PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Ravencroft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ravencroft
vs
Diaz

190 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Ravencroft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roberto Diaz!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ravencroft checks a leg kick.
Ravencroft changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Diaz tries to avoid it but Ravencroft manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Diaz to the ground. Diaz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ravencroft shoots in but Diaz avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ravencroft.
Diaz is looking to reverse the position.
Diaz holding on.

Ravencroft wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Diaz, who protects the arm well.
Diaz wants to control but Ravencroft postures up.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Diaz is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ravencroft has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ravencroft shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Ravencroft. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ravencroft misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ravencroft sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ravencroft is breathing heavily.

Ravencroft 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.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diaz looking to control.
Diaz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ravencroft's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ravencroft looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Diaz sitting in guard here, content to control.

Ravencroft looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ravencroft is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Ravencroft keeps moving.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Ravencroft.
Diaz working some strikes from top position.
Diaz looking to pass the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ravencroft throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diaz's waist but Diaz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ravencroft off to one side.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ravencroft keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Ravencroft is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ravencroft not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ravencroft swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ravencroft 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.

Ravencroft working for submissions but it's allowed Diaz to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roberto Diaz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Diaz rushes Ravencroft and presses him up against the cage.
Ravencroft fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Diaz is trying to drag Ravencroft to the mat but Ravencroft just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ravencroft is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Diaz pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Diaz successfully pulls guard.
Diaz has Ravencroft pulled in close to control his posture.
Diaz is breathing heavily.

Diaz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ravencroft trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ravencroft controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ravencroft wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Ravencroft wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Diaz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Ravencroft gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

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.
Ravencroft misses with a takedown attempt
and Diaz counters with a slapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Ravencroft. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ravencroft gets caught flat footed, as Diaz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Diaz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Diaz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Diaz preventing the sweep.
Ravencroft is trying to keep Diaz in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ravencroft keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravencroft looking to control.
Diaz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ravencroft looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Diaz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Ravencroft is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Diaz pulls his head out easily.
Ravencroft works his way to full guard. Good work.

Ravencroft has his foot on Diaz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diaz works his way back into a safe position though.
Ravencroft keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ravencroft is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ravencroft wants to sweep but no luck.
Ravencroft can't keep his opponent in guard - Diaz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Diaz has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ravencroft is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ravencroft's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ravencroft gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Diaz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ravencroft holds on and takes a little breather.

Ravencroft has his foot on Diaz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Diaz works his way back into a safe position though.
Ravencroft looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ravencroft throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Diaz escapes and throws Ravencroft's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Diaz stands up and beckons Ravencroft to his feet.

Diaz has closed the distance and engaged Ravencroft in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ravencroft manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Ravencroft is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ravencroft working a defensive guard but Diaz passes into half guard.
Diaz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ravencroft wants to get back to full guard.

Diaz is looking for a kimura here.

Diaz decides to return to a standing position.

Diaz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ravencroft is looking to improve his position.
Ravencroft makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ravencroft.

Ravencroft throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ravencroft is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ravencroft looking to control but Diaz passes into half guard.

Ravencroft is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Diaz pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravencroft tries to roll over but Diaz keeps him under control.
Ravencroft is refusing to be controlled, as Diaz sits in half guard.
Ravencroft wants to improve his position but Diaz is controlling well.

Ravencroft looking for submissions off his back.

Ravencroft is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Diaz pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Diaz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Diaz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Diaz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Diaz stops Ravencroft from standing up.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Ravencroft is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ravencroft preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ravencroft pulls Diaz in to control the position.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Ravencroft.
Michael Ravencroft has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roberto Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roberto Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz stands and throws Ravencroft's legs to the side, diving into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roberto Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Diaz 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

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