PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gar Diu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Belanger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diu's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Pulse. This should be fireworks!

Diu
vs
Belanger

188 cm
27
190 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

187 cm
30
193 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Gar Diu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Belanger!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belanger darts in and clinches Diu up against the cage.
Diu avoiding damage as Belanger throws knees to the body.
Diu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Belanger has him pressed against the cage.
Belanger scores with a shoulder strike.
Belanger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Belanger wants to break the clinch but can't.
Diu tries to stall but Belanger uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Diu misses with a punch to the body.
Belanger lands with a light punch inside.

Belanger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Belanger keeps Diu at a distance using the push kick.
Joe Belanger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belanger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diu was well out of range. Poor timing from Belanger.
Diu checks a leg kick.
Belanger fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Diu.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Belanger.
Belanger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Belanger scoring well with a low kick there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An inside leg kick from Belanger misses.
Belanger gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diu throws a leg kick but Belanger checks it.
Diu slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A head kick misses from Diu.
Belanger throws a sloppy head kick
and Diu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Belanger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Belanger throws a body kick that misses.
Diu looks to land a combination but Belanger avoids it well.
Diu walks into a left hand.
A jab from Belanger misses.
Diu punishes Belanger's body with a nice straight punch.
Belanger misses with a head kick.
Belanger throws a right hand that misses
and Diu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Belanger goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Diu checks a leg kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throws a sloppy head kick and Diu moves out of range easily.
Belanger tries to score with a low kick but Diu moves his leg out of the way.
Diu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Belanger pushes Diu away with a front kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belanger checks the leg kick nicely there.
Belanger on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Diu looks to score with a jab to the body but Belanger is just out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Diu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Belanger throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Diu counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Diu tries to clinch but Belanger is having none of it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Belanger. Diu shrugs it off though.
Belanger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Belanger throws a leg kick but Diu checks it.
Belanger scores with a sloppy right hand. Diu should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belanger ducks under a wild hook from Diu.
Diu throws a low kick, looking for Belanger's leg but Belanger calmly moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Diu.
A slapping leg kick lands for Belanger.
Diu is looking to score with low kicks.
Belanger lands with a good body shot.
Diu throws out a leg kick but Belanger moves out of range and Diu only half commits.
Diu moves out of range of the body kick from Belanger.
Belanger misses with a body kick.
Diu misses with a looping left.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Belanger.
Belanger looks to land a right hand but Diu moved out of range.
Diu throws a sloppy head kick and Belanger moves out of range easily.
Diu throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belanger looks to land a body kick but Diu moved away.
Diu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A leg kick checked by Diu.
Joe Belanger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belanger connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Diu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Belanger is looking to land body kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belanger lands with a nice combination. Diu backs away looking to recover.
Belanger connects with an inside leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Belanger lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Diu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Diu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Belanger fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Diu checks it well.
Belanger misses the shot to the body.
Belanger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Belanger throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Diu counters with a nice low kick that buckles Belanger's knee momentarily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Belanger has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Diu.
Belanger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diu.
Diu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Belanger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Belanger misses with a head kick.
Diu throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Diu lands a slapping body shot.
Belanger keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Belanger misses with a body shot.
Belanger cracks Diu with an open hand slap.
Belanger looks for the body kick but Diu saw that one coming.
Diu takes a swing at Belanger's ribcage but misses.
Belanger misses with a body kick.
Diu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Belanger.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Diu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Diu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Belanger moves away.
Belanger throws a hook to the side of Diu's head but Diu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Belanger tries to land a leg kick but Diu saw it coming and moves away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Belanger, right into the meat.
Belanger looks to land a right hand but Diu moved out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Belanger - that will leave a mark!
Diu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Belanger is able to avoid easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Belanger.
Diu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Belanger throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A good leg kick by Belanger.
A jab from Belanger misses.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Belanger lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Diu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Diu blocks a jab.
Belanger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diu was well out of range. Poor timing from Belanger.
Belanger finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Belanger swings for the body but Diu moves out of range.
Diu is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Belanger moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Belanger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Belanger changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Belanger throws an overhand right that lands on Diu's shoulder, as Diu tries to avoid the shot.
Belanger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diu blocks a head kick by Belanger.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Diu misses with a straight right.
Belanger tries to score with a low kick but Diu moves his leg out of the way.
Belanger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Belanger tries to land a body kick
and Diu counters with a slapping leg kick.
Belanger throws a leg kick
and Diu counters with a nice kick to the body.
Belanger looks gassed!
Diu looks to score with a jab to the body but Belanger is just out of range.
Diu throws a leg kick which misses Belanger's front leg but catches the back leg as Belanger tries to avoid it.
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!
Belanger wants to land a leg kick but Diu is out of range.
Belanger has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Diu.
Diu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Belanger misses with an uppercut. Diu saw that one coming.
Belanger swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Diu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Belanger.
Some bone on bone action there as Belanger checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Diu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Belanger's sensitive parts.
A head kick by Belanger misses
enabling Diu to counter with a crisp jab.
Belanger looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Diu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Belanger sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Diu lands a head kick!
Diu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Belanger. No joy for Diu on that attempt.
A good leg kick by Diu.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Belanger circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diu throws a body kick that misses.
Belanger throws a leg kick that is checked
and Diu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Belanger dominated that round.
That's time! Diu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Belanger tries to land a front kick but Diu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Belanger misses with a body kick.
Belanger throws a right and a left that Diu avoids nicely.
Diu misses with a wild body shot.
Belanger waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diu.
Joe Belanger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Belanger goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Belanger looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Diu moves out of range of the body kick from Belanger.
A punch combination from Belanger misses.
Diu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Diu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Diu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diu thumps Belanger with a low kick.
Diu on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Diu as he checks the leg kick.
Belanger thows a body shot but no joy.
Diu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Belanger.
Diu lands with a right hand.
Diu fails in his attempt to clinch.

