PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Diamond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juji Master (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diamond
vs
Master

176 cm
24
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

173 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rick Diamond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juji Master!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diamond changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Master tries to avoid it but Diamond manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Master to the ground. Master escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Diamond gets a takedown into half guard.

Diamond is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Master doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Diamond.
Diamond sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Master defending well though.
Master wants to improve his position but Diamond is controlling well.
Diamond tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Master is trying to control but can't.
Master is looking to improve his position.
Diamond looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Diamond is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Master has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Diamond misses with a takedown attempt - Master sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Diamond fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Diamond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diamond is looking to clinch.
Diamond shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Master but Master pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Diamond shoots in looking for a takedown. Master tries to sprawl out of it but Diamond keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Master manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Diamond fails with a takedown attempt.
Diamond is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Diamond shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Diamond was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Diamond looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Master keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Master is squirming around, avoiding Diamond's attempts to control the action.
Diamond misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Master tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Master regains half guard.

Diamond seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Master wants to improve his position but Diamond is controlling well.

Diamond is working for a kimura but Master is defending it quite comfortably.
Master makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Master.
Diamond throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Master works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Master controls Diamond momentarily but Diamond frees himself.

Diamond gets to his feet. Master looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Diamond shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Master as he jumps to the side.

Master scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Master wants to take a breather but Diamond is having none of it.
Diamond wants to get back to full guard.

Diamond is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Master pulls his head out easily.

Diamond actively working from the bottom here.

Master is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Master has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Diamond has given up his back.
Diamond tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juji Master will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Diamond closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Diamond lands in his opponent's guard.

Master working for submissions but it's allowed Diamond to get to half guard.

Master is defending against the submission attempts here by Diamond.
Master is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Diamond is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Master doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Diamond.
Diamond seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Master blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diamond.

Diamond is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Master sees it coming and defends easily.
Master gets back to full guard.
Diamond has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Diamond thows a big elbow that misses.
Master looking for a sweep. Not yet Master, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Diamond doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Master counters with a shoot takedown. Diamond fights it but they end up in guard.
Master wants to pass the guard but Diamond is keeping the position.

Diamond looking for a guillotine here but Master defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Diamond looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Master stands and throws Diamond's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diamond wants to control but Master postures up.
Diamond tries to buck Master off but Master is having none of it.
Master wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diamond keeps working.
Diamond is looking to reverse the position.
Diamond is working hard here to advance position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Master gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Master taking a breather.
Master is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Diamond pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Diamond gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Master.
The referee calls for Master to work.
Master tries for a takedown but Diamond manages to get underhooks.
Rick Diamond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juji Master.

Diamond has Master pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Diamond pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Master tumbling to the mat - Diamond dives into Master's guard.

Diamond is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Master is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Master might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Diamond kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Diamond is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Diamond wants to get up but he can't break Master's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Master working a defensive guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Master is on top in guard.

Diamond looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Master wants to control from the top but Diamond keeps moving.
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 Rick Diamond will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Diamond has his takedown stuffed

and Master counters by moving into the clinch.
Master looking for a takedown.
Diamond fails to pull guard.
Master has Diamond pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Diamond manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Master decides to pull guard.

Diamond thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Master is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Diamond sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Master's guard.
Master trying to hold on to Diamond's head to control him but Diamond postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Master wants to improve his position but Diamond is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diamond seems to be looking for submissions.

Diamond is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Master is just riding it out for now. Diamond eventually gives up the hold.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Diamond connects with a nice short shot to Master's temple.

Diamond wants to work for an arm triangle but Master is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Diamond wants to pass the guard but Master is defending well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamond with the ground and pound but Master uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Master looking for a sweep. Not yet Master, not yet.

Diamond is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Master is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Diamond has his hands clasped together but Master extends an breaks Diamond's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Master.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Juji Master!