PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Via Dios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dios comes to the cage accompanied by Sandstorm. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dios
vs
Calzaghe

185 cm
31
141 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

185 cm
29
158 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Via Dios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Calzaghe!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the liver by Dios. Beautiful body shot.
Dios fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dios throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab.
Calzaghe moves out of range as Dios strikes.
Dios takes a swing at Calzaghe's ribcage but misses.
Dios fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Dios really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Calzaghe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Calzaghe wants it to stay on the feet.
Calzaghe leaves Dios with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Via Dios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Calzaghe.

Calzaghe looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Calzaghe drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Dios manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Calzaghe has Dios in his guard.
Calzaghe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dios.
Dios has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dios trying to control but Calzaghe is working from the bottom.
Dios in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dios showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Via Dios wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Dios with a lazy takedown attempt

and Calzaghe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Calzaghe.
Dios keeping moving, preventing Calzaghe from controlling successfully.
Calzaghe sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dios wants to stand up but Calzaghe is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Calzaghe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Calzaghe passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Dios wants to get back to his feet but Calzaghe drags him back down.
Calzaghe tries to advance to mount but Dios instead regains half guard.

Dios is defending against the submission attempts here by Calzaghe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dios is defending against the submission attempts here by Calzaghe.
Dios is trying to stand back up but Calzaghe is controlling him
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Calzaghe is keen to just control but Dios is a slippery customer.
Calzaghe throwing shots but Dios is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Calzaghe will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dios lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Calzaghe circles away quickly and effectively.
Calzaghe takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Calzaghe walks into a stiff left hand from Dios.
Dios throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Dios will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A cross from Calzaghe lands.
Dios misses with a left hand

and Calzaghe counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Dios looking for a guillotine here but Calzaghe defends easily.
Calzaghe tries to free his leg and advance position but Dios is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe landing with the ground and pound.
Dios bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Calzaghe's guard.
Calzaghe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dios is one step ahead there.

Dios drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Calzaghe dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe wants to control from the top but Dios keeps moving.
Calzaghe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dios works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Calzaghe is looking to work some ground and pound but Dios has wrist control.
Calzaghe wants to control from the top but Dios keeps moving.

Dios scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Calzaghe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dios throws a right and a left that Calzaghe avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dios tries to score a power double leg takedown but Calzaghe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dios somewhat.
Dios tries for a takedown but Calzaghe circles away easily
and Calzaghe counters with a two punch combo.
Dios is looking to score with low kicks.
Calzaghe throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Calzaghe!
Via Dios seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Calzaghe has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Dios misses with a two punch combination.
Dios misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dios throws a sloppy head kick and Calzaghe moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Calzaghe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Calzaghe checks a low kick from Dios.
A punch combination from Dios misses.
Dios fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Via Dios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dios throws a leg kick but Calzaghe moved away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dios.
Calzaghe lands a two punch combo.
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 Via Dios will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dios throws a lazy uppercut

and Calzaghe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dios won't be happy with that.
Calzaghe landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Calzaghe tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Calzaghe has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dios regains half guard.

Calzaghe wants to work for an arm triangle but Dios is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dios looks like he's trying to stand up.
Dios taking some punishment here, with Calzaghe in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe winds up and cracks Dios with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Dios wants to get back to his feet.
Joe Calzaghe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calzaghe stalling away here and it's allowed Dios to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Dios preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Calzaghe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dios's head.
Calzaghe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dios utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Calzaghe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Dios throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Calzaghe forces his way into half guard.
Calzaghe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dios's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dios is staying active underneath Calzaghe, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Calzaghe not doing much here.
Calzaghe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Calzaghe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Calzaghe works his foot free and advances to mount.
Calzaghe landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe raining down hammerfists from mount.
Calzaghe looking to finish Dios with some ground and pound. This is bad for Dios!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Calzaghe raining down hammerfists from mount.
Calzaghe looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Calzaghe cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The referee warns Dios that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Calzaghe looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Calzaghe landing strikes from the mount.
Dios is squirming around, avoiding Calzaghe's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Calzaghe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Calzaghe 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Calzaghe!