PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Dwan Diego (ranked 15337 p4p, 623 weight class) and Mario Zambrana (ranked 4148 p4p, 463 weight class). Diego kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jiu Jitsu. Zambrana has chosen Impact is Imminent as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Dwan Diego has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Diego
vs
Zambrana

183 cm
37
190 lbs
31 - 14 - 1

185 cm
31
195 lbs
22 - 19 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Dwan Diego!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mario Zambrana!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diego misses with a kick to the body.
A swing and a miss from Diego.
Diego throws the kick towards the body but Zambrana avoids it.
Zambrana rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Diego counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diego lands a body punch in the clinch.
Zambrana tries to throw a body punch but Diego avoids it by throwing Zambrana back against the ropes.
Diego manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zambrana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diego blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Diego makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zambrana being controlled against the ropes.

Zambrana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Diego misses the target.
Diego wants to slow Zambrana down by chopping away at his legs.
Zambrana avoids a kick to the body.
Diego scores with a head kick.
Diego scores with a nice strike.
Nice shot lands for Zambrana.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diego 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambrana fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Diego has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Canadian Elite Bruins Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Zambrana checks the leg kick.
That kick from Diego tenderised Zambrana's leg. Zambrana is trying to keep his angry face on.
A nice leg kick lands there from Diego.
Zambrana checks a leg kick.
Diego avoids a kick to the body.
Diego swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Diego swings away with a body shot that misses
and Zambrana counters with a stiff right hand.
Diego moves in looking to clinch but Zambrana pushes him off.
Zambrana throws a hook but Diego avoids it easily.
Zambrana looks to score with a jab to the body but Diego is just out of range.
Diego takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zambrana. Diego does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Diego on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Diego gets a clinch.
Diego lands a shoulder strike.
Diego misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Diego.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zambrana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zambrana misses with a body punch.
Diego scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Diego.
Zambrana misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diego.
Diego lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Mario Zambrana has been cut.
Zambrana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Zambrana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diego lands a leg kick that knocks Zambrana off balance momentarily.
Zambrana lands a nice hook to Diego's body. Diego takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A shot to the liver by Zambrana. Beautiful body shot.
Zambrana missing with a left hand there. Diego was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Diego steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zambrana.
Diego moves out of range as Zambrana strikes.
Diego lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Diego paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Diego tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Zambrana manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Diego thuds a left hand into Zambrana's body.
Zambrana tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diego tries to score with a low kick but Zambrana moves his leg out of the way.
An inside leg kick from Zambrana misses.
Diego takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A slow jab from Diego misses its intended target.
Zambrana walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Diego checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwan Diego dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mario Zambrana's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Diego moves forwards but Zambrana connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Diego gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zambrana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diego is leaning against Zambrana and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nice body punch from Zambrana - that landed with a thud.
Diego pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Diego blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Diego lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diego.
Diego tries to stall but Zambrana uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zambrana lands a knee to the head.
A body shot lands from Diego.
Diego throws a punch but it's blocked by Zambrana.
Diego lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zambrana backwards.
Zambrana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zambrana throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Diego blocks it with crossed arms.
Zambrana misses with a body punch.
Diego takes a shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diego scores with a shot to the side of Zambrana's head.
Diego creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zambrana's defenses.

Zambrana breaks from the clinch.
Zambrana misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego connects with a nice looking jab.
Diego works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zambrana looks to throw the jab but Diego is out of range.
Zambrana ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Diego takes a swing at Zambrana's ribcage but misses.
Zambrana throws a hook but Diego avoids it easily.
Diego dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zambrana. That did some damage!
Diego avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Diego slips under a jab.
Zambrana misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diego.
Diego tries to counter by clinching up but Zambrana breaks away and moves out of range.
Mario Zambrana seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zambrana looks to land a left hand but Diego moved out of range nicely.
Zambrana jabs Diego to the body, keeping him at a distance.
That kick from Diego tenderised Zambrana's leg. Zambrana is trying to keep his angry face on.
A swing and a miss from Zambrana.
Zambrana moves out of range of the leg kick from Diego.
Zambrana doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zambrana throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Diego stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Diego misses with a leg kick.
Zambrana doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big left from Zambrana misses.
Diego is looking to clinch but Zambrana is avoiding it.
Dwan Diego seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambrana swings for the body but Diego moves out of range.
Zambrana throws a body kick that misses.
Zambrana just misses with a punch to the body.
Diego on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Diego attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Diego tries to score with a low kick but Zambrana moves his leg out of the way.
Zambrana ducks under a wild hook from Diego.
Zambrana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zambrana misses with a combination
and Diego counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Diego finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Diego goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zambrana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diego is looking to counter the offense by Zambrana and move into the clinch.
Zambrana misses with an uppercut.
Diego attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Diego avoids the body shot from Zambrana.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A good leg kick by Diego.
Diego smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zambrana throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dwan Diego will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Zambrana's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A shot to the liver by Zambrana. Beautiful body shot.
Diego tries to clinch up but Zambrana circles away and keeps his distance.
Zambrana throws a head kick but Diego moves out of range.
Diego lands a leg kick that knocks Zambrana off balance momentarily.
Diego slips a straight right by Zambrana.
Zambrana just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromDiego.
Diego moves away from the strike by Zambrana.
Diego keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zambrana falls off balance throwing a combination
and Diego counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Zambrana misses with a low kick as Diego jumps back.
A counter left hand to the body from Diego misses its target.
Zambrana on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Diego moves out of range of the leg kick from Zambrana.
Diego throws a front kick aimed at Zambrana's knee but Zambrana avoids it well.
Diego throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zambrana misses the jab.
Zambrana checks a low kick from Diego.
Zambrana doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zambrana steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diego.
A little jabbing left from Zambrana on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Diego tries to close the distance and clinch but Zambrana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zambrana uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diego.
Zambrana stuns Diego with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambrana needs to keep his hands up - Diego had a free shot at his head there.
Zambrana getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zambrana looks to score with a jab to the body but Diego is just out of range.
Diego avoids the body shot from Zambrana.
Diego tries to clinch there but Zambrana circles away.
Diego is looking to slow Zambrana down with leg kicks.
Diego tries a low kick but Zambrana avoids it.
Zambrana takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zambrana motions for Diego to come forward. Zambrana throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mario Zambrana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diego uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zambrana.
Diego paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Zambrana takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Diego on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Diego lands with a straight right. Zambrana didn't see that one coming.
Zambrana's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zambrana scores with a decent looking hook.

It looks like Dwan Diego has been cut.
Diego scores with a punch to the head.
Diego scores with a nice right hand.
Zambrana lands a head shot.
Diego moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Diego tenderised Zambrana's leg. Zambrana is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zambrana swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diego fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A lazy left from Diego finds it's target.
Diego lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Zambrana just misses with a punch to the body.
Diego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Zambrana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zambrana throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diego uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zambrana has time to react.
Zambrana tries to work over Diego's front leg with a kick but Diego checks it.
Zambrana throws a big shot that misses.
It looked like Diego was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zambrana.
Diego's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zambrana connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Diego scrambles back to his feet.
Diego lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zambrana motions for Diego to come forward. Zambrana throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diego throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Zambrana uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diego.
Good leg kick by Diego there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zambrana lands a body shot.

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 Dwan Diego.
Well Diego 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwan Diego!
An out of breath Dwan Diego thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.