PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Flavio Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Zimanic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Diaz
vs
Zimanic

198 cm
18
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
294 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Flavio Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank Zimanic!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zimanic scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diaz regains full guard. Nicely done.

Diaz had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Zimanic is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Diaz Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Zimanic's back instead.
Zimanic is really stuck here.
Zimanic trying to control but not successfully.
Diaz trying to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Zimanic fending off the submission attempt from Diaz.
Diaz is looking to control Zimanic but Zimanic is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Diaz is not going to allow Zimanic to sit and survive in this position.

Zimanic is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Diaz gets his way!

Diaz has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimanic turns into Diaz and is now in his guard.
Diaz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zimanic!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zimanic is desperately trying to improve his position but Diaz has a good base and remains in mount.
Zimanic wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Diaz.
Zimanic is working to get back to half guard.
Zimanic wants to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.

Diaz working for a guillotine from mount but Zimanic is in no mood to give up.
Zimanic is desperately trying to improve his position but Diaz has a good base and remains in mount.
Zimanic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zimanic looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zimanic taking shots to the head.
Zimanic holds of for dear life.
Zimanic tries to hold on but Diaz postures up.

Diaz has control of Zimanic's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Zimanic regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Zimanic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Diaz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zimanic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Zimanic has eaten all the pies!

Diaz with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zimanic tries to improve his position but instead Diaz has taken his back!

Diaz has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Zimanic turns into Diaz and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zimanic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zimanic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zimanic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Zimanic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zimanic trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Zimanic postures up.
Zimanic slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Diaz trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Diaz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zimanic manages to get himself to full guard.
Diaz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zimanic can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zimanic keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Zimanic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Diaz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Zimanic is keeping the position.
Diaz trying to control but Zimanic is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flavio Diaz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zimanic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zimanic misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Zimanic misses.

Diaz drives through and clinches with Zimanic against the cage.

Diaz jumps guard and drags Zimanic to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zimanic throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zimanic!
Zimanic has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Diaz is persistently looking for the submission but Zimanic is defending it well.
Zimanic is breathing heavily.
Diaz lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Diaz is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Zimanic defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimanic tries to roll but Diaz sticks to his back.

Diaz patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Diaz looking for the choke but no joy.
Zimanic rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zimanic keeps working.
Diaz wants to pass to mount but Zimanic is defending the position.

Diaz seems to be working for a kimura but Zimanic defends the submission attempt.
Diaz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zimanic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Flavio Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Diaz is working hard here to advance position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A punch combination from Zimanic misses.
Zimanic shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Zimanic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Frank Zimanic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zimanic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Diaz looks to land a body kick but Zimanic moved away.
Zimanic uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimanic tries to clinch

and Diaz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Diaz.
Zimanic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zimanic goes for a takedown attempt but Diaz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zimanic.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Zimanic circles away.
Diaz swings for the body but Zimanic moves out of range.
Zimanic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Diaz fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diaz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Zimanic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zimanic as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flavio Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz tries to clinch but Zimanic moves out of range.
Zimanic misses with a two punch combination.

Diaz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zimanic tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zimanic looking for a takedown.
Zimanic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Diaz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Some wild striking there from Zimanic.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaz.
Diaz working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flavio Diaz dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zimanic has a takedown stuffed.
Zimanic shoots in but Diaz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zimanic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zimanic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Diaz scores a takedown into full mount!
Zimanic is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zimanic wants to control but Diaz is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz lands a big elbow.
Diaz misses with a head shot.
Zimanic tries to hold on but Diaz postures up.
Diaz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zimanic is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimanic tries to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.
Diaz trying to control but Zimanic is having none of it.

Diaz is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Zimanic has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Zimanic is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zimanic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zimanic sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Diaz is trying to work for a kimura but Zimanic is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but Zimanic defending well.

Zimanic is defending against the submission attempts here by Diaz.

Diaz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zimanic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Diaz moves into full mount! Zimanic won't be happy about that!

Diaz is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zimanic can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
A nice elbow there by Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimanic is trying to reverse the position but instead Diaz has taken his back - oops!

Zimanic defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Diaz's arms.
Diaz trying to control.
Zimanic turns into Diaz and is now in his guard.
Zimanic trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz 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.
Diaz controls Zimanic momentarily but Zimanic frees himself.
Zimanic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zimanic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zimanic counters with a single leg into guard. Diaz didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zimanic gets to his feet - Diaz follows without any prompting.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.
Zimanic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Diaz has time to react.
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!

Diaz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zimanic won't allow Diaz to pass to mount.
Frank Zimanic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz winds up and cracks Zimanic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zimanic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Diaz trying to control the action but Zimanic is working from the bottom.
Diaz is looking to advance position but Zimanic won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zimanic tries to roll over but Diaz keeps him under control.

Zimanic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Diaz blocks the strikes from Zimanic.

And that's the end of the fight!
Flavio Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Diaz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flavio Diaz!