PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dylan McDaniel (ranked 2625 p4p, 364 weight class) and Tomy Di Pietro (ranked 1062 p4p, 161 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

McDaniel
vs
Di Pietro

188 cm
26
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
27
212 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Solid chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dylan McDaniel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tomy Di Pietro!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDaniel lands with a hook. Di Pietro tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

It looks like Tomy Di Pietro has been cut.
Di Pietro takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
McDaniel throws a body punch but Di Pietro moves out of range.
Di Pietro counters with a body kick.
McDaniel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Di Pietro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Di Pietro lands a nice looking body kick.
McDaniel is looking to clinch.
Di Pietro let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Di Pietro lands a big head kick that sends McDaniel tumbling to the mat! Di Pietro takes a step backwards and waves McDaniel back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Dylan McDaniel has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDaniel blocks the body kick.
Di Pietro works McDaniel's body with a nice hook.
Di Pietro fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Di Pietro is looking to land body kicks.
McDaniel on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
McDaniel is breathing heavily.
Di Pietro swats away the attempt to clinch by McDaniel.
McDaniel looks to land a right hand but Di Pietro moved out of range.

McDaniel moves into range and clinches up with Di Pietro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDaniel struggles to land a body shot inside as Di Pietro controls his hands.
McDaniel misses with some punches.
Di Pietro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McDaniel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Di Pietro working hard to break the clinch.
Di Pietro's coach down at Lucky Liam's MMA Academy was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Di Pietro's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A bit of stalling here from Di Pietro.
McDaniel presses Di Pietro against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
McDaniel being controlled against the cage.
McDaniel prevents a body shot from Di Pietro.
McDaniel swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Di Pietro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McDaniel throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel scores with a body shot.
Di Pietro looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Di Pietro scores with a body shot.
Di Pietro tries a head kick but it misses.
Di Pietro scores with a shot to the body.
McDaniel definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good standup being displayed there by McDaniel as he connects with a hook.
McDaniel avoids the head kick by Di Pietro.

McDaniel has closed the distance and engaged Di Pietro in a clinch.
McDaniel working aggressively here.
Di Pietro tries to throw a body punch but McDaniel avoids it by throwing Di Pietro back against the cage.
Di Pietro blocking some punches.
Di Pietro leaning against his opponent.
McDaniel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Di Pietro's efforts to push away.
Di Pietro lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McDaniel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Di Pietro breaks the clinch.
Di Pietro takes a swing at McDaniel's ribcage but misses.
McDaniel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from McDaniel there as he acknowledges the shot.
Di Pietro misses with a body shot.
McDaniel looks to throw the jab but Di Pietro is out of range.
McDaniel throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Di Pietro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Di Pietro takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
McDaniel moves out of range of the leg kick from Di Pietro.
Di Pietro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body kick from Di Pietro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Di Pietro throws a wild body kick that McDaniel sees coming a mile off.
Di Pietro looks for the body kick but McDaniel saw that one coming.

McDaniel moves into range and clinches up with Di Pietro.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Di Pietro tries to throw a body punch but McDaniel avoids it by throwing Di Pietro back against the cage.
Di Pietro tries a body shot but McDaniel blocks it.

Di Pietro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Di Pietro looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
McDaniel misses with a right hand
and Di Pietro counters with a nice body kick.
Nice body kick from Di Pietro.
Di Pietro wants to land a leg kick but McDaniel is out of range.
Di Pietro circles away from the clinch attempt.
McDaniel misses with a straight right.

McDaniel forces Di Pietro back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomy Di Pietro dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

McDaniel drives through and clinches with Di Pietro against the cage.
McDaniel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McDaniel scores with a shot to the side of Di Pietro's head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
McDaniel swings wildly with an uppercut but Di Pietro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Di Pietro tries to throw a body punch but McDaniel avoids it by throwing Di Pietro back against the cage.
Di Pietro will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning McDaniel up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Di Pietro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Di Pietro breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters circling a little - Di Pietro finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDaniel darts in trying to clinch
and Di Pietro counters with a left to the body.
Di Pietro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Di Pietro, right into the meat.
The fight stays on the outside here - McDaniel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Di Pietro connects with a right hand. McDaniel shakes it off.

McDaniel drives through and clinches with Di Pietro against the cage.
McDaniel blocks a body shot from Di Pietro.
McDaniel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McDaniel lands a shoulder strike.
McDaniel misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel lands with a right to the head.

