PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keith Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keith Diaz has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Diaz
vs
Sanders

190 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Keith Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Simon Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sanders moves into the clinch.
Diaz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanders after a bit of a struggle.
Sanders is stalling here.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Sanders forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sanders has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sanders jumps into guard, dragging Diaz to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sanders avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanders thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Sanders is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders managing to control the position.
Diaz with a flurry of punches that miss.

Sanders has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diaz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sanders is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanders keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Sanders working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.

Sanders looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Diaz passes into side control.
Diaz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz tries for a kimura but Sanders is defending well.
Sanders is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Diaz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sanders is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Sanders's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Diaz working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Diaz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanders managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Diaz.
Sanders is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Diaz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sanders is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is looking to reverse the position.
Sanders gets back to half guard.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sanders moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Diaz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Diaz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Diaz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sanders defending well though.

Diaz is trying to work for a kimura but Sanders is defending well.
Diaz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanders does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz misses with a head shot. Sanders uses the momentum to regain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz postures up in Sanders's guard and throws a big left but Sanders blocks it.
Sanders controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanders manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Diaz bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Diaz dominated that round.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanders scores with a takedown into Diaz's guard.
Sanders must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Diaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanders trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Sanders tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.
Diaz has his hands on Sanders's head, controlling the position.
Sanders 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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Simon Sanders wasn't active enough on the ground.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sanders counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Diaz regains guard.
Sanders tries to stand but Diaz is controlling from the bottom.
Sanders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sanders trying to stand up but can't free himself from Diaz's guard.

Diaz working for a triangle but Sanders defends it easily.
Sanders looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Sanders is proving a slippery customer.
Sanders looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanders can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Diaz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanders!

Diaz working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Sanders is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sanders tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanders tries to hold on but Diaz postures up.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Sanders is squirming around nicely.
Diaz lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz unloads with some shots from mount but Sanders bucks and avoids them well.
Keith Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaz avoids the attempt from Sanders to control.
Sanders working to try and regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Diaz dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanders throws a series of strikes that have Diaz backpedaling.
Diaz fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sanders gets caught flat footed, as Diaz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Diaz passes Sanders's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sanders blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diaz.
Sanders has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Diaz is working away from the top position though.

Sanders actively working from the bottom here.
Diaz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sanders defending well though.
Sanders trying to control but Diaz postures up.
Diaz not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders regains full guard. Nicely done.

Sanders is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Diaz is aware though and is defending well.
Diaz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Diaz laying and praying for a moment but Sanders takes advantage and regains half guard.

Diaz is working for a kimura but Sanders is defending it quite comfortably.
Sanders wants to control but Diaz is keeping busy.

Sanders actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is trying to stand back up but Diaz is controlling him
Diaz wants to control but Sanders is keeping him busy.

Diaz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sanders sees it coming and defends easily.
Diaz is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanders is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Diaz wants to work for an arm triangle but Sanders is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Diaz is keen to just control but Sanders is a slippery customer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Diaz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sanders blocking the ground and pound attempt from Diaz.
Keith Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders controlling the position well.
Sanders tries to get to full guard but Diaz has control of the leg.
Diaz is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanders is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Diaz is looking for a kimura but Sanders is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Diaz to get the leverage.
Sanders is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to take a breather but Sanders is having none of it.
Sanders tries to get to full guard but Diaz has control of the leg.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Sanders is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diaz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sanders is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Diaz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanders does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

We're going to have a standup here because Keith Diaz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Sanders has managed to clinch.
Diaz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sanders smiles and moves away.
Simon Sanders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz avoids a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

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