PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Samoa Rome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dallas Diggler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rome comes to the cage accompanied by Samoan Death. Diggler has chosen Buckcherrys "Crazy Bitch" as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rome
vs
Diggler

188 cm
22
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
166 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Knock Out

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samoa Rome!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dallas Diggler!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rome looks to land a combination but Diggler avoids it well.
Rome misses with a wild combination.
Diggler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rome.

Rome scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Rome looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rome is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diggler has escaped the position, nice work there.
Diggler prevents Rome from improving position.

Rome working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rome tries for a kimura but Diggler is defending well.

Rome looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rome has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Rome moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Diggler has worked his arm free - good work by Diggler!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rome is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diggler has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rome is breathing heavily.

Rome goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Diggler rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rome's guard! Nice work there by Diggler!
Diggler sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Diggler stopping the sweep attempt from Rome.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rome working for a triangle but Diggler defends it easily.
Rome wants to sweep here but Diggler controlling him for the moment.

Rome working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Diggler has passed into half guard!

Rome is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Diggler pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diggler is taking a breather. Rome says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rome is not content to let Diggler control the position.
Diggler controlling the action here.
Diggler wants to free his trapped foot but Rome is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rome looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rome manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rome fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rome fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rome tries for a takedown but Diggler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samoa Rome. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rome shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Diggler is pulling down on Rome's head to control his posture.
Rome trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Diggler trying to keep a closed guard but Rome is proving a slippery customer.
Rome pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diggler is keeping the position for now.

Rome is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Diggler is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Diggler has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rome tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diggler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Diggler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rome is keeping the position for now.
Diggler wants to control from the top but Rome keeps moving.

Rome has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Diggler is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rome.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Diggler trying to control the action but Rome is working from the bottom.
Rome is trying to improve his position.
Diggler trying to control the action but Rome is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rome looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diggler is fending him off so far but Rome persists. Nope, Diggler circles away and we're back to standing.
Rome misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rome shoots in but Diggler avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rome drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rome drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Diggler manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rome has Diggler in his guard.

Rome throws his legs up looking for a submission but Diggler uses it to pass to side control.
Rome is not content to let Diggler control the position.
Diggler taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rome is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Diggler is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Rome is trying to reverse the position but instead Diggler has taken his back - oops!
Rome turns into Diggler and is now in his guard.
Rome trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rome slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Rome wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Diggler, who protects the arm well.
Rome tries to move into full mount but can't pass Diggler's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dallas Diggler will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rome bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rome works to advance to full mount. Diggler defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Rome swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Diggler is now in Rome's guard. A big mistake from Rome there, giving up the dominant position!
Rome manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diggler manages to get himself to full guard.

Rome drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Diggler dives on top into guard.
Samoa Rome overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rome is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rome is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rome seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Diggler is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Samoa Rome!