tries to circle away but Sa has him pinned against the cage.
Sa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Diego prevents it.
Diego with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego misses with some punches.
Diego looking to throw knees to the head but Sa is blocking nicely.
Diego is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sa can do to turn this around?
Diego wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sa has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Diego after a bit of a struggle.
Diego is trying to break the clinch but Sa has him pressed against the cage.
Sa avoids a wild elbow strike from Diego .
Sa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Diego smiles and moves away.
Juan Diego has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitri Sa.
Diego throws a right hand that Sa ducks under and follows up with a left that Sa also avoids with ease.
Sa tries to counter by closing the distance.
Diego feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Diego is looking to clinch but Sa is avoiding it.
Juan Diego is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diego gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sa is trying to pull guard but Diego turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Diego pushes off an throws an elbow but Sa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sa is working for takedown but Diego is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diego prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Diego pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice uppercut there from Diego .
Juan Diego seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Diego !
Sa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sa wants to counter with a clinch but Diego pushes him away.
Diego moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sa keeps the fight on the outside.
It seemed like Sa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Diego moves into range and clinches up with Sa.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Diego just stands there and leans against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Diego showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Diego has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Diego !