PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Ince (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Diehard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ince
vs
Diehard

170 cm
22
189 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Ince!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Diehard!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ince shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ince was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Diehard wants to control but Ince is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diehard is looking to get to half guard.
Ince tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diehard is trying desperately to improve position.

Ince looking to secure an arm triangle but Diehard defends it well.
Ince landing strikes from the mount and Diehard is in trouble!
Diehard bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Diehard postures up.

Ince has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diehard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diehard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Diehard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Diehard trying to control the position from guard on top but Ince is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ince could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Diehard might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ince kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ince working a defensive guard here.
Ince wants to sweep but no luck.
Diehard trying to control but Ince is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ince moves in looking to clinch but Diehard pushes him off.
Diehard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ince is breathing heavily.

Ince shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Diehard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ince trying to control but Diehard is having none of it.
Ince is trying to control here but Diehard has managed to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ince trying to control the action but Diehard is working from the bottom.
Ince tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Diehard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ince wants to clinch.
Diehard punishes Ince's body with a nice straight punch.
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 Paul Ince will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Diehard wants to clinch.
Diehard misses with a takedown attempt

and Ince counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ince.
Diehard throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Diehard has his foot on Ince's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ince works his way back into a safe position though.
Ince looking to sit in guard and control but Diehard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ince looking for a guillotine here but Diehard defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diehard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ince might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diehard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Diehard trying to control but Ince is working from the bottom.
Ince being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Diehard is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ince is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ince has escaped and now he's on top!
Diehard trying to keep a closed guard but Ince is proving a slippery customer.
Diehard doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ince pushing down on Diehard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ince looks to land a strike but Diehard avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ince landing some decent shots from guard.
Ince looking to pass the guard.
Ince trying to control but Diehard is working from the bottom.
Diehard is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ince wants to control from the top but Diehard keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ince is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Diehard working a defensive guard here.
Diehard looking for a sweep. Not yet Diehard, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ince scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ince trying to control the position but Diehard is working away.
Ince is really struggling to control Diehard but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Ince dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Diehard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ince counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ince avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Diehard wants to get back to his feet but Ince is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Ince gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ince chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Diehard can pounce on him.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Diehard.

Diehard looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ince is trying to maintain the position but Diehard is very close to passing his half guard.
Ince connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Ince on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ince tries to get out of the position.
Diehard wants to pass the guard but Ince is defending well.
Ince gets back to full guard.

Ince is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Diehard breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Diehard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ince as he avoids it easily.

Ince 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.
Diehard doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Diehard is looking for a triangle but Ince pushes his legs off easily.

Diehard had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ince is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Diehard Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ince's back instead.
Diehard is hanging on to Ince's back as he tries to escape.
Diehard is trying to stick to Ince's back but Ince is turning into Diehard. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Diehard's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ince.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ince looking to pass the guard.
Ince trying to control the position from guard on top but Diehard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diehard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ince throws a jab but it's blocked by Diehard.

Diehard 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.
Ince trying to control the position here.

Ince has his foot on Diehard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diehard works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diehard trying to control but Ince is working from the bottom.

Ince throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Steve Diehard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul Ince overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diehard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ince is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Paul Ince is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ince wants to sweep here but Diehard controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Ince showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ince, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Ince!