PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Morris McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dylan Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Diaz's choice of entrance music: I'd Love to Knock the Hell Out of You. Dylan Diaz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Morris McDonald's chin.

McDonald
vs
Diaz

173 cm
28
169 lbs
17 - 12 - 0

182 cm
26
164 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Morris McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dylan Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald lands a really nice looking cross but Diaz seems unphased.
A slow jab from McDonald misses its intended target.
Diaz throws a head kick but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald misses with a looping left.
Diaz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McDonald is able to avoid easily.
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Diaz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Diaz there as he acknowledges the shot.
McDonald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diaz.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDonald lands a head shot.
McDonald misses with a straight right.
McDonald avoids the head kick by Diaz.

Diaz gets caught flat footed, as McDonald shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
McDonald wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
McDonald throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McDonald defends it easily.
Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McDonald.
McDonald prevents Diaz from getting back to his feet.
McDonald postures up and lands a big shot to Diaz's brow.
McDonald postures up and lands a big shot to Diaz's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
McDonald working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McDonald throws a big right hand that misses.
McDonald lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McDonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Diaz looking for a guillotine here but McDonald defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McDonald throwing strikes but missing.

Diaz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McDonald gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McDonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McDonald scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McDonald is working Diaz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.
McDonald throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
McDonald in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells McDonald's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
McDonald throws a strike but Diaz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Diaz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McDonald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDonald throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

McDonald is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Diaz is aware though and is defending well.
McDonald looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Diaz puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Diaz decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diaz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diaz.
McDonald walks into a straight right hand from Diaz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morris McDonald dominated that round.
That's time! McDonald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A big right from Diaz misses.
McDonald ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McDonald avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McDonald misses with a leg kick.
McDonald looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
Diaz throws out a leg kick but McDonald moves out of range and Diaz only half commits.
Diaz blocks a leg kick.
Morris McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonald shoots in looking for a takedown but Diaz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McDonald's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Diaz slaps away a takedown attempt from McDonald, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McDonald checks a leg kick.
Diaz tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McDonald throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Diaz counters with an inside leg kick.
McDonald comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Diaz thows a body shot but no joy.
McDonald looks to throw the jab but Diaz is out of range.
Diaz thows a body shot but no joy.
Diaz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Diaz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Diaz looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Diaz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by McDonald.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from McDonald.
McDonald throws a lazy uppercut
and Diaz counters with a left to the body.
Diaz walks into a stiff left hand from McDonald.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.
Diaz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
McDonald fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morris McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDonald thows a left - swing and a miss!
Diaz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McDonald at a distance.
McDonald throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Diaz moves away from the strike by McDonald.
Diaz throws a head kick but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diaz circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looks to land a left hand but McDonald moved out of range nicely.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from McDonald.
Diaz avoids the body shot from McDonald.

Diaz clinches.
McDonald fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Diaz.
McDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Diaz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McDonald blocks a body shot from Diaz.
Diaz misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diaz.
Diaz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
A short body shot lands from Diaz as the two fighters clinch.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDonald manages to break the clinch.
McDonald misses with a straight left.
McDonald shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck for McDonald with that takedown attempt.
Diaz staying out of range there.
Diaz throws a head kick that McDonald semi-blocks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald throws a big shot that misses.
McDonald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
McDonald sizes up Diaz with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.
McDonald is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Diaz is keeping busy.
Diaz lands a body shot in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dylan Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Diaz misses with a body shot.

McDonald shoots in and bounces Diaz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Morris McDonald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McDonald is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
McDonald throws a big right hand that misses.
McDonald throws a big right hand that misses.

Diaz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McDonald has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McDonald landing some decent shots from guard.
McDonald missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Diaz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control the position.
McDonald forces his way into half guard.
Diaz wants to control but McDonald is keeping busy.
McDonald thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.
McDonald throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McDonald is nestled in close to Diaz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McDonald slips a nice elbow through Diaz's hands, connecting with Diaz's forehead.
McDonald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McDonald.
McDonald working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from McDonald.
McDonald lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz regains full guard. Nicely done.
McDonald in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diaz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
McDonald with a nice head shot there.
McDonald scoring with some ground and pound.
McDonald throws a big elbow that misses.
Diaz controls McDonald momentarily but McDonald frees himself.
Diaz pulls McDonald in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald throws a strike but Diaz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Diaz wants to stand but McDonald is controlling his posture from full guard.

Diaz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
McDonald takes one to the side of the head.
McDonald avoids the head kick by Diaz.
McDonald throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from McDonald.
Diaz misses with a hook. McDonald ducked under it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
McDonald checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
McDonald throws a hook but Diaz blocks it.
McDonald gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Diaz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
McDonald waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diaz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Both fighters circling a little - Diaz finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Diaz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McDonald to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz controls McDonald momentarily but McDonald frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morris McDonald showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McDonald 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morris McDonald!