PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between William Middleton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clay Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Middleton
vs
Diaz

190 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, William Middleton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Clay Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Middleton avoids the head kick by Diaz.
Diaz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Clay Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Middleton has managed to clinch.
Diaz wants to break free but Middleton has control.
Diaz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Middleton taking a breather.
Middleton lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A head punch on the inside from Diaz fails to land.

Middleton successfully pulls guard.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Middleton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Middleton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaz manages to get himself to full guard.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.

Middleton stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Diaz shoots in but Middleton avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Middleton punishes Diaz's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Middleton drives through and clinches with Diaz against the cage.

Diaz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Diaz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Diaz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Middleton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Diaz looks gassed!
Middleton wants to stand but Diaz is controlling his posture from full guard.
Middleton works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Middleton stands up out of the half guard.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Middleton counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Diaz takes a kick to the side of the head.

Diaz is rocked!
Middleton lands with a nice body punch.
Diaz is still on wobbly legs! Can Middleton finish him?
Middleton really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Middleton cracks a nice hook into Diaz's ribs.
Diaz seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Middleton tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
A lazy body kick from Diaz

and Middleton moves into the clinch.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Middleton counters with a series of strikes. Diaz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Diaz throws a push kick but Middleton slaps the foot to one side.
Diaz misses with a kick to the body.
Middleton moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.

Diaz scores with a takedown into Middleton's guard.
Diaz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Middleton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Middleton being controlled here, momentarily.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Middleton is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Middleton wants to sweep but no luck.
Middleton keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Middleton is retaining full guard.
Diaz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Diaz passes into half guard.
Diaz is thwarting Middleton's attempts to control the position.
Diaz stalling.

Diaz decides to stand up.
Horrible takedown by Diaz or perhaps it was just good defense by Middleton which made him look bad.
William Middleton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clay Diaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Middleton moves into range and clinches up with Diaz.
Diaz is pressed up against the cage. Middleton has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Diaz down to the mat. Diaz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Diaz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Diaz staying calm.
Middleton is looking for a sweep.

Diaz decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Middleton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Middleton lands an elbow.

Middleton decides to take the fight back to the feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Diaz closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Middleton dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Middleton clinches up with Diaz and pushes him back against the cage.

Middleton breaks the clinch.
Diaz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Middleton, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Middleton against the cage but Middleton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A head kick from Middleton lands but Diaz takes it in his stride.

Middleton forces Diaz back against the cage and clinches.
Middleton wants to break the clinch but can't.
Diaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Middleton's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Middleton tries a knee to the head but Diaz blocks it.
Middleton keeps control of Diaz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Middleton wants to break free but Diaz has control.
Middleton stalling in the clinch but Diaz improves position.
Middleton keeps control of Diaz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Diaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
William Middleton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clay Diaz.
Middleton wants a takedown.
Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Middleton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Middleton connects with a knee to the head.
Middleton is pressed up against the cage. Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Middleton down to the mat. Middleton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Middleton keeps it at a distance.
Middleton connects with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Middleton doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Diaz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Middleton keeps the fight on the outside.
Middleton has his takedown stuffed

and Diaz counters with a single leg into guard. Middleton didn't expect that.
Middleton wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Middleton manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Diaz tries to control the position but Middleton now has his back.
Diaz tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Diaz tries to lock up and control but Middleton gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Diaz regains half guard.
Diaz trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Middleton blocks the strikes from Diaz.

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

Diaz tries to keep at a distance but Middleton has taken the fight into the clinch.
Diaz is trying to break free.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Middleton won't allow it.
Diaz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Middleton holds him up against the cage and eventually Diaz drops back down to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Middleton stalling in the clinch but Diaz improves position.

Diaz manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Middleton slips nicely into half guard.
Middleton prevents Diaz from improving his position.

Middleton stands up from half guard.
Middleton lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz tries to keep at a distance but Middleton has taken the fight into the clinch.

Diaz pulls guard effortlessly.

Diaz has his foot on Middleton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Middleton works his way back into a safe position though.
Diaz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Middleton puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Diaz tries to roll over but Middleton keeps him under control.

Diaz looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Middleton pushes past his half guard into mount!
Diaz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Diaz flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Diaz tries to hold on but Middleton pushes him away.
Middleton prevents Diaz from getting the reversal.
Diaz wants to hold on but Middleton pushes him away.
Diaz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Diaz regains half guard.

Middleton stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Diaz to get to his feet.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Middleton connects with a high kick.
Middleton throws a leg kick but Diaz sees it coming and moves out of range.
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Middleton misses with a wild combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Middleton.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Middleton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Middleton prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Middleton dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother 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.

A head kick misses from Middleton.
Middleton throws a head kick that misses.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Middleton circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.
Middleton misses with a body kick.
Diaz fails to land the takedown.
Middleton scores with a jab to the body.

Diaz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Middleton lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Middleton.
Diaz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Middleton. Middleton obviously looking to wear him down.
Middleton throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Middleton lands a with a good body shot.
Diaz throws a series of strikes that have Middleton backpedaling.
Middleton dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diaz. That did some damage!
William Middleton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick by Diaz misses

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

Diaz jumps into guard, dragging Middleton to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Middleton is proving a slippery customer.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Diaz holds on and takes a little breather.
Diaz throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Diaz is pulling down on Middleton's head to control his posture.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Middleton postures up.
Middleton wants to stand but Diaz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Middleton won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Middleton moves into the clinch successfully.

Middleton breaks the clinch.
Middleton tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
William Middleton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clay Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Middleton tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Middleton connects with a high kick.
Middleton shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
Middleton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Middleton has a takedown stuffed.
Middleton paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Good leg kick by Middleton there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Middleton lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Middleton lands a head kick!

Middleton closes the distance and clinches.

Middleton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Diaz feints and as Middleton raises his hands in defense, Diaz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Middleton looking to control.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Middleton is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Middleton manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Diaz has Middleton in his guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Middleton from controlling successfully.
Middleton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Middleton passes Diaz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Middleton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Diaz kicks Middleton off and gets back to his feet.
Diaz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Middleton counters by clinching up.
A bit of stalling here from Middleton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Middleton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz throws a combination that misses
and Middleton counters with a body kick.
Middleton shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Middleton circles away easily
and Middleton counters with a stiff right hand.
Middleton is looking to wear down Diaz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Middleton tries to clinch up.
Middleton shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.

Diaz shoots in and bounces Middleton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Middleton wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.
Clay Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz looking to sit in guard and control but Middleton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Diaz wants to sweep here but Middleton controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Middleton slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Middleton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Middleton, 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Middleton!