PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dylan Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz's entrance music is Lamb of God - To The End. A fine choice. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Robert Zhirkov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Diaz
vs
Zhirkov

182 cm
33
164 lbs
27 - 16 - 0

180 cm
40
141 lbs
32 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dylan Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Zhirkov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Zhirkov with that takedown attempt.
Diaz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Zhirkov throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Zhirkov throws out a loose jab but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zhirkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Zhirkov.
Zhirkov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Diaz defending well as Zhirkov loads up on a big left hand.
Zhirkov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Diaz swivels and escapes.
Zhirkov looks to land a left hand but Diaz moved out of range nicely.
Diaz misses with an uppercut. Zhirkov saw that one coming.
A jab from Diaz misses.
Decent striking displayed by Diaz there.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zhirkov.
Sloppy strikes from Zhirkov. Those never looked like landing.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Zhirkov uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz staying out of range there.
Robert Zhirkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz connects with a nice looking jab.
Zhirkov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Diaz has time to react.
A clash of legs there as Diaz blocks the low kick.
Diaz checks a leg kick.
Diaz throws a poor cross that misses
and Zhirkov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Diaz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zhirkov throws a body kick that misses.
Diaz takes one to the chin there.
Diaz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Diaz moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Diaz misses with a head kick.
Diaz lands with a nice body kick.
Zhirkov looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to land a leg kick but Zhirkov is out of range.
Zhirkov misses with a body punch
letting Diaz counter with a right hand.
Diaz looks to land a left hand but Zhirkov moved out of range nicely.
Diaz tries a low kick but Zhirkov avoids it.
Diaz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zhirkov.
Zhirkov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dylan Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Zhirkov.
A swing and a miss from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov connects with a body shot.
Zhirkov throws a lazy uppercut
and Diaz counters with an inside leg kick.
Zhirkov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.
Diaz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz misses with a looping right.
Zhirkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Diaz throws out the jab.
Diaz missing with a left hand there. Zhirkov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Horrible takedown by Zhirkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Diaz which made him look bad.
Diaz swings widly with a right hand
and Zhirkov counters with a straight right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Diaz, as that shot connected.
Zhirkov thuds his shin into the meat of Diaz's side.
Zhirkov dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Zhirkov's head and hops out.
Zhirkov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zhirkov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Diaz pinned against the cage. Diaz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zhirkov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Zhirkov checks a leg kick nicely.
Zhirkov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Diaz, right into the meat.
Zhirkov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diaz walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zhirkov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Diaz throws a low kick but Zhirkov moves out of range easily.
Diaz moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zhirkov takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz misses the jab.
Diaz with a jab.
Zhirkov avoids a kick to the body.
Diaz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Zhirkov's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dylan Diaz will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zhirkov misses with a hook.
Diaz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Diaz moves out of range of the body kick.
Diaz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zhirkov throws a leg kick which misses Diaz's front leg but catches the back leg as Diaz tries to avoid it.
Diaz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Diaz thows a body kick. Zhirkov tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Zhirkov fails with a takedown attempt.
Diaz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Diaz takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zhirkov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov moves out of range of the leg kick from Diaz.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Dylan Diaz is winning the standup battle so far.
Zhirkov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Diaz has time to react.
Diaz throws a solid leg kick but Zhirkov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Diaz.
Diaz misses with a straight left.
Zhirkov misses with a body kick.
A jab from Diaz misses.
Zhirkov thows a body kick. Diaz tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Diaz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Zhirkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diaz scores with a sloppy right hand. Zhirkov should have avoided that one.
Zhirkov moves out of range of the body kick.
Zhirkov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zhirkov tries to work over Diaz's front leg with a kick but Diaz checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov staying out of range there.
Diaz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Diaz throws a half hearted mid kick.
Diaz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Diaz throws a lazy right hand but Zhirkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zhirkov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Diaz is able to avoid easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Diaz lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zhirkov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zhirkov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Zhirkov looks to land a body kick but Diaz moved away.
Zhirkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zhirkov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhirkov takes one to the chin there.
Zhirkov slips under a jab from Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zhirkov connects with a solid leg kick.
Diaz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zhirkov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Diaz takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zhirkov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Diaz looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Zhirkov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz lunges at Zhirkov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zhirkov's hand.
Zhirkov fails with the takedown.
Diaz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov misses the jab.
Zhirkov misses with a body kick.
Diaz connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zhirkov's hands.
Diaz misses the jab.
Zhirkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
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!
Zhirkov lands a really nice looking cross but Diaz seems unphased.
Zhirkov punishes Diaz's body with a nice straight punch.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zhirkov swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Zhirkov scores with a punch to the head.
A jab lands there for Diaz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Robert Zhirkov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Diaz lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zhirkov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zhirkov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Zhirkov avoids the head kick by Diaz.
Zhirkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Zhirkov with a nice cross.
Zhirkov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zhirkov tries for a takedown but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Diaz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zhirkov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diaz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Diaz works the jab nicely.
Nice defenses there by Zhirkov.
Zhirkov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Diaz throws a sloppy head kick and Zhirkov moves out of range easily.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Zhirkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov looks to land a body kick but Diaz moved away.
Zhirkov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Diaz. That's going to slow Zhirkov down.
Dylan Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz tries a low kick but Zhirkov avoids it.
Diaz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov misses with a kick to the body.
Diaz misses with a leg kick
and Zhirkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Diaz throws a low kick but Zhirkov moves out of range easily.
Diaz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zhirkov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Diaz.
Zhirkov tests Diaz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Diaz catches Zhirkov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhirkov.
Zhirkov looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
Diaz takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Zhirkov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diaz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zhirkov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Diaz lunges at Zhirkov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zhirkov's hand.
Zhirkov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diaz circles away.
Dylan Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Zhirkov.
Zhirkov throws a hook but Diaz avoids it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Zhirkov blocks the leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhirkov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Diaz counters with an outside leg kick.
Zhirkov avoids the head kick by Diaz.
Zhirkov throws an overhand right that lands on Diaz's shoulder, as Diaz tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Diaz pinned against the cage. Diaz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Diaz fakes the leg kick and cracks Zhirkov in the body.
Diaz throws a quick inside leg kick.
A big left from Zhirkov misses.
Diaz throws a push kick but Zhirkov slaps the foot to one side.
Diaz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zhirkov blocks a head kick by Diaz.
Diaz lands a leg kick that knocks Zhirkov off balance momentarily.
Zhirkov fails to land the takedown.
Diaz looks to land a left hand but Zhirkov moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhirkov lands a glancing blow to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zhirkov throws a nice looking combination but Diaz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diaz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Diaz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diaz walks into a left hand.
Zhirkov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zhirkov avoids the head kick by Diaz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhirkov misses with a lunging right hand
and Diaz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diaz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Diaz finds it's way through Zhirkov's defenses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dylan Diaz.
Well Diaz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dylan Diaz!