PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hudson Rush (ranked 5979 p4p, 5980 weight class) and Ethen Diaz (ranked 357 p4p, 358 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rush
vs
Diaz

175 cm
25
150
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
19
145
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hudson Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ethen Diaz!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Diaz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rush, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rush's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Diaz gets control of Rush's arms and successfully pulls guard. Diaz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rush looking to pass the guard.
Diaz looking for a sweep. Not yet Diaz, not yet.
Rush trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Rush isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is controlling Rush's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rush paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rush counters with a right hand to the body.

Diaz has taken the fight to the clinch.

Diaz decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz wants to sweep here but Rush controlling him for the moment.
Rush looking to pass the guard.
Diaz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rush trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush looking to pass the guard.
Diaz wants to sweep here but Rush controlling him for the moment.
Rush trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rush content to stall in guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Diaz has his hands on Rush's head, controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rush lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush with a hook.
Rush looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Rush scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Rush instigates a clinch.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rush lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Rush.
Rush lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Good body shot from Rush.
Rush lands a left hand.
Rush lands an elbow just above Diaz 's eye.
Diaz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz is trying to maintain a safe position but Rush gets an underhook and turns Diaz into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands a body punch.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rush gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hudson Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethen Diaz.
Diaz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rush can't break the clinch.
A short left from Rush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rush takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Diaz wants to take the fight to the mat but Rush manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rush keeps control of Diaz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz wants to take the fight to the mat but Rush manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Diaz looks winded!
Diaz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Diaz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rush's elbow.
Rush lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hudson Rush dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rush connects with a single shot there.
Rush is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
Rush scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Rush moves into the clinch.
Diaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rush working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rush.
Diaz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rush lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Rush.
Rush lands an elbow inside that Diaz shrugs off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz prevents a body shot from Rush.
Rush creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Diaz's defenses.
Rush tries a body shot but Diaz blocks it.
Rush lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush pushes Diaz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rush lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rush stops a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Diaz blocks a body shot from Rush.

Diaz jumps guard and drags Rush to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rush would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Rush postures up.
Rush trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rush pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Diaz has a closed guard, preventing Rush from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Diaz fails with the takedown
and Diaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hudson Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethen Diaz.
Rush scores with a body shot.
Diaz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Rush circles away easily
and Rush cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Diaz gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hudson Rush is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rush connects with a body shot.
A head kick by Diaz misses
and Rush counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diaz takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Diaz throws a nice looking combination but Rush bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Rush throws out a powerful jab.

Diaz takes the fight into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Rush.
Rush is pushing Diaz up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Good body shot from Rush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Diaz's defenses.
Diaz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rush just stands there and leans against the cage.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Rush is controlling him.
Rush lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A body shot lands from Rush.
Rush struggles to land a body shot inside as Diaz controls his hands.
Rush works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A right hand to the body from Rush.
Diaz takes an elbow to the temple.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Rush holds him up against the cage and eventually Diaz drops back down to his feet.
Rush gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hudson Rush dominated that second round.
That's time! Rush's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rush lands a jab.
Diaz throws a lazy body kick
and Rush counters with a nice body shot.

Diaz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
Diaz tries to score a body lock takedown but Rush shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rush lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Diaz or not.
Rush is pressed up against the cage. Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rush down to the mat. Rush avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt
and Rush counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hudson Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethen Diaz.
Rush pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Diaz back to the cage. Rush follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rush counters with a nice body shot.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diaz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rush counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rush to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rush is leaning against Diaz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rush lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Diaz or not.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rush.
Rush lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rush scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rush is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rush lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rush blocks an elbow strike from Diaz.
Rush lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Rush won't allow it.

Rush breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.
Rush lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rush keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Diaz's efforts to push away.
Diaz trying to control the position but instead, Rush has worked for underhooks and has pushed Diaz into the cage.
Rush gets underhooks to prevent Diaz's takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rush pushes Diaz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Rush as the two fighters clinch.
Rush works on Diaz's body with a couple of short punches.
Rush lands a nice elbow.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Rush turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Rush scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Diaz's defenses.
Rush lands a damaging elbow.

Rush breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rush counters with a nice uppercut.
Rush works Diaz's body with a nice hook.
Rush stuns Diaz with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Diaz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Rush to counter with a crisp jab.
Rush lands with a nice body punch.
Diaz with a poor takedown
and Rush cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands a nice shot that snaps Diaz's head back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rush fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Diaz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rush cracks Diaz with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rush throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Diaz on the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Rush.
Rush getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rush lands a slapping body shot.
Hudson Rush is winning the standup battle so far.
Rush with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A jab from Rush finds it's way through Diaz's defenses.
Diaz shoots and misses
and Rush counters with a left to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hudson Rush showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rush, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:26
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:25
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hudson Rush!