PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jewel Diaz (ranked 548 p4p, 658 weight class) and Marcello Sosa (ranked 72 p4p, 85 weight class). Diaz kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Killa Whale - Andre Nickatina. Jewel Diaz had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Diaz
vs
Sosa

174 cm
22
154
8 - 1 - 1

175 cm
22
151
8 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Good knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jewel Diaz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marcello Sosa!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Paton and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sosa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diaz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sosa.
Diaz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Diaz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sosa throws out the jab.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sosa as he avoids it easily.
Diaz fails with the takedown
and Sosa counters with a series of strikes. Diaz will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jewel Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sosa throws out a powerful jab.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Sosa, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Sosa against the cage but Sosa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sosa stuffs the takedown attempt from Diaz. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sosa misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Jab, jab by Sosa - just one landing.
Diaz goes for a double leg but Sosa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sosa continues to drive forward.
Diaz on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Diaz has his takedown stuffed
and Sosa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diaz.
Diaz blocks a jab.
Diaz feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Sosa finds it's way through Diaz's defenses.
No luck for Diaz with that takedown attempt.

Diaz darts in and clinches Sosa up against the cage.
Sosa lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Diaz or not.
Sosa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
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!
Diaz is trying to drag Sosa to the mat but Sosa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Diaz is trying to trip Sosa. He has hold of a leg but Sosa is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Diaz persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sosa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Diaz is looking to work some ground and pound but Sosa has wrist control.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sosa seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Sosa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.
Diaz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Diaz is looking to work some ground and pound but Sosa has wrist control.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sosa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sosa keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sosa managing to control the position.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sosa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Sosa misses the jab.
Diaz appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Diaz shoots in but Sosa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Sosa tries to sprawl out of it but Diaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sosa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sosa doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sosa pinned against the cage. Sosa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sosa with a hook.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Sosa throws an overhand right that lands on Diaz's shoulder, as Diaz tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sosa takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Nice cross by Sosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Sosa shows good takedown defense.
Sosa connects with a nice looking jab.
Sosa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diaz.
Sosa misses with a wild body shot.
Sosa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Diaz under the eye.
Diaz fails with the takedown
and Sosa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jewel Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sosa swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sosa lands a head shot.
Sosa connects with a nice looking jab.
Diaz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sosa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Diaz looking to score a takedown here. Sosa is defending well but Diaz drives through and ends up in Sosa's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sosa is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Diaz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sosa has his hands on Diaz's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Diaz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sosa seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Let's hope that Sosa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Diaz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sosa has control of Diaz's left arm, preventing Diaz from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sosa has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sosa controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Sosa fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Diaz on the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sosa cracks Diaz with a good jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcello Sosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Diaz swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sosa looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.
Diaz shoots in but Sosa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Sosa.
Diaz half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sosa circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sosa swivels and escapes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sosa! But no joy.
Sosa misses with a straight right.
Diaz feinted with a counter takedown.

Diaz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz throws a strike aimed at the side of Sosa's head but Sosa avoids it well.
Jewel Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaz lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sosa struggling a bit here.
Diaz throws an elbow but Sosa slips to the side and avoids it well.
Diaz is chipping away with strikes.
Diaz wants to control but Sosa is keeping him busy.
Sosa regains half guard, as Diaz was trying to land strikes.
Diaz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Diaz throwing shots but Sosa is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz winds up and cracks Sosa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sosa won't allow Diaz to pass to mount.
Sosa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
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. Diaz connects with a nice short shot to Sosa's temple.
Sosa tries to roll over but Diaz keeps him under control.
Sosa trying to control here.
Diaz is keen to just control but Sosa is a slippery customer.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Diaz thows a huge punch but Sosa dodges it nicely.
Diaz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Diaz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sosa trying to control here.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Diaz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sosa defending well though.
Sosa is not content to let Diaz control the position.
Sosa tries to get to full guard but Diaz has control of the leg.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sosa misses the jab.
Sosa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Diaz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sosa.
Diaz drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sosa sprawls and moves away.

Diaz throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sosa was covering up waiting for the punch and Diaz finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sosa is keeping the position for now.
Sosa pulls Diaz in close to prevent any damage.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jewel Diaz clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sosa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sosa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diaz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sosa swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown attempt by Diaz or perhaps it was just good defense by Sosa, which made it look bad.
Sosa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Sosa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jewel Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz shoots in but no luck this time.
Marcello Sosa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz looks for a takedown but Sosa sprawls well.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Sosa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sosa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Diaz's head.
Sosa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz takes a jab right on the kisser.

Diaz is rocked!
Sosa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diaz.
Sosa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice takedown defense from Sosa. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.
A left lands for Sosa.
Sosa misses with a right hand

and Diaz counters by clinching up.
Sosa looking to throw knees to the head but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Diaz looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sosa landing knees to the body.
Sosa throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sosa.
Sosa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Sosa manages to break the clinch.
Sosa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Oh Diaz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Diaz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Diaz dives in and scores a takedown into Sosa's guard.
Sosa has Diaz pulled in close to control his posture.
Diaz seems to have got his legs back now.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz working some strikes from top position.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sosa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz trying to control but Sosa is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sosa pulls Diaz in to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz is in close to Sosa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Diaz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Diaz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcello Sosa dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
Sosa with a nice cross.
Sosa throws a jab when Diaz was well out of range.
Diaz drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sosa sprawls and moves away.
Jewel Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Marcello Sosa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sosa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sosa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Diaz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sosa avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jewel Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Sosa misses its intended target.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Sosa.
Diaz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sosa.
Sosa throws a looping overhand right but Diaz ducks down to avoid it.
Sosa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Good exchange - Sosa coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sosa is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice uppercut there from Sosa.
Sosa throws a big shot that misses.
A combination from Sosa does no damage.
Diaz walks into a straight right hand from Sosa.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Sosa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sosa throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Sosa as Diaz shoots in.
Sosa throws out a counter right but Diaz avoids it with no problem.
Sosa lands with a straight right. Diaz didn't see that one coming.
Sosa jabs at Diaz's body.

Sosa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Diaz is looking to work some ground and pound but Sosa has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diaz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sosa controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sosa trying to control the position here.
Diaz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sosa's head.
Diaz with a nice head shot there.
Diaz lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Sosa is keeping the position.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcello Sosa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sosa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 46:49
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 46:49
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcello Sosa!
Marcello Sosa is the new featherweight champion!
After winning the bout, Marcello Sosa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Jewel Diaz was interviewed post fight and said 'My opponent was better than me tonight. Trust the process not the results. '.