PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Newton Diaz (ranked 2428 p4p, 3339 weight class) and Dany Leblond (ranked 359 p4p, 462 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Diaz
vs
Leblond

184 cm
20
184
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
21
200
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Newton Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dany Leblond!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leblond thumps Diaz with a low kick.
Leblond with the inside leg kick.
Leblond throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Leblond tried to score with a low kick but Diaz checks it.
Leblond lands with a nice body kick.
Diaz with a nice cross.
Leblond throws a leg kick which misses Diaz's front leg but catches the back leg as Diaz tries to avoid it.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leblond closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Diaz did well to prevent Leblond getting side control.
Diaz has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Leblond prevents Diaz from improving his position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Leblond is trying to work for a kimura but Diaz is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leblond is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Diaz is just riding it out for now. Leblond eventually gives up the hold.
Diaz trying to control from the bottom.
Leblond trying to advance position but Diaz counters by regaining guard.
Leblond stands up over Diaz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Diaz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Leblond tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.
Leblond is in close to Diaz's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Leblond drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Diaz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Leblond has Diaz in his guard.

Leblond looking for a sweep. Not yet Leblond, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leblond works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Leblond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Leblond is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diaz defends well.

Leblond is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leblond swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Leblond looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Diaz won't allow Leblond to sweep him here.

Leblond has his foot on Diaz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diaz works his way back into a safe position though.
Diaz throws a big elbow that misses.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Leblond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Leblond looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Leblond is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diaz defends well.
Leblond keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz is really struggling to control Leblond but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leblond is keeping the position for now.
Diaz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Leblond's guard.
Diaz is keen to just control but Leblond is a slippery customer.
Leblond tries to get to full guard but Diaz has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Leblond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Leblond wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Diaz prevents Leblond from improving his position.
Diaz wants to control but Leblond is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leblond wants to improve his position but Diaz is controlling well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Leblond scores with a kick to the midsection.
Diaz moves out of range of the body kick.
Leblond buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Diaz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Diaz tries to clinch up

and Leblond counters with a single leg into guard. Diaz didn't expect that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leblond is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Diaz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leblond is looking to pass into half guard but Diaz pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Diaz is in guard.

Diaz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Leblond has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diaz has managed to get both his arms back between Leblond's legs - danger averted.
Diaz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Leblond lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Leblond keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Leblond throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leblond with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Leblond is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz has wrist control.
Diaz 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.
Leblond works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leblond drops an elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Leblond lands a nice short elbow.
Leblond has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Leblond is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Leblond connects with a nice short shot to Diaz's temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leblond takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Leblond lands with a punch from half guard.
Leblond lands with a punch from half guard.
Diaz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Diaz is rocked!
Diaz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Diaz.
Leblond stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leblond is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leblond landing with the ground and pound.
Diaz has momentary wrist control but Leblond slips an elbow through the middle.
Leblond landing some decent shots from guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Leblond working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Dany Leblond has got the better of the ground game so far.
Leblond with a nice head shot there.

Leblond postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Diaz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Leblond, into his guard.

Leblond is looking for a triangle but Diaz pushes his legs off easily.
Leblond is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Diaz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leblond trying to mount his opponent but Diaz defends it.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Leblond has control of the leg.
Leblond slips a nice elbow through Diaz's hands, connecting with Diaz's forehead.
Leblond scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Leblond seems to be working for a kimura but Diaz defends the submission attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leblond working over Diaz with some ground and pound. Diaz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Diaz is looking to improve his position.
Leblond drops an elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dany Leblond showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Leblond will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Leblond scores with a spinning back kick!
Diaz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Leblond lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Diaz wants to land a leg kick but Leblond is out of range.
Diaz scores with a nice head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leblond connects with a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Leblond.
Leblond throws a leg kick which misses Diaz's front leg but catches the back leg as Diaz tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz throws a nice looking combination but Leblond bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Leblond scores with a nice body kick.
Dany Leblond seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leblond's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Diaz connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Leblond scrambles back to his feet.
Diaz is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Leblond fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Diaz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Leblond keeps Diaz at a distance using the push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leblond throws a half hearted mid kick.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Leblond tries to roll over but Diaz keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leblond works his way to full guard. Good work.

Leblond is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Leblond has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

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

Leblond working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Diaz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Diaz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dany Leblond is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Diaz throws a big elbow that misses.
Leblond pulls Diaz in close to his closed guard and prevents Diaz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Leblond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leblond managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Leblond 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 working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Leblond's head.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Leblond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leblond is pulling down on Diaz's head. It's preventing any offense from Diaz, at least for the moment.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leblond swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leblond pulls Diaz in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Leblond manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaz manages to get himself to full guard.

Leblond looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Leblond slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Leblond controls the position from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dany Leblond comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Leblond has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Dany Leblond!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Dany Leblond!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Dany Leblond!

Dany Leblond wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Dany Leblond thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.