PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Trick Daddy - Let's Go ft Twista & Lil Jon. Diaz has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaz
vs
Herzog

169 cm
36
145 lbs
26 - 22 - 0

177 cm
30
134 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 22 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oscar Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Viktor Herzog!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz pushes Herzog up against the cage in a clinch.

Diaz has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Herzog regains guard immediately.
Herzog is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Herzog is on top in guard.

Diaz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Herzog defends well.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Herzog wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Herzog is aware though and is defending well.
Herzog scoring with some ground and pound.
Herzog is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Herzog is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Herzog postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Herzog lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Herzog engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog scoring with punches to the head and body.
Herzog controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herzog wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Herzog avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Herzog throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Herzog accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Herzog throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz pulls Herzog in to control the position.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Herzog distracts Diaz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Herzog with a flurry of punches that miss.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Herzog from controlling successfully.
Diaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Herzog is looking to work some ground and pound but Diaz has wrist control.
Herzog in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Herzog lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Herzog cracks Diaz with a solid left hand.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Herzog tries to pass.
Herzog throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Herzog landing some decent shots from guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Herzog from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog working some strikes from top position.
Herzog landing some decent shots from guard.
Diaz wants to stand up but Herzog is controlling him.
Herzog advances to half guard.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Herzog connects with a nice short shot to Diaz's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Herzog is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Herzog is controlling well.
Herzog looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Herzog connects with a nice short shot to Diaz's temple.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Herzog connects with a nice short shot to Diaz's temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Herzog is looking to take a break and control but Diaz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herzog looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Herzog dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Herzog tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Herzog.
Diaz throws a front kick aimed at Herzog's knee but Herzog avoids it well.
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Herzog. Herzog gets slowly back to his feet.
Herzog with a lazy takedown attempt
and Diaz counters with a good low kick that Herzog was not able to check.
Herzog fails with the takedown.
Oscar Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Herzog.
Herzog wants to clinch.
Herzog fails with the takedown
and Diaz counters with a head kick. That will keep Herzog thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Herzog has his takedown stuffed

and Diaz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Herzog goes for a takedown attempt but Diaz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Herzog gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Diaz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Diaz counters with a straight right hand.
Herzog misses with a takedown attempt
and Diaz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Herzog shoots and misses
and Diaz counters with a straight right hand.

Diaz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Herzog tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Diaz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Herzog is looking to regain half guard here but Diaz keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Herzog keeps working.
Herzog is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Diaz is looking to stall here but Herzog recovers full guard.
Herzog looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diaz is one step ahead there.
Diaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Herzog is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Herzog is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog wants to sweep but no luck.
Diaz postures up in Herzog's guard and throws a big left but Herzog blocks it.
Viktor Herzog has got the better of the ground game so far.

Herzog working for submissions but it's allowed Diaz to get to half guard.

Herzog looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Herzog is looking to improve his position.
Diaz stalling.
Herzog regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Diaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog trying to control the position.
Herzog lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Diaz!
Herzog cracks Diaz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Herzog raining down shots from the mount!
Herzog with shots to the head and body - Diaz looks very uncomfortable down there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herzog looking to control but Diaz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Herzog putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Viktor Herzog will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Herzog misses with an uppercut. Diaz saw that one coming.

Diaz rushes Herzog and presses him up against the cage.

Diaz is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Herzog can't fight it off and eventually Diaz manages to take the fight to the floor. Herzog looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Herzog is on top in guard.
Herzog trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Herzog missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Herzog pushing down on Diaz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ground and pound from Herzog.
Herzog sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Herzog wants to take a breather but Diaz is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to control Herzog's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diaz avoid being mounted?
Herzog prevents Diaz from standing back up.
Herzog frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Herzog scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Diaz?
The referee warns Diaz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Herzog has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Diaz's face.
Herzog trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Herzog is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Herzog tries to control but Diaz wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herzog scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Diaz is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Herzog looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oh Diaz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Diaz is in a horrible position here. Herzog smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Diaz takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Herzog's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Viktor Herzog!
Viktor Herzog was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.