PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jose Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Urijah Samuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz comes into the arena with Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Samuel's choice of entrance music: Knock Yourself Out. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Urijah Samuel was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Diaz
vs
Samuel

188 cm
27
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

177 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jose Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Urijah Samuel!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz tries to clinch but Samuel moves out of range.
Diaz lands a slapping body shot.

Diaz moves into range and clinches up with Samuel.
Samuel is looking to take this one to the mat.
A knee to the head by Diaz.

It looks like Urijah Samuel has been cut.
Diaz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Diaz connects with a knee to the head.

Diaz has Samuel pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Diaz pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Samuel tumbling to the mat - Diaz dives into Samuel's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Samuel is trying to control the position but Diaz postures up.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.
Samuel keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz stays in close to Samuel's body and controls the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jose Diaz wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Diaz gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz pulls guard.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Samuel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Samuel stands up over Diaz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Samuel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Samuel throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet but Samuel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Samuel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Samuel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Diaz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Samuel.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Samuel throws a big elbow that misses.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Samuel won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samuel throws a big right hand that misses.
Samuel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Diaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Samuel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Samuel preventing the sweep.
Samuel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Diaz's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz has momentary wrist control but Samuel slips an elbow through the middle.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Samuel isn't so interested in that idea.
Samuel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Samuel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Samuel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Samuel postures up.
Samuel throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Samuel prevents Diaz from getting back to his feet.
Samuel won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.
Samuel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Samuel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Samuel throwing strikes but missing.
Samuel won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Samuel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Diaz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Diaz pulls Samuel in close to his closed guard and prevents Samuel from doing any damage or advancing position.
Samuel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Urijah Samuel will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Urijah Samuel's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Samuel with a poor takedown
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Samuel shoots for a takedown but Diaz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Samuel shoots in but no luck this time.
Jose Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Urijah Samuel.

Diaz has Samuel up against the cage in a clinch.
Samuel stalling in the clinch but Diaz improves position.
Diaz landing knees to the head.
Samuel goes for a takedown attempt but Diaz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Samuel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.

Diaz pushes Samuel up against the cage in a clinch.
Samuel has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Diaz scores with a knee to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Diaz.
Samuel has Diaz pressed against the cage.
Samuel is looking for a takedown.
Diaz prevents the takedown attempt.
Diaz lands an elbow that stopped Samuel in his tracks for a moment.
Diaz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Samuel's face.
Diaz lands an elbow inside.
Diaz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Diaz lands a hook that snaps the head of Samuel backwards.
Diaz comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That has opened up Urijah Samuel's cut even more.
Samuel takes a knee right on the jaw!
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 with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands a knee to the head.
Diaz misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Diaz wants the takedown. Samuel is fighting it off but Diaz persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Samuel's guard against the cage.
Samuel keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Samuel is trying to control the position but Diaz postures up.
Diaz wants to stand but Samuel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Samuel trying to keep a closed guard but Diaz is proving a slippery customer.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.
Samuel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaz manages to get himself to full guard.
Samuel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Samuel is proving a slippery customer.

Samuel 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.
Samuel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Samuel throws a big right hand that misses.
Samuel throws a big elbow that misses.
Diaz wants to stand up but Samuel is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz is adopting a defensive guard.
Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Samuel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Samuel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Samuel throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Samuel works over Diaz with some ground and pound from guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Diaz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Urijah Samuel's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Samuel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Samuel has a takedown stuffed.
Samuel shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Diaz pinned against the cage. Diaz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jose Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Urijah Samuel.
Diaz scores with a crisp jab that stopped Samuel in his tracks.
Samuel shoots in but no luck this time.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Samuel circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Samuel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Diaz defends it nicely.

Diaz clinches up against the cage.

Diaz drags the fight down to the ground.
Samuel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Samuel throws a big elbow that misses.
Samuel postures up and lands a big shot to Diaz's brow.
Samuel with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Samuel is fighting to break Diaz's control of his arms but Diaz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Samuel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Samuel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Samuel is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Diaz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Samuel is looking to get to half guard.

Diaz get's back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Samuel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Diaz pushes Samuel up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diaz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Samuel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Diaz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Good exchange - Diaz coming out on top.
Samuel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Diaz can pounce on him.
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Samuel. Samuel gets slowly back to his feet.
Samuel fails with the takedown.
Diaz is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.

Diaz pulls guard effortlessly.
Samuel preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel landing some decent shots from guard.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Samuel has gone for a leg lock! Diaz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Samuel's guard.
Samuel trying to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Samuel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Diaz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Diaz!
Jose Diaz made sure to mention his sponsor, 5th Round Clothing in his post fight interview.