PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Winnipeg Manitoba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franklin Diggins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diggins has chosen Bonfire as his entrance music. Winnipeg Manitoba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Manitoba
vs
Diggins

192 cm
26
195 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

198 cm
25
193 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
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 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Winnipeg Manitoba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franklin Diggins!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diggins stuffs the takedown.

Manitoba drives through with a takedown into Diggins's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Diggins trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Diggins is on top in guard.
Manitoba lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Diggins!
Diggins wants to control but Manitoba is having none of it.
Diggins is looking to improve his position but Manitoba isn't that keen on the idea.
Manitoba tries to control but Diggins wriggling away.
Manitoba is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Diggins reaches up and holds on to Manitoba to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diggins tries to reverse the position but Manitoba maintains control.
Diggins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Diggins regains half guard.
Manitoba with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Manitoba shoots in for a takedown but Diggins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Diggins stuffs the takedown attempt from Manitoba. Manitoba gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Winnipeg Manitoba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manitoba fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manitoba shoots in for a takedown but Diggins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Manitoba doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Diggins counters with an outside leg kick.
Diggins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Diggins wants it to stay on the feet.
Diggins throws a sloppy head kick

and Manitoba counters by moving into the clinch.
Diggins jumps guard but Manitoba stands there with Diggins around his waist. Diggins gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Manitoba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Diggins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A knee to the head by Diggins.

Diggins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Manitoba wanted to stand there but Diggins had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diggins looking to control.
Manitoba won't allow Diggins to sweep him here.
Diggins is pulling down on Manitoba's head. It's preventing any offense from Manitoba, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Franklin Diggins wasn't active enough on the ground.
Manitoba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diggins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Manitoba somewhat.
Manitoba chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Diggins can pounce on him.
A head kick misses from Diggins.
Manitoba doesn't manage to clinch there - Diggins circles away.
Horrible takedown by Manitoba or perhaps it was just good defense by Diggins which made him look bad.
Manitoba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Diggins is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Diggins lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diggins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Manitoba.
Diggins throws a head kick that Manitoba semi-blocks.
Manitoba changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Diggins tries to avoid it but Manitoba manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Diggins to the ground. Diggins escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Diggins moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Diggins closes the distance and clinches.

Diggins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Manitoba shoots in for a takedown but Diggins shows good takedown defense.
Diggins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manitoba blocks a head kick by Diggins.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Manitoba is defended easily by Diggins.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manitoba.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklin Diggins dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Diggins looks to score with a jab to the body but Manitoba is just out of range.
Diggins tries to clinch up but Manitoba circles away and keeps his distance.
Diggins stuffs the takedown.
Manitoba shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manitoba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Winnipeg Manitoba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Diggins clinches up with Manitoba and pushes him back against the cage.

Diggins pulls guard.
Manitoba wants to control from the top but Diggins keeps moving.
Diggins is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Diggins keeping moving, preventing Manitoba from controlling successfully.
Diggins wants to sweep here but Manitoba controlling him for the moment.
Diggins is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Winnipeg Manitoba wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Diggins looks to score with a jab to the body but Manitoba is just out of range.
Diggins throws a head kick but Manitoba moves out of range.
Franklin Diggins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manitoba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Diggins gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Diggins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Franklin Diggins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diggins wants to sweep but no luck.
Diggins looking to control.
Manitoba looking to pass the guard.
Diggins seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Franklin Diggins.
Diggins lands a head kick. Manitoba smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manitoba shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manitoba is keen to just control but Diggins is a slippery customer.
Diggins is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Manitoba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Manitoba's back!
Diggins is hanging on to Manitoba's back as he tries to escape.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Diggins controlling the positon.
Diggins struggling to land strikes to the head as Manitoba covers up.
Will Diggins go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diggins keeps control of the position as Manitoba tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manitoba is working hard here to advance position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Diggins controlling the positon.
Diggins misses with punches from the back.
Diggins softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Manitoba just trying to survive but Diggins is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Diggins controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Diggins's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Diggins struggling to land strikes to the head as Manitoba covers up.
Manitoba trying to control the action but Diggins just sinks the hooks in.
Diggins punches the canvas rather than the man.
Diggins is hanging on to Manitoba's back as he tries to escape.
Diggins controlling the position well here. Manitoba rolled but Diggins kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklin Diggins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Manitoba fails to land the takedown.
Manitoba shoots for a double leg takedown but Diggins sprawls well. He's pushed Manitoba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Manitoba misses with a takedown attempt - Diggins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Winnipeg Manitoba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Diggins closes the distance and clinches.

Diggins has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Manitoba clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Manitoba trying to control the hands but Diggins breaks the grip.
Diggins doesn't have the hooks in and Manitoba manages to turn into his guard.
Diggins managing to control the position.
Diggins lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Manitoba!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diggins working Manitoba over with strikes here.
Manitoba taking shots to the head.
Manitoba can't escape the position.
Diggins throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Diggins throws some wild stikes that Manitoba manages to avoid easily.
Manitoba working to try and regain half guard.
Manitoba blocking the ground and pound.
Manitoba is bucking up trying to escape but Diggins cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Diggins wants to finish this one by submission but Manitoba is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Diggins.
Manitoba is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diggins wants to control the pace but Manitoba is squirming around nicely.
Manitoba tries to lock up and control but Diggins gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manitoba tries to reverse the position but Diggins maintains control.
Diggins looking to ground and pound but Manitoba is blocking nicely.
Diggins trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Manitoba is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diggins with shots to the head and body - Manitoba looks very uncomfortable down there.
Manitoba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Manitoba flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Diggins controlling from mount.
Diggins trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Diggins content just to control the position here.
Diggins landing strikes from the mount and Manitoba is in trouble!
Diggins controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manitoba wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Diggins.
Diggins avoids the attempt from Manitoba to control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diggins throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Diggins controlling the pace for now.
Diggins with a couple of short strikes.

Manitoba is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diggins content just to control the position here.
Diggins throws some wild stikes that Manitoba manages to avoid easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franklin Diggins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diggins has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franklin Diggins!
Franklin Diggins spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.