PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ahmed Kurtovic (ranked 4647 p4p, 4962 weight class) and Pablo Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahmed Kurtovic has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kurtovic
vs
Diaz

185 cm
18
180
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
172
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ahmed Kurtovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pablo Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kurtovic was covering up waiting for the punch and Diaz finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kurtovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Diaz landing some decent shots from guard.

Kurtovic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Diaz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Diaz forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in half guard, Diaz seems content to control.
Diaz working the head and body with strikes.
Diaz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurtovic is looking for a sweep. Diaz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Diaz is nestled in close to Kurtovic, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Diaz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
It looks like Diaz might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz winds up and cracks Kurtovic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Diaz lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Diaz wants to free his trapped foot but Kurtovic is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Diaz is taking a breather. Kurtovic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurtovic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Diaz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kurtovic is trying to defend but Diaz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Diaz slows the pace down in half guard.
Diaz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz seems to be working for a kimura but Kurtovic defends the submission attempt.
Diaz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kurtovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaz working over Kurtovic with some ground and pound. Kurtovic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kurtovic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diaz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Diaz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kurtovic is looking to improve his position.
Diaz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Diaz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is controlling the pace.

Kurtovic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Diaz pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Kurtovic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Diaz pulls his head out easily.
Diaz controlling the action here.
Kurtovic won't allow Diaz to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kurtovic taking some punishment here, with Diaz in his half guard.
Diaz working Kurtovic over with strikes.
Still in half guard, Diaz seems content to control.
Kurtovic won't allow Diaz to pass to mount.
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz controlling the action here.
Kurtovic is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Diaz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Diaz's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurtovic is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Kurtovic has the hooks in. Diaz is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Diaz is having to fend off submission attempts from Kurtovic, who is looking to sink in the choke. Kurtovic doesn't have the hooks in though and Diaz manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Kurtovic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kurtovic being controlled here, momentarily.
Kurtovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Diaz controls the position from side control.
Kurtovic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Diaz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kurtovic tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Diaz presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Kurtovic tries to reverse the position but Diaz maintains control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diaz has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kurtovic's face.
A nice elbow there by Diaz.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Diaz moves into range and clinches up with Kurtovic.

Diaz decides to pull guard.
Kurtovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz controlling the position.
Kurtovic looking to sit in guard and control but Diaz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kurtovic 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 is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz cracks Kurtovic with a solid left hand.
Diaz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kurtovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two 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.
Diaz is pushing down on Kurtovic's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kurtovic is fighting to maintain full guard but Diaz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Diaz content to control rather than advance.
Kurtovic tries to roll over but Diaz keeps him under control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Diaz slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Kurtovic half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kurtovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kurtovic as he avoids it easily.
Kurtovic avoids the head kick by Diaz.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.
Diaz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kurtovic walks away with a smile on his face. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ahmed Kurtovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Diaz.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Kurtovic tries to sprawl out of it but Diaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kurtovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kurtovic throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Diaz was covering up waiting for the punch and Kurtovic finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Diaz has his foot on Kurtovic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kurtovic works his way back into a safe position though.
Pablo Diaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurtovic trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurtovic is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Diaz is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ahmed Kurtovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz pulls Kurtovic in to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Diaz 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Diaz!