PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luiz Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pope
vs
Diaz

200 cm
26
157 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

174 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, John Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Luiz Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz dives in and grabs Pope's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pope pushes down on Diaz's head and hops out.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pope tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pope to the ground. Pope escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Pope tries to sprawl out of it but Diaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pope manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
John Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luiz Diaz.
Diaz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Pope.
Pope plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Pope displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diaz.
Diaz takes one to the chin there.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pope lands a nice shot that snaps Diaz's head back.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Pope sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diaz shoots for a takedown but Pope saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Pope connects with the punch.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Pope is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Diaz shoots in but no luck this time.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pope with a hook.
Pope lands a head kick!
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz shoots in but Pope avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Diaz walks into a straight right hand from Pope.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Pope duly obliges.
Diaz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Diaz moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Diaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pope sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diaz somewhat.
Diaz looks winded!
Pope lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Pope works the jab nicely.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pope.
Pope throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Pope lands a really nice looking cross but Diaz seems unphased.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pope tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Diaz is in Pope's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz passes Pope's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Pope trying to control from the bottom.

Pope actively working from the bottom here.

Pope actively working from the bottom here.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but Pope defending well.
Pope is looking to control Diaz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pope avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Diaz seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Pope is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Luiz Diaz!