PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Niko Diamantopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dillon Pittsenbarger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diamantopoulos
vs
Pittsenbarger

172 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Niko Diamantopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dillon Pittsenbarger!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pittsenbarger tries to clinch up.

Diamantopoulos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Diamantopoulos taking a breather.
Diamantopoulos wants to break the clinch but can't.
Diamantopoulos is trying to pull guard but Pittsenbarger turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Pittsenbarger breaks the clinch.
Diamantopoulos shoots for a double leg takedown but Pittsenbarger sprawls well. He's pushed Diamantopoulos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Diamantopoulos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Pittsenbarger counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Diamantopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Diamantopoulos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pittsenbarger controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
It looks like Pittsenbarger might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dillon Pittsenbarger was stalling too much, according to the referee.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Pittsenbarger's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diamantopoulos throws a shot to the body.
Diamantopoulos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Pittsenbarger closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Diamantopoulos to the mat! Diamantopoulos manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamantopoulos keeping moving, preventing Pittsenbarger from controlling successfully.
Pittsenbarger content to stall in guard here.
Diamantopoulos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pittsenbarger on the ground.
Pittsenbarger throwing strikes but missing.
Pittsenbarger has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Diamantopoulos working a defensive guard but Pittsenbarger passes into half guard.
Pittsenbarger is looking to take a break and control but Diamantopoulos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pittsenbarger controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pittsenbarger prevents Diamantopoulos from improving his position.
Pittsenbarger looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Diamantopoulos with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Diamantopoulos is trying to get back to full guard.

Pittsenbarger is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pittsenbarger is trying to control the action in half guard but Diamantopoulos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pittsenbarger is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Diamantopoulos sees it coming and defends easily.
Pittsenbarger is trying to control the action in half guard but Diamantopoulos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Pittsenbarger is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pittsenbarger takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diamantopoulos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pittsenbarger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dillon Pittsenbarger dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pittsenbarger tries for a takedown but Diamantopoulos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Diamantopoulos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pittsenbarger prevents the takedown attempt.
Diamantopoulos throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pittsenbarger has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Diamantopoulos after a bit of a struggle.
Diamantopoulos tries to pull guard but Pittsenbarger forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Diamantopoulos fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Diamantopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diamantopoulos is trying to break free.
Diamantopoulos is trying to maintain a safe position but Pittsenbarger gets an underhook and turns Diamantopoulos into the cage.
Pittsenbarger keeps control of Diamantopoulos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pittsenbarger keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Diamantopoulos's efforts to push away.
Pittsenbarger lands a left hand.
Diamantopoulos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pittsenbarger walks away with a smile on his face. Diamantopoulos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pittsenbarger swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Diamantopoulos has managed to clinch.
Pittsenbarger is trying to drag Diamantopoulos to the mat but Diamantopoulos just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pittsenbarger creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Pittsenbarger manages to break the clinch.
Pittsenbarger looks to score with a jab to the body but Diamantopoulos is just out of range.
Pittsenbarger tries to close the distance and clinch but Diamantopoulos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Diamantopoulos darts in and clinches Pittsenbarger up against the cage.
Pittsenbarger goes for a takedown in the clinch but Diamantopoulos prevents it.
Diamantopoulos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamantopoulos has had enough of the clinch but Pittsenbarger keeps him there for the moment.
Pittsenbarger has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Diamantopoulos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Diamantopoulos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niko Diamantopoulos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diamantopoulos.
Diamantopoulos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pittsenbarger defends it nicely.
Diamantopoulos has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pittsenbarger lands a slapping body shot.

Diamantopoulos has managed to clinch.

Pittsenbarger manages to break the clinch.

Diamantopoulos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Pittsenbarger drags the fight down to the ground.
Pittsenbarger wants to get back to his feet but Diamantopoulos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diamantopoulos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pittsenbarger is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diamantopoulos is controlling him.

Pittsenbarger uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pittsenbarger rushes Diamantopoulos and presses him up against the cage.
Diamantopoulos swings wildly with an uppercut but Pittsenbarger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diamantopoulos looking for a takedown.

Pittsenbarger has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Diamantopoulos regains guard immediately.
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!
Pittsenbarger passes Diamantopoulos's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diamantopoulos tries to kick Pittsenbarger off but Pittsenbarger keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Pittsenbarger is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dillon Pittsenbarger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Pittsenbarger closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Diamantopoulos to the mat! Diamantopoulos manages to get full guard.
Pittsenbarger lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Diamantopoulos trying to control the position.
Pittsenbarger content to stall in guard here.
Diamantopoulos keeping moving, preventing Pittsenbarger from controlling successfully.
Pittsenbarger slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pittsenbarger trying to control the position from guard on top but Diamantopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dillon Pittsenbarger has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Diamantopoulos shoots in for a double leg but Pittsenbarger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diamantopoulos throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Diamantopoulos moves into range and clinches up with Pittsenbarger.

Pittsenbarger pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pittsenbarger throws a right hand that Diamantopoulos ducks under and follows up with a left that Diamantopoulos also avoids with ease.
Pittsenbarger swings away with a body shot that misses
and Diamantopoulos counters with a one-two to the body.
Diamantopoulos lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pittsenbarger at a distance.
Diamantopoulos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Pittsenbarger looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pittsenbarger stands up over Diamantopoulos, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pittsenbarger looking to pass the guard.
Pittsenbarger sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Diamantopoulos's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diamantopoulos is looking to escape.
Pittsenbarger controlling the pace.

Pittsenbarger is looking for a kimura but Diamantopoulos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pittsenbarger to get the leverage.
Pittsenbarger scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pittsenbarger looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Diamantopoulos with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diamantopoulos tries to roll over but Pittsenbarger keeps him under control.
Pittsenbarger with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Dillon Pittsenbarger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pittsenbarger scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Still in half guard, Pittsenbarger seems content to control.
Pittsenbarger is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pittsenbarger in particular looking to stall.
Pittsenbarger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Pittsenbarger seems content to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Pittsenbarger is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Diamantopoulos has managed to free his arm - good work.
Pittsenbarger takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Diamantopoulos is looking for a sweep. Pittsenbarger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pittsenbarger landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Niko Diamantopoulos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dillon Pittsenbarger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diamantopoulos is trying to stand up here but Pittsenbarger is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dillon Pittsenbarger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pittsenbarger winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dillon Pittsenbarger!