PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Diamond (ranked 1658 p4p, 1421 weight class) and Darryl Haze (ranked 218 p4p, 186 weight class). The key to victory for James Diamond has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Diamond
vs
Haze

183 cm
26
170
9 - 6 - 0

179 cm
25
171
10 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Diamond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Darryl Haze !
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haze throws out a leg kick but Diamond moves out of range and Haze only half commits.
Diamond misses with a left hand
and Haze counters with a nice uppercut.
Haze 's coach down at Punch Out Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Haze 's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Haze fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A punch combination from Diamond misses.
Haze tries a quick counter leg kick but Diamond is wise to it.
Sloppy strikes from Diamond. Those never looked like landing.
Diamond is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Haze lands a slapping body shot.
Nice body kick there by Diamond.
No joy there for Diamond, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Haze fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Diamond.
Haze slips a straight right by Diamond.
As Diamond backs off Haze throws a huge counter combo but Diamond manages to avoid it all.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diamond looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Haze lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Diamond looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diamond takes a swing at Haze 's ribcage but misses.

Diamond closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haze stalling in the clinch but Diamond improves position.
Diamond is working for takedown but Haze is calmly controlling the position for now.
Haze is looking for a takedown.

Diamond breaks from the clinch.
Diamond ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Haze defending well as Diamond loads up on a big left hand.
Haze doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Diamond tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Haze throws a leg kick that misses.
Haze fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Diamond has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Haze throws a front kick aimed at Diamond's knee but Diamond avoids it well.
The fighters circling - Diamond throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Haze is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Diamond with a body shot.
Haze just misses with a punch to the body.
Diamond throws a head kick that Haze semi-blocks.
Diamond throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Haze on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamond wants to clinch but Haze slips to the side

so Haze counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haze stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diamond swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haze in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diamond keeping moving, preventing Haze from controlling successfully.
Diamond utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diamond is pulling down on Haze 's head to control his posture.
Haze is looking to work some ground and pound but Diamond has wrist control.
Haze trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diamond working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Haze moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Haze lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Haze fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Diamond.
Diamond shoots in for a takedown but Haze shows good takedown defense.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Diamond, as that shot connected.
Haze with a hook.
Diamond rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Haze moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diamond throws a nice looking combination but Haze bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Haze looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Haze keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Diamond.
Nice body punch from Haze .

Diamond instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diamond tries to score a body lock takedown but Haze shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Diamond. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haze 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diamond getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Diamond swinging wildly here.
Haze scores with a jab to the body.
Diamond is looking to clinch but Haze is avoiding it.
Diamond throws a left and a right that both miss
and Haze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Diamond fails to land with a series of punches.
Diamond takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Diamond misses with a low kick.
Haze only half commits to the counter leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Haze .
Diamond waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Haze .

Haze scores with a takedown into Diamond's guard.
Haze has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haze stays in close to Diamond's body and controls the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darryl Haze will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A nice leg kick lands there from Haze .
Diamond throws a head kick but Haze moves out of range.
Haze drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Diamond defends it well.
Haze misses with a low kick.
As Haze looks to move away, Diamond throws a big counter combo but Haze just gets out of the way.
Diamond misses with a left hand
and Haze makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Diamond takes a shot right to the bread basket.
James Diamond is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haze avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Haze scores with a jab to the body.
Haze lands a head shot.
Diamond tries to clinch

and Haze counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Haze trying to control the action but Diamond is working from the bottom.

Haze is looking for a kimura here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Haze is pressing down on Diamond's thigh, looking to free his foot. Diamond is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haze not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Haze trying to control the pace.
Haze throws a strike but Diamond avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Diamond is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Haze is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haze is trying to maintain the position but Diamond is very close to passing his half guard.
Diamond prevents Haze from improving his position.
Haze has his hands clasped together around Diamond's back. He's all about the action.
Haze trying to control but Diamond postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haze is looking to improve his position.
Haze has his hands clasped together around Diamond's back. He's all about the action.
Haze wants to control but Diamond is keeping busy.
Diamond seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Haze does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Haze is positioning himself well to prevent Diamond advancing to mount.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Diamond rushes Haze and presses him up against the cage.

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

Haze is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Diamond is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Diamond has escaped and now he's on top!

Haze being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haze has control of Diamond's left arm, preventing Diamond from doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Darryl Haze will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A cross from Diamond lands.
Haze connects with an inside leg kick.
Diamond tries to clinch there but Haze circles away.
Haze connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Diamond takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Diamond scores with a jab. Haze acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Diamond throws a right and a left that Haze avoids nicely.
Diamond stuffs the takedown attempt from Haze . Haze gets slowly back to his feet.
Diamond throws a lazy uppercut
and Haze counters with a nice uppercut.
Diamond is looking to clinch but Haze is avoiding it.
Haze throws a leg kick but Diamond sees it coming and moves out of range.
Diamond takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Haze fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haze throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Diamond.
A punch combination from Diamond misses.
Diamond slips a jab and a cross from Haze .
Diamond paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Haze bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Haze feints the counter takedown.
Haze fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diamond manages to avoid it.
Haze comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Haze connects with a solid leg kick.
Haze lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Diamond on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Haze . Haze obviously looking to wear him down.
Diamond tries to land a leg kick but Haze saw it coming and moves away.
Diamond throws a series of punches but Haze avoids them all with ease.
Haze dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diamond. That did some damage!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diamond looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamond throws a right hand that Haze ducks under and follows up with a left that Haze also avoids with ease.
Diamond uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Diamond tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Haze drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Diamond defends it well.
Diamond throws a hook but Haze avoids it easily.
Diamond walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Diamond wants to clinch up but Haze keeps it at a distance.
Haze moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Haze misses with a wild body shot.
Haze lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Diamond connects with a right hand. Haze shakes it off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Haze . Diamond does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diamond swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Haze counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Haze throws a good cross that connects.
Diamond throws an off balance right hand
and Haze cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Diamond takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Darryl Haze seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haze scores with a leg kick.
Diamond throws a series of punches but Haze moves out of range.
Haze with the inside leg kick.
Diamond chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Haze can pounce on him.
Diamond will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
James Diamond has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big right from Haze misses.
Diamond is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Diamond loads up on a big right hand but Haze slips the punch.
Haze connects with an inside leg kick.
Diamond pivots, looking for a leg kick but Haze is out of range and Diamond settles back down.
Haze blocks a leg kick.
Haze showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diamond.

Haze shoots in and bounces Diamond off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Darryl Haze has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haze lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haze trying to control the position from guard on top but Diamond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diamond working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Haze .
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haze trying to control the position from guard on top but Diamond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haze landing with the ground and pound.
Haze wants to control from the top but Diamond keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darryl Haze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Haze 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darryl Haze !
Darryl Haze thanked the fans post fight for their support.
James Diamond was interviewed post fight and said 'Well shit I’m going to get my ass back to the gym but don’t worry I’ll be back with some big knock outs '.