PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joko Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Diaz
vs
Fairtex

164 cm
30
144 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

173 cm
23
139 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $75)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joko Diaz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Fairtex!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fairtex tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.

Diaz gets tackled into the cage by Fairtex. Fairtex maintains the clinch.
Fairtex crunches a lovely knee into Diaz's ribcage.
Fairtex lands a knee to the body.
Fairtex controlling the action here for a moment.
Diaz goes for a takedown attempt but Fairtex pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fairtex connects with a leg kick. Diaz looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fairtex throws a predictable looking body shot

and Diaz counters with a takedown into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fairtex can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fairtex struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fairtex 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Diaz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Diaz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Diaz passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Fairtex!
Diaz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fairtex wants to control but Diaz is having none of it.
Fairtex in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Diaz pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Fairtex has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Diaz's lack of action.
Fairtex trying to control but Diaz postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fairtex trying to control here.
Fairtex wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fairtex trying to control here.

Diaz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fairtex doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Diaz.

Diaz is working for a kimura but Fairtex is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex pushes Diaz off looking to stand but Diaz dives back in and keeps control.
Fairtex avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Diaz.
Diaz is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Fairtex wants to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Diaz throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Fairtex because Diaz loaded up on that one.
A nice elbow there by Diaz.

Diaz working for a guillotine from mount but Fairtex is in no mood to give up.

Diaz working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Fairtex looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Diaz! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Joko Diaz!
Joko Diaz retains his bantamweight title!
Joko Diaz managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, [EVO] Koffin Inc. *Laundry Available*, into his post fight interview.