PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hakeem Diaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drakkar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hakeem Diaw had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Diaw
vs
Drakkar

181 cm
22
201 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
202 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hakeem Diaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ivan Drakkar!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaw dives in and grabs Drakkar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Drakkar pushes down on Diaw's head and hops out.
Diaw lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Drakkar at a distance.
Drakkar darts in trying to clinch
letting Diaw counter with a right hand.
Drakkar lands a leg kick that knocks Diaw off balance momentarily.
Diaw circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaw sizes up Drakkar with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Drakkar tries to clinch but Diaw moves out of range.
Diaw darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Drakkar darts in trying to clinch
enabling Diaw to counter with a crisp jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Diaw feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Drakkar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Drakkar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Diaw. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Drakkar pulls Diaw in to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drakkar wants to sweep here but Diaw controlling him for the moment.
Diaw throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Drakkar wants to hit a switch here but Diaw passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Drakkar there!
Diaw looking to ground and pound but Drakkar is blocking nicely.
Diaw prevents Drakkar from getting the reversal.
Diaw 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.
Drakkar is squirming around, avoiding Diaw's attempts to control the action.

Drakkar defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Diaw.
Diaw throws some wild stikes that Drakkar manages to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaw working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Drakkar turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Diaw off and cradles Drakkar's limp body as Diaw celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Hakeem Diaw!
Hakeem Diaw decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.