PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Afa Sila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dylan Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Lamb of God - To The End. Dylan Diaz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sila
vs
Diaz

173 cm
23
163 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

182 cm
37
164 lbs
31 - 19 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Executioner Fightwear
Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Afa Sila!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dylan Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz walks into a left hand.
Sila has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sila staying out of range there.
Diaz throws a looping overhand right but Sila ducks down to avoid it.
Sila throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diaz throws a hook but Sila blocks it.
Diaz looks to land a left hand but Sila moved out of range nicely.
Diaz misses with a hook.
Sila slips under a jab from Diaz.
Sila misses with a body shot.
Diaz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Diaz misses the jab.
Sila shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Diaz sprawls well. Diaz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sila gets slowly back to his feet.
Sila staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Diaz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sila circles away.
Sila staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sila circles away.
Sila digs a good body shot into Diaz's ribs.
Sila ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.
Diaz throws a jab when Sila was well out of range.
Diaz lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sila paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sila moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diaz throws a solid leg kick but Sila takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Diaz.
Diaz throws a looping overhand right but Sila ducks down to avoid it.
Diaz might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sila tries to move into range but Diaz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Diaz misses with a looping left.
Sila looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.
Sila slips under a jab from Diaz.
Diaz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sila.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz slips a jab from Sila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sila staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by Sila.
Dylan Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sila moves out of range as Diaz strikes.
Diaz misses with a shot to the body

so Sila counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sila trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sila with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sila loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sila stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Sila from controlling successfully.
Diaz seems keen to control Sila's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diaz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Diaz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sila manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Diaz has Sila in his guard.

Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sila.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet but Sila is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Diaz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sila trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sila in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sila has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sila trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Afa Sila will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sila misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diaz.
Sila takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sila swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Diaz catches Sila with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Diaz lands a jab.

Diaz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sila to the ground. Diaz is now in Sila's guard.
Diaz throws a big right hand that misses.
Diaz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sila is proving hard to escape from.
Sila being controlled here, momentarily.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sila works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz wants to stand but Sila has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diaz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sila defending well as Diaz loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Diaz tries to move into range but Sila moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Sila uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dylan Diaz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diaz cracks Sila with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sila uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Diaz.
A telegraphed right hand from Sila misses the target.
Sila stuffs the takedown.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diaz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sila throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Diaz takes a swing at Sila's ribcage but misses.
Diaz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sila counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sila with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sila uses his free foot to push down on Diaz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sila lands with some strikes.

Sila jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Diaz manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Sila is working Diaz over with some ground and pound from side control.

Sila is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diaz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sila tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face as Sila controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sila looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Diaz is trying to buck Sila off.
Sila is looking to take a break and control but Diaz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sila goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Diaz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sila but great work by Diaz.
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 Afa Sila will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Diaz shoots in but Sila avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sila avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Sila moves out of range.
Sila misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Diaz misses with a looping left.
Sila moves away from the strike by Diaz.
Diaz with a jab.
Jab from Diaz.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Diaz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sila sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sila blocks a jab.
Diaz throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Sila counters with a single leg into guard. Diaz didn't expect that.
Sila throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz controls Sila momentarily but Sila frees himself.
Sila loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Sila isn't so interested in that idea.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sila controls the pace.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Sila from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two 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 wants to stand but Sila is controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A jab from Diaz misses.
Sila swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sila looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Diaz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Sila scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sila trying to control from Diaz's half guard. Diaz has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Diaz wants to stand but Sila is controlling the position.
Sila wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila stays in close to Diaz's body and controls the position.
Afa Sila overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sila lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sila slips nicely into half guard.
Sila throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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 roll over but Sila keeps him under control.
Sila is keen to just control but Diaz is a slippery customer.
Sila seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Diaz is looking to improve his position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sila shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sila swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Sila misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Afa Sila did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Sila, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Sila against the cage but Sila circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Diaz with that takedown attempt.
Sila scores with a hook to the body. Diaz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sila shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.
Sila is looking to wear down Diaz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Diaz misses with a series of wild punches.
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Diaz misses.
Diaz fails to land the takedown.
Afa Sila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dylan Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sila shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense.
Sila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Diaz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sila scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Sila steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Sila uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Diaz looks to throw the jab but Sila is out of range.
Sila takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Diaz connects with a body shot that sends Sila's belly button to the back.
Sila ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.
Diaz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sila with a nice cross.
Diaz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sila swivels and escapes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diaz is defended easily by Sila.
Diaz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz slips under a jab from Sila.
Diaz tries to clinch but Sila moves out of range.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Sila keeps it at a distance.
Diaz throws a body shot but no joy.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sila dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz misses with a lunging right hand

and Sila counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Sila is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Diaz is wriggling around but Sila manages to pass to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sila is working away from the top position though.
Diaz is refusing to be controlled, as Sila sits in half guard.
Sila is really struggling to control Diaz but he's trying to hold on to the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.

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.
Sila lands with a punch from half guard.

Sila is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Diaz defends it well.
Sila scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sila prevents Diaz from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sila not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sila is trying to work for a kimura but Diaz is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afa Sila had his way with Dylan Diaz in that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Diaz misses with a straight right.
Sila slips under a jab from Diaz.
Diaz throws a lazy uppercut

and Sila counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sila stops Diaz from getting back to his feet.
Sila sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
Sila thows a huge punch but Diaz dodges it nicely.
Diaz is staying active underneath Sila, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz has hold of Sila's hands but Sila slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Diaz is not content to let Sila control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sila.
Diaz loads up on a big right hand but Sila slips the punch.
Diaz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sila checks a low kick from Diaz.
Diaz throws an overhand right that lands on Sila's shoulder, as Sila tries to avoid the shot.
Diaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sila manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diaz is defended easily by Sila.
Sila steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diaz.

Diaz drives through and clinches with Sila against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sila has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Diaz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sila lands a body punch.
Diaz throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silas head.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Sila shoots for a double leg takedown but Diaz sprawls well. He's pushed Sila's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sila misses the shot to the body.
Diaz slips under a jab.
Sila looks for a takedown but Diaz sprawls well.
Sila swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Diaz misses with a hook.
Diaz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sila defends well and Diaz ends up having to push Sila into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sila keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Diaz.
Diaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sila misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz throws the left hand but Sila avoids the punch easily.
Diaz throws the left hand but Sila avoids the punch easily.
Sila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sila.
Sila looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Sila persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Afa Sila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Sila.
Sila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a hook but Sila avoids it easily.
Diaz misses with a straight right.
Sila moves out of range as Diaz strikes.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Dylan Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A jab from Diaz misses.
Sila fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Diaz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Diaz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Diaz tests Sila's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sila moves away from the strike by Diaz.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sila.
Diaz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Afa Sila is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Diaz misses with a left hand

and Sila decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diaz's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dylan Diaz.
I think Sila has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 48:47
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 50:46
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Afa Sila!
Afa Sila retains his lightweight title!
After the big win, Afa Sila made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Kore Fight Nutrition [TG] and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.