PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Diaz (ranked 24740 p4p, 5449 weight class) and Prince Simbolon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Diaz
vs
Simbolon

185 cm
20
185
1 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
165
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Prince Simbolon!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simbolon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Diaz defends well and Simbolon ends up having to push Diaz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Simbolon swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Diaz misses with a double jab.

Diaz clinches.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Simbolon misses with a takedown attempt

and Diaz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Diaz jumps guard and drags Simbolon to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Simbolon won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Simbolon is aware though and is defending well.
Simbolon is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Diaz working a defensive guard but Simbolon manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet but Simbolon drags him back down.
Diaz is looking to regain half guard here but Simbolon keeps moving and retains side control.
Simbolon controlling the position.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet but Simbolon drags him back down.
Diaz tries to buck Simbolon off but Simbolon is having none of it.
Simbolon staying calm.
Diaz tries to escape but Simbolon is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.
Simbolon has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Diaz is trying desperately to improve position.

Simbolon jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Diaz is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Diaz and Simbolon has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face as Simbolon controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simbolon is looking to take a break and control but Diaz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diaz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Simbolon stops Diaz from getting back to his feet.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A head kick misses from Diaz.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.

Simbolon shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Simbolon showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Simbolon 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 is looking to control Simbolon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diaz avoid being mounted?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diaz is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Diaz will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diaz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz throws a head kick but Simbolon moves out of range.
Simbolon wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Diaz throws a big counter combination but Simbolon scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Diaz throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Simbolon darts in looking for a takedown but Diaz gets double underhooks and turns Simbolon into the cage.
Diaz seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Diaz wants to clinch but Simbolon slips to the side
and Simbolon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chris Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Diaz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Diaz advances to full mount.
Diaz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Simbolon looks a forlorn figure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Diaz looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Diaz tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simbolon is bucking up trying to escape but Diaz cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Diaz scoring with strikes but Simbolon is staying in there.
Simbolon wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simbolon sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Simbolon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Diaz is working away from the top position though.
Diaz looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Diaz prevents Simbolon from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control the action but Simbolon is working from the bottom.
Simbolon is looking to control Diaz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Simbolon avoid being mounted?

Diaz is trying to work for a kimura but Simbolon is defending well.
Simbolon is looking to improve his position.
Simbolon tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Diaz has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Diaz lands a couple of good shots and Simbolon has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Diaz trying to control momentarily.
Diaz has the hooks in. Simbolon is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Diaz tries to keep control of the position but Simbolon is staying busy.
You can see the frustration on Simbolon's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Simbolon is breathing heavily.
Diaz tries to get the hooks in deep but Simbolon pushed the leg off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz controlling well, preventing Simbolon from escaping the position.

Diaz is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Simbolon is keeping busy.
Diaz biding his time, controlling Simbolon.
Simbolon covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simbolon rolls, trying to escape but Diaz keeps control of the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Diaz dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Diaz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diaz jabs at Simbolon's body.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Simbolon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Simbolon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Simbolon shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Simbolon has one foot on Diaz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simbolon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Simbolon sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Diaz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Diaz showed some decent athleticism there.
Chris Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Simbolon looks like he's trying to stand up.
Diaz is keen to just control but Simbolon is a slippery customer.
Diaz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Simbolon can do to turn this around?
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Simbolon is refusing to be controlled, as Diaz sits in half guard.
Diaz stops Simbolon from getting back to his feet.
Diaz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Simbolon is pressing down on Diaz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Simbolon is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Simbolon's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Simbolon has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Diaz is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Simbolon.
Diaz looks up at the clock and then as Simbolon takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Diaz smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Diaz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Simbolon has escaped the position, nice work there.
Simbolon is not content to let Diaz control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diaz wants to stand but Simbolon is controlling his arm.
Diaz trying to control the action but Simbolon is working from the bottom.
Simbolon tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz is putting a hurting on Simbolon here, landing some big shots from side control.
Diaz trying to control the position but Simbolon is working away.
Prince Simbolon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chris Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Diaz decides to take the fight back to the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Diaz 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Diaz!
Chris Diaz thanked the fans post fight for their support.