Belanger has taken the fight to the clinch.
Diu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Belanger trying to land knees to the body.
Diu managing to block the knees to the body from Belanger.
Belanger is breathing heavily.
Diu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Diu is trying to maintain a safe position but Belanger gets an underhook and turns Diu into the cage.
Belanger misses with a knee strike.
Diu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diu tries a knee to the head but Belanger blocks it.
Belanger misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belanger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Belanger misses with a knee strike.
Diu taking a breather.
Diu scores with a shot to the side of Belanger's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diu trying to stall but Belanger improves his position.
Diu tries to work over Belanger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Belanger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Belanger closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Belanger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Belanger lands a leg kick that knocks Diu off balance momentarily.
Belanger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diu lands with a slapping head kick.
Belanger swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Diu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Belanger.

Diu scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Belanger is trying to improve his position.
Diu wants to control but Belanger is keeping him busy.
Diu controlling from side mount.
Belanger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Diu trying to control the action but Belanger is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belanger gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Diu looking to control but Belanger is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Diu throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Belanger tries to hold on but Diu pushes him away.
Diu working away from the top, dropping strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Belanger can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diu throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Diu prevents Belanger from getting the reversal.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Diu trying to control but Belanger is having none of it.
Diu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Diu can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Belanger is looking to escape.
Diu sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Diu trying to control but Belanger is having none of it.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Gar Diu wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Diu attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Belanger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Belanger misses with a low kick as Diu jumps back.
Belanger looks for the body kick but Diu saw that one coming.
Belanger takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Belanger lands with a kick to the ribs.
Diu scores with a head kick.
A punch combination from Belanger misses.
Belanger pivots, looking for a leg kick but Diu is out of range and Belanger settles back down.
Diu misses with a series of wild punches.
Diu walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Belanger checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Diu checks a leg kick.
Belanger slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Diu tries to clinch there but Belanger circles away.
Belanger motions for Diu to come forward. Belanger throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diu is defended easily by Belanger.
Belanger pivots, looking for a leg kick but Diu is out of range and Belanger settles back down.
Diu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Belanger.
Belanger throws a shot from downtown. Diu moves away and avoids it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belanger throws a leg kick which misses Diu's front leg but catches the back leg as Diu tries to avoid it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Diu takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Diu thows a body shot but no joy.
Belanger throws a series of punches but Diu avoids them all with ease.
Diu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Belanger throws a solid leg kick but Diu takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Belanger.
Belanger throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Diu connects with an inside leg kick.
Diu keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Belanger drops his hands momentarily and Diu takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Diu throws out a leg kick but Belanger moves out of range and Diu only half commits.
Belanger takes a swing at Diu's ribcage but misses.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throws a series of punches but Diu avoids them all with ease.
Diu defending well as Belanger loads up on a big left hand.
A slapping body kick lands there for Belanger.
Belanger takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Belanger walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Diu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Diu blocks the body kick.
Diu swings for the body but Belanger moves out of range.
Diu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Belanger.
Diu throws a leg kick which misses Belanger's front leg but catches the back leg as Belanger tries to avoid it.
Belanger cracks Diu with a right hand to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Belanger.
Belanger throws a quick inside leg kick.
Belanger swings away with a leg kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gar Diu showed his dominance in that final round.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Joe Belanger!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Joe Belanger!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Joe Belanger!

Joe Belanger wins by unanimous decision!