PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rover Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Didier Diane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's entrance music is Desperado by Los Lobos. A fine choice. Diane has chosen Let's Get it as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rover Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Diane

178 cm
30
175 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

189 cm
31
185 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rover Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Didier Diane!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie instigates a clinch.
Diane lands with a light punch inside.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diane lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Diane.

Gracie instigates a clinch.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gracie slows down the pace here.
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!
Diane is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gracie is keeping busy.
A right hand to the body from Gracie.
Diane tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Diane doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diane lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie looking to slow down the pace here.
A right hook to the body lands for Diane.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diane creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Diane misses with a body punch.
Diane taking a breather.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gracie slows down the pace here.
A head punch on the inside from Diane fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diane tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie tries to stall but Diane uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Diane throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Diane misses with a hook from the clinch.
Diane tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Diane working aggressively here.
Gracie manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Diane misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diane dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.
Gracie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Diane has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.
Gracie being controlled against the cage.
Diane lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Diane goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diane taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to circle away but Diane has him pinned against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gracie avoiding damage.
Diane stalling in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gracie.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diane misses with a body shot.

Gracie takes the fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is looking to control Diane's arms but Diane gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gracie has his back to the cage.
Diane throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Didier Diane dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Gracie clinches up against the cage.
Diane scores with a hook to the body.
Gracie looking to slow down the pace here.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.

Gracie successfully pulls guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Diane wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Diane is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Diane tries to stand but Gracie is controlling from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Diane wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diane gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Diane has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Diane is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Gracie has his foot on Diane's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diane works his way back into a safe position though.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Diane defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diane stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Diane did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.

Gracie is looking for submissions but instead, Diane has regained full guard.

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

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Diane defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diane gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diane defends well.
Diane wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diane is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diane stands up from Gracie's guard - Diane perhaps looking for a knockout.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Diane moves out of range as Gracie strikes.

Diane gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diane tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Diane back against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Diane has Gracie pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rover Gracie dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Diane closes the distance and clinches.
Diane misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie can't find room to land a body shot as Diane controls the action.
Diane just leaning against Gracie, taking a breather.
Diane tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Diane stalling in the clinch but Gracie improves position.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Diane content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Diane lands a right hand.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Diane.
Diane has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.
Didier Diane seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diane misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diane creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Diane has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diane's elbow.
Diane misses with a punch on the inside.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Diane tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gracie jumps guard but Diane stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rover Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diane is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gracie displaying some good clinch control by pressing Diane up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diane misses with the head strike.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Diane fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie taking a breather.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Diane prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diane digs a right hand into Gracie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gracie's gas tank.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diane's elbow.
Gracie stalling in the clinch but Diane improves position.
Diane avoiding damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Diane.
Diane can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Diane lands a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diane.
Diane misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diane lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gracie or not.
Diane lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Diane.
Diane pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diane creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Gracie is rocked!
Diane unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Gracie! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Diane is unloading with more strikes now! Gracie drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Didier Diane!