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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 181 cm
35
193 lbs
17 - 8 - 0 |
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178 cm
36
195 lbs
21 - 13 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Freeman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Freeman stands up and beckons Diaz to join him on the feet.
Freeman has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Diaz feints and then cracks Freeman's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Freeman down.
A jab from Diaz finds it's way through Freeman's defenses.
Diaz throws a sloppy body shot
and Freeman counters by clinching up.
Diaz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Diaz throws a punch but it's blocked by Freeman.
Diaz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Diaz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Freeman is trying to keep an underhook but Diaz manages to get the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Freeman is trying to maintain the position but Diaz is very close to passing his half guard.
Diaz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Freeman wants to control but Diaz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Diaz trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.
Freeman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diaz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Freeman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Freeman has his hands on Diaz's head, controlling the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Freeman looking for a sweep. Not yet Freeman, not yet.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz stops Freeman from standing up.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz won't allow Freeman to sweep him here.
Diaz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Freeman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Diaz's guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Freeman sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Diaz's guard.
Freeman controlling the pace.
Freeman escapes and gets back to his feet.
Freeman lands a nice looking body shot.
Diaz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Freeman.
Freeman moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Diaz swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diaz.
Freeman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Diaz on his heels. He'll look to pass Diaz's guard now, I'm sure.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Diaz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Diaz is taking a breather. Freeman says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Freeman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diaz definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Freeman trying to control but Diaz postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz wants to take a breather but Freeman is having none of it.
Diaz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Freeman is pressing down on Diaz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Matt Freeman will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Diaz throws the left hand but Freeman avoids the punch easily.
Diaz misses with a looping right.
Diaz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Diaz wants it to stay on the feet.
Diaz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
It looks like Matt Diaz has been cut.
A jab from Diaz finds it's way through Freeman's defenses.
Freeman fails in his attempt to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Diaz misses the target.
Nice sprawl there from Diaz as Freeman shoots in.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And Freeman responds with a good body kick, but Diaz manages to step out the way in time.
Freeman scores with a takedown into Diaz's guard.
Diaz looking to control.
Freeman trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Freeman controls the pace.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Freeman postures up.
Freeman stands up over Diaz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Freeman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Freeman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Freeman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Diaz gets a double leg takedown into Freeman's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diaz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Freeman keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Freeman.
Freeman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Diaz controls the pace.
Diaz pushing down on Freeman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Matt Freeman has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz moves nicely into side control.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Freeman keeps working.
Freeman gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Freeman trying to control but Diaz postures up.
Freeman gets full guard.
Freeman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Freeman striking off his back but it's not causing Diaz any problems.
Freeman trying to control the position.
Freeman keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Freeman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Freeman shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Freeman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matt Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Freeman.
A chopping leg kick lands by Freeman.
Freeman misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Matt Freeman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Matt Diaz's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Diaz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Freeman checks a low kick from Diaz.
Freeman misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Matt Freeman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Freeman swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Diaz. That snapped Freeman's head back.
Freeman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Freeman persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Freeman bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Freeman are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Diaz wants to control but Freeman postures up.
Freeman decides to stand back up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Diaz cracks Freeman with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Freeman shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.
Diaz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Freeman throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Diaz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Diaz throws the left hand but Freeman avoids the punch easily.
As Diaz backs off Freeman throws a huge counter combo but Diaz manages to avoid it all.
Freeman stuffs the takedown attempt from Diaz. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matt Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Freeman.
Freeman has a takedown stuffed.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Freeman is rocked!
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Despite the aggression on Freeman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Freeman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.
A quick step to the side and Diaz tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Freeman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Diaz pinned against the cage. Diaz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Freeman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diaz.
Freeman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matt Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Freeman avoids them all with ease.
Horrible takedown attempt by Freeman or perhaps it was just good defense by Diaz, which made it look bad.
Diaz misses with a left hand
and Freeman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.
Matt Freeman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Freeman shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Freeman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Freeman moves away.
Freeman tries to counter by closing the distance.
Freeman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A solid leg kick lands there for Diaz.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman slips under a jab from Diaz.
Diaz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Freeman.
Diaz throws the left hand but Freeman avoids the punch easily.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Freeman tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Freeman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diaz circles away.
Freeman shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It looked like Diaz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Diaz scores with a punch to the head.
Freeman throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Freeman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Freeman rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.
And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Freeman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29
The fight is ruled a majority draw!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
41% |
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