PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martinez Eluard (ranked 1694 p4p, 220 weight class) and Mike Diaz (ranked 2224 p4p, 273 weight class). Diaz comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Not Afraid - Eminem kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Mike Diaz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Eluard
vs
Diaz

180 cm
36
178 lbs
22 - 19 - 3

189 cm
32
184 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

IniTech Nutrition
Velocity Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 19 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martinez Eluard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz is looking to score with low kicks.
Eluard appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Diaz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz misses with a shot to the body
and Eluard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Eluard with a hook.
Eluard moves out of range of the strikes.
Eluard misses with a wild body shot.
Eluard connects with a jab.
We've been hearing reports that Eluard has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Jab by Eluard.
Diaz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Eluard throws out the jab.
Eluard scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Diaz throws a hook but Eluard blocks it.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Eluard.
Diaz throws out a counter right but Eluard avoids it with no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Eluard throws an overhand right that lands on Diaz's shoulder, as Diaz tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eluard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Eluard lands a nice shot to the body.

Eluard gets caught flat footed, as Diaz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Eluard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diaz is one step ahead there.

Eluard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Eluard trying to keep a closed guard but Diaz is proving a slippery customer.
Eluard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eluard seems to be looking for submissions.
Eluard trying to control the pace.
Diaz is looking for a sweep. Eluard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Eluard blocks the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Eluard seems to be working for a kimura but Diaz defends the submission attempt.
Eluard is pressing down on Diaz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Diaz is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eluard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Diaz sees it coming and defends easily.
Eluard is looking to advance position but Diaz won't allow it.

Eluard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Diaz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Eluard.
Diaz is refusing to be controlled, as Eluard sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz won't allow Eluard to pass to mount.

Eluard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Eluard prevents Diaz from improving his position.
Diaz is not content to let Eluard control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Eluard.
Diaz throws a hook to the side of Eluard's head but Eluard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Eluard throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martinez Eluard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Eluard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Diaz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Martinez Eluard is winning the standup battle so far.
Eluard tries for a takedown but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Diaz lands with a good body shot.
Diaz tries to clinch but Eluard is having none of it.
Diaz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Eluard slips a jab and a cross from Diaz.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Eluard scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eluard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A lazy left from Diaz finds it's target.
Diaz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eluard swinging wildly here.
Diaz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Eluard.
Eluard misses the shot to the body.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Eluard.
Diaz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Diaz tries to bum rush Eluard with a series of wild strikes but Eluard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diaz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Eluard.
Eluard displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Eluard on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Diaz. Diaz obviously looking to wear him down.
Diaz connects with an inside leg kick.
Eluard staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Eluard throws a looping overhand right but Diaz ducks down to avoid it.
A bone on bone clash there as Eluard blocks the leg kick.
Diaz takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An inside leg kick lands from Diaz.
Diaz misses with a left hand
and Eluard counters with a right hand to the body.
Diaz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Diaz misses with an uppercut. Eluard saw that one coming.
Good shot there by Eluard.
Diaz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Eluard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Diaz throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a hook.
Eluard swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Eluard moves out of range as Diaz strikes.
Eluard loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz with the counter takedown but Eluard avoids it easily.
Eluard lands with a good body shot.
Mike Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz's corner calls for a 1-2. Diaz obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Diaz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Diaz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martinez Eluard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It looked like Eluard was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Diaz.
Diaz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Eluard.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Eluard moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eluard lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Diaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Eluard was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Diaz works the jab nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz looks to land a combination but Eluard avoids it well.
Diaz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Diaz lands a nice shot that snaps Eluard's head back.
Eluard lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Eluard misses with a combination
and Diaz counters with a slapping leg kick.
Diaz lands with a kick to the temple. Eluard shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Diaz connects with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Diaz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Diaz has closed the distance and engaged Eluard in a clinch.
Diaz misses with an elbow strike.
Diaz slows down the pace here.
Eluard slows down the pace here.
Diaz is trying to maintain a safe position but Eluard gets an underhook and turns Diaz into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diaz.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Eluard is just out of range.
Eluard scores with a shot to the body.
Diaz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eluard slips under a jab.
Diaz throws the left hand but Eluard avoids the punch easily.
A quick step to the side and Eluard tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diaz thows a leg kick but Eluard checks it
and Eluard counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Eluard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diaz's waist but Diaz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Eluard off to one side.
Eluard misses with a straight right.
A big left from Eluard misses.
Diaz's jab looks to have found its range, popping Eluard under the eye.
Diaz cracks Eluard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Diaz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Eluard appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Eluard swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Diaz.
Diaz tries to clinch but Eluard moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz swings for the body but Eluard moves out of range.
Eluard lands with a good body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Eluard slips a jab from Diaz.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diaz.
Eluard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diaz throws a hook but Eluard blocks it.
A counter left hand to the body from Eluard misses its target.
Eluard looks for a takedown but Diaz sprawls well.
Diaz swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Eluard was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A little feinted left hand from Eluard on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Eluard gets a takedown into half guard.
Eluard is looking to pass Diaz's guard but actually Diaz recovers to full guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Eluard from controlling successfully.
Eluard wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eluard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eluard wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Eluard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Eluard controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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 Martinez Eluard.
I think Eluard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Martinez Eluard!
Martinez Eluard seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.