PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Clint Diaz (ranked 5157 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miki Houpponi (ranked 4326 p4p, 0 weight class). Miki Houpponi told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Diaz
vs
Houpponi

185 cm
23
191 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Clint Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miki Houpponi!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houpponi shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Houpponi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Houpponi is looking to clinch.
A shot to the liver by Diaz. Beautiful body shot.
Diaz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Houpponi wants to clinch.
Diaz loads up on a big right hand but Houpponi slips the punch.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Houpponi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Houpponi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Houpponi. Houpponi gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Houpponi takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Diaz is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz gets tackled into the cage by Houpponi. Houpponi maintains the clinch.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Houpponi has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz is trying to break free.
Houpponi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
Diaz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Houpponi tries for a takedown but Diaz manages to get underhooks.
Clint Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miki Houpponi.
Diaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Houpponi has double underhooks.
Diaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Houpponi has double underhooks.
Houpponi can't get the takedown.
Houpponi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Diaz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Diaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Houpponi has double underhooks.
Diaz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Houpponi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Diaz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Diaz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Diaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Houpponi has double underhooks.

Houpponi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Houpponi clinches up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Houpponi.

Houpponi breaks the clinch.
Houpponi dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Houpponi's head and hops out.
Houpponi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Houpponi looks winded!
Diaz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Houpponi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Houpponi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz lands a jab to Houpponi's midsection.
Nice shot lands for Diaz.
Diaz lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Diaz.
Diaz throws a body shot but no joy.
Diaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Houpponi was well out of range. Poor timing from Diaz.
Diaz cracks a nice hook into Houpponi's ribs.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Houpponi unleashes a big counter combination but Diaz bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Houpponi throws a one two combo.

Houpponi clinches with his opponent.

Houpponi breaks from the clinch.
A left and a right from Houpponi both land. Nice combination.
Houpponi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Houpponi scores with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice takedown defense from Diaz. No joy for Houpponi on that attempt.
Diaz shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Houpponi eats them both and turns towards Diaz to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Houpponi clinches up against the cage.
Come on Houpponi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Houpponi tries to pull guard but Diaz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Diaz wants to break free but Houpponi has control.

Houpponi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Clint Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.

Houpponi gets a clinch.
Houpponi is looking for a takedown.
Diaz is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clint Diaz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Houpponi shoots in but Diaz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Houpponi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Houpponi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Houpponi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diaz lands with a good body shot.
Houpponi shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz is looking to wear down Houpponi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Houpponi moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Houpponi is breathing heavily.
Houpponi misses with a body punch.
Diaz has had enough of the clinch but Houpponi keeps him there for the moment.
Houpponi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Diaz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Clint Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miki Houpponi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz prevents the takedown attempt.
Diaz is trying to break free.
Houpponi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Diaz's efforts to push away.

Houpponi pulls guard successfully.
Diaz wanted to stand there but Houpponi had control of the position.
Diaz sitting in guard here, content to control.

Houpponi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Diaz defends it easily.
Houpponi wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Houpponi is keeping the position for now.
Diaz 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.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick misses from Houpponi.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Diaz. Those never looked like landing.
Houpponi moves to clinch but Diaz breaks away
and Diaz counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Houpponi drives through and clinches with Diaz against the cage.
Houpponi keeps control of Diaz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Houpponi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Houpponi has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.
Diaz wants to get back to striking at distance but Houpponi won't allow it.

Houpponi decides to pull guard.

Houpponi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Houpponi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Houpponi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Houpponi isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Diaz stacks Houpponi on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Diaz!

Diaz is trying to get an arm triangle but Houpponi is defending well.

Diaz is trying to get an arm triangle but Houpponi is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Houpponi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Diaz's best efforts.
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 Clint Diaz will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Houpponi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Diaz sprawls well. Diaz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Houpponi gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz swings for the body but Houpponi moves out of range.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Houpponi.
Jab, jab by Diaz - just one landing.
Diaz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Diaz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Houpponi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Houpponi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Diaz defends well and Houpponi ends up having to push Diaz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Diaz was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Houpponi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Clint Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miki Houpponi.

Houpponi forces Diaz back against the cage and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Houpponi has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houpponi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Diaz uses from the top position.
Diaz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diaz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Diaz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Houpponi won't let him.
Houpponi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diaz stops Houpponi from standing up.
Diaz wants to get up but he can't break Houpponi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Houpponi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Houpponi shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.
Diaz digs a good body shot into Houpponi's ribs.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Houpponi manages to avoid it.
Diaz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Houpponi can do to turn this around?
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Houpponi throws a right hand that Diaz ducks under and follows up with a left that Diaz also avoids with ease.
Clint Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Houpponi moves into the clinch.
Diaz stops a takedown attempt from Houpponi.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Houpponi has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Houpponi has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz is pressed up against the cage. Houpponi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Diaz down to the mat. Diaz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Houpponi shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Houpponi dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Houpponi's head and hops out.

Houpponi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
Houpponi crunches a lovely knee into Diaz's ribcage.
Diaz is trying to break free.
Houpponi is trying to pull guard but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz is trying to push Houpponi away but Houpponi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Houpponi has Diaz pressed against the cage, preventing Diaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Houpponi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Houpponi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a hook to the body. Houpponi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Diaz swings for the body but Houpponi moves out of range.

Houpponi closes the distance and pushes Diaz back into the cage.
Houpponi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Diaz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Diaz is trying to force a seperation but Houpponi has the dominant position.
Diaz wants to get back to striking at distance but Houpponi won't allow it.
Houpponi prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.

Houpponi decides to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.
Diaz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Miki Houpponi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clint Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Houpponi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clint Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Diaz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clint Diaz!