PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Reed (ranked 891 p4p, 819 weight class) and Frank Diaz (ranked 131 p4p, 126 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Reed
vs
Diaz

200 cm
36
198
23 - 16 - 2

188 cm
30
190
11 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

Voodoo Nutrition
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 23 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Reed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Reed sprawls well.
Diaz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Reed looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Reed misses with an uppercut. Diaz saw that one coming.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Reed is wriggling around but Diaz manages to pass to half guard.

Diaz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz prevents Reed from improving his position.
Diaz wants to free his trapped foot but Reed is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Reed is controlling Diaz's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Diaz seems to be working for a kimura but Reed defends the submission attempt.
Reed is trying is best to control the position here.
Reed is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reed is not content to let Diaz control the position.
Reed trying to control but Diaz postures up.
Reed controlling the position well.
Reed trying to control from the bottom.
Diaz wants to control but Reed is keeping him busy.
Reed wants to get back to full guard.

Diaz seems to be working for a kimura but Reed defends the submission attempt.
Reed is trying to control but can't.
Diaz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Reed trying to control but Diaz postures up.

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.
Diaz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Reed is looking to improve his position.
Reed has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Diaz is working away from the top position though.

Diaz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Reed is just riding it out for now. Diaz eventually gives up the hold.
Reed is trying to control but can't.

Diaz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Reed 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!
Reed biding his time, controlling Diaz.
Diaz tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reed is trying to stick to Diaz's back but Diaz is turning into Reed. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Reed's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Diaz.
Reed controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.
Reed keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Reed managing to control the position.
Diaz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Reed looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Reed really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Diaz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Reed is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Reed tries to buck Diaz off but Diaz is having none of it.

Diaz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Diaz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reed is trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Diaz dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Reed walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Diaz misses with an uppercut. Reed saw that one coming.
Reed is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diaz slips a jab from Reed.
Reed pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Diaz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Reed connects with a good right hand that stumbles Diaz. Diaz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Reed slips under a jab.
Diaz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Diaz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Reed fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Diaz on the side of the head.
Diaz lands a nice shot that snaps Reed's head back.
Diaz scores with a jab. Reed acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Reed explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!
A little feinted left hand from Reed on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reed sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Reed defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reed ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.
Frank Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diaz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diaz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Diaz fails to land the takedown.
Ben Reed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Diaz.
Reed connects with a single shot there.

Diaz dives in and scores a takedown into Reed's guard.
Reed is adopting a defensive guard.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Reed is keeping the position.
Reed wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.
Reed is trying to keep Diaz in close.

Diaz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Reed will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Diaz being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Reed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reed controlling Diaz's posture.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Reed is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Diaz presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Diaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
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 Reed walks away with a smile on his face. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big right from Reed misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reed circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz avoids a kick to the body.
Reed waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diaz.
Reed missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Diaz changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Diaz throws a jab when Reed was well out of range.
Reed lands a head shot.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Ben Reed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz blocks a low kick nicely.
And Diaz tries to counter it with a takedown but Reed pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Reed moves forwards but Diaz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Diaz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Reed connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Diaz scrambles back to his feet.
Reed scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Reed throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Reed takes a jab right on the kisser.
Reed digs a good hook to Diaz's body.

Diaz gets a double leg takedown into Reed's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reed working a defensive guard here.
Reed wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reed is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reed swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Reed working a defensive guard here.
Diaz is stalling in the full guard.
Reed is pulling down on Diaz's head to control his posture.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Reed keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Decent striking displayed by Diaz there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ben Reed will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Diaz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Reed throws out the jab.
Reed throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.
Reed blocks a jab.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Reed circles away and keeps his distance.
Reed throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Diaz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Reed.
Reed is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Diaz throws an overhand right that lands on Reed's shoulder, as Reed tries to avoid the shot.
Reed connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Reed throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reed bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reed sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diaz somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reed sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.
Ben Reed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Diaz.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Reed moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Reed.
Diaz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Diaz swings for the body but Reed moves out of range.
Reed keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reed feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Reed is looking to land body kicks.
Reed throws out a loose jab but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Reed.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reed.
Reed bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A head kick misses from Reed.
Frank Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz moves out of range as Reed throws a body kick.
It seemed like Diaz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Diaz takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The fighters circle momentarily. Reed darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Reed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Diaz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Reed is trying to defend but Diaz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reed trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Reed with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Frank Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz is trying to control. Reed wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Reed controlling the position for now.
Diaz controlling the action here.
Reed trying to control here.
Reed moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Reed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Reed is trying to keep Diaz in close.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reed swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a big elbow that misses.
Reed looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Diaz controlling from the top position.
Diaz being controlled here momentarily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Reed is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Reed throws out a powerful jab.

Diaz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Reed can't do much from the bottom here.
Reed wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is dominant here and he's now got Reed's back!
Reed tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Diaz landing punches.
Reed can't escape the position.
Reed wants to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Reed is squirming around nicely.

Diaz has control of Reed's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Reed regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Reed is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ben Reed.
I think Reed has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ben Reed!
The defeated Frank Diaz had this to say: 'I came to hump. This man came to fight. Tonight was not a night for lovers. '.