PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Averescu (ranked 5730 p4p, 592 weight class) and John Diaz (ranked 7574 p4p, 684 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.

Averescu
vs
Diaz

185 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dan Averescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, John Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz shoots for a takedown but Averescu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Averescu slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch.
Dan Averescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Diaz.

Averescu breaks the clinch.
Diaz goes for a double leg but Averescu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Averescu continues to drive forward.
Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Averescu.
Diaz tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Averescu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz cracks Averescu with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Diaz.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Averescu holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Diaz is trying to push Averescu away but Averescu has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Averescu breaks from the clinch.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt

and Averescu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Averescu taking a breather.
Diaz working hard to break the clinch.

Averescu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dan Averescu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Averescu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Averescu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diaz jumps guard but Averescu stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Diaz fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Averescu.
Averescu lands with a left to the head.

Averescu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Averescu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Averescu is struggling to control the position.
Averescu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Averescu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A jab from Averescu misses.
Averescu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diaz.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Averescu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Averescu misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fails with the takedown.
Diaz looks winded!
Diaz throws a head kick that misses

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Averescu.
Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Averescu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Diaz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Averescu is defending well.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The referee calls for Averescu to work.
Averescu seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Averescu stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Averescu will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Diaz up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Dan Averescu.
Diaz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Diaz misses with a double jab.
Diaz has his takedown stuffed

and Averescu moves into the clinch.
Diaz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Averescu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Diaz wants to take the fight to the mat but Averescu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Averescu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Averescu dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz with a poor takedown

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Averescu.
Averescu scores with a shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz jumps guard but Averescu turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Averescu manages to break the clinch.
Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Averescu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dan Averescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Diaz.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Averescu counters with a straight right hand.
Diaz throws a lazy head kick

and Averescu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Averescu stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Averescu 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.
Diaz fails with the takedown

and Averescu moves into the clinch.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Averescu holds him up against the cage and eventually Diaz drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Averescu breaks the clinch.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Averescu scores with a nice right hand.
Averescu misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Diaz has his takedown stuffed
and Averescu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Diaz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Averescu counters by clinching up.
Averescu leaning his opponent against the cage.

Averescu breaks the clinch.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Averescu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Averescu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diaz can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Averescu won't allow it.

Averescu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Averescu throws a looping overhand right but Diaz ducks down to avoid it.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Averescu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It looked like Averescu was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Diaz.
Diaz slips under a jab.
Averescu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Diaz with a poor takedown

and Averescu holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Averescu manages to break the clinch.
Diaz has his takedown stuffed
and Averescu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Averescu throws a lazy right hand but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diaz has his takedown stuffed

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Averescu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Averescu manages to break the clinch.
Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Averescu moves into the clinch.

Averescu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Averescu is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Diaz fails with the takedown

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch.

Averescu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A big right from Averescu misses.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Diaz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Averescu counters by clinching up.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Averescu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dan Averescu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The referee calls for Averescu to work.
Averescu slowing the pace effectively.

Averescu breaks from the clinch.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch.
Averescu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Averescu lands a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Averescu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Averescu manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Diaz jumps guard but Averescu stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Averescu dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Averescu counters by clinching up.
Averescu prevents the takedown attempt.
Diaz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Averescu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dan Averescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Diaz.

Averescu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz has his takedown stuffed
and Averescu counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Averescu.
Averescu throws a looping overhand right but Diaz ducks down to avoid it.
And Diaz tries to counter it with a takedown but Averescu pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good shot there by Averescu.
Dan Averescu is winning the standup battle so far.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Averescu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Averescu throwing a counter right hand but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Diaz moves out of range of the strikes.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Averescu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Averescu lands a lovely overhand right.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch.
Averescu holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Averescu manages to break the clinch.
Diaz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Diaz with a poor takedown

and Averescu counters by clinching up.
Averescu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Diazs head.

Averescu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz moves out of range as Averescu strikes.
Diaz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Averescu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Averescu is stalling here.
Diaz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Averescu after a bit of a struggle.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Averescu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Averescu is stalling here.
Averescu dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Averescu won't allow it.
Averescu is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz darts in looking for a takedown but Averescu gets double underhooks and turns Diaz into the cage.
Averescu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diaz darts in looking for a takedown but Averescu gets double underhooks and turns Diaz into the cage.
John Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Averescu throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Diaz shoots and misses

and Averescu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Averescu.

Averescu breaks the clinch.
Averescu throws out a powerful jab.
Diaz moves out of range as Averescu strikes.
Diaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Averescu's waist but Averescu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diaz off to one side.
Diaz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Averescu.
Averescu throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fails with the takedown

and Averescu moves into the clinch.

Averescu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Averescu throws an overhand right that lands on Diaz's shoulder, as Diaz tries to avoid the shot.
Diaz fails with the takedown

and Averescu counters by clinching up.
Averescu stalling against the cage.
Averescu holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Averescu for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Averescu breaks from the clinch.
John Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Averescu is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Averescu circles away and we're back to standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz throws a combination that misses
and Averescu counters with a lovely straight right hand!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Averescu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Averescu 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:24
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:25
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Averescu!
Dan Averescu decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.