PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rhys Reese (ranked 4228 p4p, 4242 weight class) and Paulo Diaz (ranked 325 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Reese
vs
Diaz

160 cm
19
150
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rhys Reese!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paulo Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reese closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Diaz did well to prevent Reese getting side control.
Reese trying to control the pace.
Reese not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Reese content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Reese not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz wants to sweep but Reese has passed to side control!

Reese tries for a kimura but Diaz is defending well.
Diaz struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.
Diaz taking a bit of punishment here - Reese scoring with strikes.
Diaz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reese. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Reese in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Reese connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Diaz some visible discomfort.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom here.
Reese passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Diaz!

Reese is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Reese swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.

Diaz clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Diaz.
Reese keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Diaz's efforts to push away.
Reese tries to pull guard but Diaz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Diaz blocking some punches.
Reese is trying to pull guard but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Diaz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Reese wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz stops a takedown attempt from Reese.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhys Reese. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reese misses with an elbow strike.
A right hand to the body from Diaz.
Reese could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A shot in the inside from Diaz.
Reese wants to break free but Diaz has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Reese, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Reese against the cage but Reese circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Diaz. Reese shrugs it off though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Reese looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Reese doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Reese misses the shot to the body.

Reese shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Reese showed some decent athleticism there.

Diaz makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rhys Reese will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Reese shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Diaz tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Reese manages to move to mount!
Rhys Reese overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reese tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Reese lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Diaz hang on?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Diaz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Diaz tries to hold on but Reese pushes him away.
Diaz is trying desperately to improve position.

Reese working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Diaz looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Reese! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Rhys Reese!