PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dirk Diggler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Swanson
vs
Diggler

195 cm
24
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
229 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Benjamin Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dirk Diggler!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson is looking to clinch.
Swanson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've been hearing reports that Swanson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Diggler avoids a punch combination nicely.

Diggler shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Swanson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Diggler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Diggler from controlling successfully.
Diggler throwing strikes from guard but Swanson blocks nicely.
Diggler controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Diggler wants to get up but he can't break Swanson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dirk Diggler.
Swanson tries to close the distance and clinch but Diggler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Diggler takes the fight into the clinch.
Diggler looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Swanson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diggler's elbow.
Swanson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Diggler prevents a body shot from Swanson.

Diggler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diggler tries to bum rush Swanson with a series of wild strikes but Swanson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Swanson misses with a series of wild punches.
Swanson wants to clinch.

Diggler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Diggler throws an elbow that misses. Swanson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Diggler's guard. Nice move by Swanson!
Diggler working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diggler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diggler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Swanson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diggler controls Swanson momentarily but Swanson frees himself.

Swanson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Diggler is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Diggler has escaped and now he's on top!
Diggler won't allow Swanson to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swanson has his foot on Diggler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diggler works his way back into a safe position though.
Diggler engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Diggler would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Swanson looking for a sweep. Not yet Swanson, not yet.
Diggler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Swanson trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diggler with a nice head shot there.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Diggler trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Diggler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Swanson tries to close the distance and clinch but Diggler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Swanson is looking to clinch.
Diggler swings for the body but Swanson moves out of range.

Diggler drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diggler throws a big right hand that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diggler content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Swanson working for a triangle but Diggler defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Diggler looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Swanson!
Swanson prevents Diggler from improving position.

Diggler goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Swanson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Diggler's guard! Nice work there by Swanson!
Diggler keeping moving, preventing Swanson from controlling successfully.
Diggler working a defensive guard here.
Swanson wants to pass the guard but Diggler is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson forces his way into half guard.
Diggler is trying to stand back up but Swanson is controlling him
Swanson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Diggler.
Swanson is looking to take a break and control but Diggler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diggler tries to roll over but Swanson keeps him under control.
Diggler is trying to control but can't.
Diggler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diggler has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Dirk Diggler has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Swanson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Diggler counters with a slapping leg kick.
A punch combination from Swanson misses.

Diggler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Diggler is breathing heavily.
Diggler trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Diggler is looking to stand up but Swanson won't let him.
Diggler looking to sit in guard and control but Swanson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Diggler wants to control but Swanson passes easily into half guard.
Dirk Diggler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Swanson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Diggler controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swanson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Diggler has managed to free his arm - good work.
Diggler keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Diggler is looking to control Swanson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Diggler avoid being mounted?
Diggler is trying to stand.
Diggler is looking for a sweep. Swanson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Diggler looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson is trying to work for a kimura but Diggler is defending well.

Swanson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Diggler is trying to maintain the position but Swanson is very close to passing his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson wants to control but Diggler is keeping him busy.
Diggler works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Benjamin Swanson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dirk Diggler's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Diggler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Diggler darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Diggler stalling away here and it's allowed Swanson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Diggler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diggler wants to control from the top but Swanson keeps moving.
Diggler wants to pass the guard but Swanson is keeping the position.
Diggler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swanson working for a triangle but Diggler defends it easily.

Swanson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diggler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Swanson has Diggler pulled in close to control his posture.
Diggler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diggler won't allow Swanson to sweep him here.
Diggler is looking to stand up but Swanson won't let him.
Diggler is stalling in the full guard.

Dirk Diggler has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A punch combination from Swanson misses.
Swanson tries to clinch there but Diggler circles away.
Swanson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Diggler counters with a shoot takedown. Swanson fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diggler has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Swanson is proving hard to escape from.
Diggler trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diggler trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dirk Diggler.
Diggler has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Swanson tries to clinch there but Diggler circles away.
Swanson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Diggler counters with a takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diggler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Swanson keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diggler tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Diggler has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Diggler working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Diggler throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Swanson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Diggler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Diggler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Diggler!