PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Dire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshal Van Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dire
vs
Van Black

210 cm
20
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
268 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Dire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marshal Van Black!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Black's jab looks to have found its range, popping Dire under the eye.

It looks like Jason Dire has been cut.

Van Black feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Black wants to control from the top but Dire keeps moving.
Van Black is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Black prevents Dire from getting back to his feet.
Dire on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dire tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Black controlling from the top position.
Van Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dire is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Van Black is not content to let Dire control the position.
Van Black tries to roll over but Dire keeps him under control.
Van Black avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dire.
Dire thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Black's head.
Dire wants to control but Van Black is keeping him busy.
Van Black wants to control but Dire is keeping busy.
Van Black tries to get to full guard but Dire has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dire seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Dire thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Black's head.
Van Black pushes Dire off looking to stand but Dire dives back in and keeps control.
Dire missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dire moves into range and clinches up with Van Black.

Van Black breaks from the clinch.
Van Black moves out of range of the strikes.
Dire tries to clinch up but Van Black circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dire fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dire takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Van Black fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dire avoids it really well and circles away.

Van Black gets caught napping as Dire dives in and scores a takedown. Van Black manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dire trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Black working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dire.
Dire loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dire prevents Van Black from getting back to his feet.
Dire with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dire throwing strikes from guard but Van Black blocks nicely.
Dire scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dire is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Finch Farm that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Van Black avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Dire dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jason Dire's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dire looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Van Black drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dire 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.
Dire manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Dire is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dire wants to control but Van Black is keeping busy.
Van Black looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Black throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Van Black tries to pass to full mount but Dire defends it.
Van Black trying to control from half guard but Dire is working away.
Dire is trying to maintain the position but Van Black is very close to passing his half guard.
Van Black slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Van Black is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dire's half guard.
Van Black is stalling here. Dire is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Van Black seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Dire has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Dire throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Van Black avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Dire.
Dire throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Black is looking to reverse the position.
Van Black is not content to let Dire control the position.
Jason Dire overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Black is looking to reverse the position.
Dire looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Van Black is avoiding damage well.
Dire creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Van Black takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Van Black can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dire landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Van Black dodges the ground and pound from Dire.
Van Black takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Van Black is looking for a sweep.
An elbow from Dire crashes against the mat.
Van Black tries to escape but Dire is in control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sloppy strikes there by Dire.
Van Black is trying to get back to half guard.
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 Jason Dire will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jason Dire's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dire closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Black with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dire can't break the clinch.
Dire missing with knees to the body.
Van Black is trying to pull guard but Dire has him pressed against the cage.
Van Black is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Dire - that landed with a thud.
Dire is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Van Black has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dire is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jason Dire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshal Van Black.
Dire has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Van Black avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Black decides to pull guard.
Dire throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dire stands up over Van Black, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dire working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dire throwing strikes but missing.
Dire is looking to work some ground and pound but Van Black has wrist control.
Van Black pulls Dire in to control the position.
Van Black avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dire is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jason Dire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van Black.
Van Black takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Van Black moves forwards but Dire connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Van Black shoots in looking for a takedown but Dire manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Van Black's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Van Black looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dire is fending him off so far but Van Black persists. Nope, Dire circles away and we're back to standing.
Van Black shoots in looking for a takedown but Dire manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Van Black's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Dire clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dire stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dire wants it to stay on the feet.
Dire tries a low kick but Van Black avoids it.
Dire punishes Van Black's body with a nice straight punch.
Dire throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Van Black on the side of the head.
A leg kick checked by Van Black.
Dire scores with a jab. Van Black acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Dire throws a right and a left that Van Black avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Black gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Dire makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dire looks to clinch
and Van Black counters with a nice body shot.

Dire moves into the clinch.

Van Black has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dire uses from the top position.
Van Black is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dire slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Dire showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dire has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Dire!