PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Bill Williams (ranked 4052 p4p, 5268 weight class) and Idrissa Dieng (ranked 506 p4p, 597 weight class). Idrissa Dieng will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Williams
vs
Dieng

192 cm
21
205
2 - 4 - 0

193 cm
23
203
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sonny Bill Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Idrissa Dieng!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dieng keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Williams.

Dieng gets tackled into the cage by Williams. Williams maintains the clinch.

Williams has hold of one of Dieng's legs. Dieng is fighting the takedown attempt but Williams gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Williams drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Williams jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Williams has gone for a leg lock! Dieng slips out almost immediately though and dives into Williams's guard.

Williams is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dieng wants to get up but he can't break Williams's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dieng is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Williams looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dieng would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williams looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Williams is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dieng is defending against the submission attempts here by Williams.

Williams seems to be looking for submissions.
Williams is pressing down on Dieng's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dieng is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams trying to control from half guard but Dieng is working away.

Williams decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Dieng looks for a takedown but Williams sprawls well.
Williams tries to bum rush Dieng with a series of wild strikes but Dieng uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dieng unleashes a big counter combination but Williams bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Williams dives in and scores a takedown into Dieng's guard.

Williams stands up from Dieng's guard - Williams perhaps looking for a knockout.

Williams drives through and clinches with Dieng against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Williams is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Dieng can't fight it off and eventually Williams manages to take the fight to the floor. Dieng looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dieng wants to stand and escape but Williams is having none of it.

Williams gets to his feet - Dieng follows without any prompting.
Dieng is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Williams.

It looks like Idrissa Dieng has been cut.
Dieng stalks Williams and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Williams's face. Williams staggers backwards, shaken.
Dieng looks winded!
Dieng scores with a kick to the body.

Williams moves into the clinch successfully.
Williams is trying to pull guard but Dieng has him pressed against the cage.
Williams will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dieng up against the cage.

Williams jumps into guard, dragging Dieng to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is trying to control the position but Dieng postures up.

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

Williams had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dieng defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Williams is looking for a triangle but Dieng pushes his legs off easily.

Williams throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dieng has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Williams is proving hard to escape from.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Bill Williams dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Idrissa Dieng'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.

Dieng wants to clinch.
It looked like Williams wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dieng looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Williams shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dieng wants to clinch
and Williams counters with a straight right hand.

Williams pushes Dieng up against the cage in a clinch.
Williams tries for a takedown. No joy.
Williams jumps guard but Dieng turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Bill Williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dieng walks away with a smile on his face. Williams gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Williams stuffs the takedown attempt from Dieng. Dieng gets slowly back to his feet.
Williams is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dieng can do to turn this around?
Dieng scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Williams tries for a takedown but Dieng sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Williams takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Dieng tries to clinch but Williams moves out of range.
Williams was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sonny Bill Williams is winning the standup battle so far.
Williams throws a hook but Dieng avoids it easily.

Williams closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Dieng is breathing heavily.
Williams advances to mount.
Dieng felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Williams looking to secure an arm triangle but Dieng defends it well.
Williams sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dieng has given up his back here. Will Williams look for the submission or keep pounding away?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to keep control of the position but Dieng is staying busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Williams really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Dieng.

Williams is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Dieng has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Dieng fending off the submission attempt from Williams.

Dieng defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Williams is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Dieng with him. Dieng is trying to defend but Williams has an arm under the chin now! Dieng grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sonny Bill Williams!