PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dale Steyn (ranked 5639 p4p, 523 weight class) and Matt Diaz (ranked 24961 p4p, 618 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Steyn
vs
Diaz

179 cm
20
182 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

183 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Sportivité

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dale Steyn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steyn connects with a body shot that sends Diaz's belly button to the back.
Steyn works Diaz's body with a nice hook.
Steyn scores with a shot to the body.
Diaz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Steyn scores with a crisp jab that stopped Diaz in his tracks.
Steyn misses with the combination.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Steyn is avoiding it.
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Steyn attempts a counter takedown but Diaz avoids it well and moves away.
Steyn has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Steyn is avoiding it.
Steyn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Steyn scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Diaz doesn't seem bothered though.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steyn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steyn appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz moves in looking to clinch but Steyn pushes him off.
Steyn digs a good body shot into Diaz's ribs.
Steyn staying out of range there.

Steyn shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Steyn takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Steyn is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Steyn is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Steyn trying to mount his opponent but Diaz defends it.
Steyn landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steyn seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Steyn seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Diaz for as long as he can get away with.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Steyn trying to advance position but Diaz counters by regaining guard.
Diaz has momentary wrist control but Steyn slips an elbow through the middle.
Steyn looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Diaz wants to stand and escape but Steyn is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steyn content to stall in guard here.
Steyn tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.
Steyn is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Steyn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Diaz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Steyn has managed to get both his arms back between Diaz's legs - danger averted.
Steyn preventing the sweep.
Steyn seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Steyn stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Steyn not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Steyn is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Steyn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz tries to clinch but Steyn moves away

and Steyn counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Diaz!
Diaz is looking for a sweep.

Steyn looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Steyn working away.

Steyn is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diaz has escaped the position, nice work there.

Steyn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Diaz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dale Steyn dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Diaz takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Steyn's waist but Steyn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diaz off to one side.
Steyn slips a straight right by Diaz.
Steyn tries to counter with a takedown but Diaz is quick to defend against it.
Steyn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Steyn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?
Diaz throws a nice looking combination but Steyn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steyn as he avoids it easily.
Diaz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Steyn just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Steyn manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Steyn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Diaz on the side of the head.
Nice uppercut lands for Steyn. That snapped Diaz's head back.
Diaz takes one on the button.

Diaz is rocked!
Steyn lands with a cross.
Diaz is still on wobbly legs! Can Steyn finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matt Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Steyn counters with a big takedown. That's hurt Diaz! Steyn smells blood and goes in for the kill. Serveral hard shots later and the ref calls an end to the fight by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Dale Steyn!
A relieved looking Dale Steyn thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.