PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luis Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damico Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz comes to the ring accompanied by National Anthem. Smalls has chosen Jay Z- My President is Black as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Diaz
vs
Smalls

184 cm
20
184 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
186 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Threadz

Fighter Suplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Luis Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Damico Smalls!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Smalls as Diaz shoots in.

Smalls has Diaz up against the ropes in a clinch.

Smalls works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Smalls wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Diaz wants to sweep here but Smalls controlling him for the moment.
Diaz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Diaz tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Smalls is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Smalls regains half guard.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Smalls is pressing down on Diaz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smalls escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diaz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Smalls is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Let's hope that Smalls has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Diaz wanted to stand there but Smalls had control of the position.
Diaz prevents Smalls from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smalls not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Smalls looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Smalls keeps moving.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smalls swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smalls's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smalls is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls passes Diaz's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smalls takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Smalls is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Still in half guard, Smalls seems content to control.
Smalls trying to pass the guard but Diaz defending well.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Smalls has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smalls thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diaz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smalls.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smalls lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Smalls cracks a nice hook into Diaz's ribs.

Smalls decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smalls performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Smalls seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damico Smalls dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smalls looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Diaz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A head kick misses from Smalls.

Diaz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smalls sprawls well initially but Diaz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Diaz is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Smalls still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Smalls has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
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.

Smalls wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Diaz, who protects the arm well.

Smalls is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Diaz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smalls stands up and beckons Diaz to his feet.
Luis Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz with a poor takedown

and Smalls counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Diaz's guard now.
Smalls is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Diaz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smalls gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smalls pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smalls avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smalls trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.

Diaz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smalls gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Diaz throws his legs up looking for a submission but Smalls uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Smalls thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Diaz managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Smalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Diaz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smalls wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Smalls is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Diaz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smalls fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Diaz wants to control but Smalls postures up.
Diaz is looking to regain half guard here but Smalls keeps moving and retains side control.
Smalls controlling the position.
Smalls creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Diaz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damico Smalls showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice jab there from Smalls.
Smalls dips to his left and cracks Diaz with an uppercut!

Smalls gets caught flat footed, as Diaz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smalls is looking to stand up but Diaz isn't so interested in that idea.
Smalls has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Smalls.

Smalls looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smalls is keeping the position for now.
Smalls has his hands on Diaz's head, controlling the position.
Smalls is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Diaz works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smalls regains full guard. Nicely done.
Diaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smalls is pulling down on Diaz's head. It's preventing any offense from Diaz, at least for the moment.
Diazis looking to pass into half guard but Smalls pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Smalls is in guard.
Smalls postures up.

Diaz looking for a guillotine here but Smalls defends easily.
Diaz is looking to sweep but instead, Smalls has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking for a sweep. Smalls is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smalls frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smalls tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Diaz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smalls content just to control the position here.

Smalls goes for an armbar but Diaz turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Diaz.
Smalls keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smalls tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Damico Smalls.
Well Smalls has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight for Damico Smalls!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Damico Smalls!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Damico Smalls!

Damico Smalls wins by unanimous decision!