Di Pietro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDaniel misses with a hook.
Di Pietro flicks out a counter leg kick but McDaniel steps away.
Di Pietro keeps the fight on the outside.
McDaniel blocks a head kick by Di Pietro.
Di Pietro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McDaniel was well out of range. Poor timing from Di Pietro.
Di Pietro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McDaniel.
Tomy Di Pietro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Di Pietro circles away from the clinch attempt.
McDaniel misses with a few strikes there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDaniel misses with a body shot.
McDaniel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Di Pietro pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Di Pietro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McDaniel manages to avoid it.
McDaniel is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Di Pietro.
McDaniel is looking to clinch but Di Pietro is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Di Pietro swats away the attempt to clinch by McDaniel.
McDaniel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Di Pietro.
McDaniel will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
McDaniel tries to clinch up but Di Pietro circles away and keeps his distance.
McDaniel digs a good body shot into Di Pietro's ribs.
McDaniel wants to clinch but Di Pietro slips to the side
and Di Pietro counters with a good low kick that McDaniel was not able to check.
Di Pietro lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
McDaniel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Di Pietro circles away from the clinch attempt
and Di Pietro counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Di Pietro. McDaniel does a little dance to reset his feet.
McDaniel misses with a jab to the body
and Di Pietro counters with a solid body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Di Pietro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McDaniel was well out of range. Poor timing from Di Pietro.
The fight stays on the outside here - McDaniel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Di Pietro lands with a shot to the body.
Di Pietro is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McDaniel rather than just go for the knockout.
McDaniel misses with a jab to the body
and Di Pietro counters with an outside leg kick.
Di Pietro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
That kick from Di Pietro tenderised McDaniel's leg. McDaniel is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Di Pietro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McDaniel steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Di Pietro. That one must have hurt.
Di Pietro slips under a jab from McDaniel.
Di Pietro connects with a body shot that sends McDaniel's belly button to the back.
Di Pietro scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomy Di Pietro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Di Pietro scores with a jab to the body.
McDaniel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Di Pietro throws a wild body kick that McDaniel sees coming a mile off.
Di Pietro lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Di Pietro lands with a nice body kick.
Di Pietro misses with an attempted mid kick.
Dylan McDaniel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Di Pietro cracks McDaniel with a good jab.
Di Pietro throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Di Pietro throws a sloppy head kick and McDaniel moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDaniel takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Dylan McDaniel's cut is getting worse.
Di Pietro throws a front kick that sends McDaniel stumbling back into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Di Pietro scores with a push kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Di Pietro pushes McDaniel away with a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDaniel takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McDaniel is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Di Pietro.
Di Pietro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Di Pietro plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
McDaniel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Di Pietro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Di Pietro defending well as McDaniel loads up on a big left hand.
McDaniel swings and misses with a hook to the body.

McDaniel rushes Di Pietro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McDaniel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McDaniel struggles to land a body shot inside as Di Pietro controls his hands.
Di Pietro holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Di Pietro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McDaniel has him pressed against the cage.
Di Pietro is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dylan McDaniel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Di Pietro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Di Pietro swats away the attempt to clinch by McDaniel.
Di Pietro keeps McDaniel at a distance using the push kick.
Di Pietro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McDaniel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDaniel misses with a left hand
and Di Pietro counters with an outside leg kick.
Di Pietro digs a good body shot into McDaniel's ribs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Di Pietro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Di Pietro throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel misses with a left hand
and Di Pietro counters with a nice leg kick.
Di Pietro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McDaniel. That did some damage!
Di Pietro throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Di Pietro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Di Pietro misses the shot to the body.
McDaniel moves out of range as Di Pietro throws a body kick.
Di Pietro swats away the attempt to clinch by McDaniel.
Tomy Di Pietro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McDaniel is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
McDaniel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crunch! Di Pietro slams his shin into McDaniel's torso.
Di Pietro misses with a body kick.
Di Pietro throws the kick towards the body but McDaniel avoids it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Di Pietro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Di Pietro is looking to land body kicks.
McDaniel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Di Pietro looks to land a body kick but McDaniel moved away.
McDaniel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Di Pietro moves away.
McDaniel connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - McDaniel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Di Pietro moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Di Pietro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McDaniel manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomy Di Pietro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Di Pietro 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomy Di Pietro! Tomy Di Pietro retains his light heavyweight title!
Tomy Di Pietro spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
Dylan McDaniel was interviewed post fight and said 'I can still whoop his ass 9 out of 10 times!'.