PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaz
vs
Edwards

195 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthew Diaz!
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, Dave Edwards !
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edwards shoots in but Diaz avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Edwards has taken the fight to the clinch.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Edwards throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown but Edwards manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Diaz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards closes the distance and clinches up with Diaz, looking for a takedown. Edwards pushes Diaz against the cage but Diaz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Diaz drops down looking for a counter takedown but Edwards sprawls and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Diaz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Edwards avoids it.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Edwards turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz has Edwards pushed against the cage.

Edwards breaks the clinch.

Diaz feints and as Edwards raises his hands in defense, Diaz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diaz trying to control but Edwards is working from the bottom.
Edwards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.
Edwards is trying to keep Diaz in close.
Edwards lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Edwards trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Edwards is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Diaz has his foot on Edwards 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Edwards works his way back into a safe position though.
Edwards trying to move into half guard but instead Diaz has managed to sweep!

Edwards is controlling Diaz's posture.
Diaz stands up over Edwards , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Edwards wants to sweep but no luck.
Edwards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Diaz throws a big right hand that misses.
Edwards wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Edwards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Edwards keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

Edwards has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Diaz is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Edwards 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Diaz has Edwards pressed against the cage.
Diaz avoiding damage.
Diaz tries to work over Edwards 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz has Edwards pressed against the cage.

Edwards manages to break the clinch.

Diaz clinches up against the cage.

Diaz lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Edwards kicks Diaz off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Edwards tries to clinch

and Diaz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Edwards is on top in guard.

Edwards loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Edwards prevents Diaz from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dave Edwards will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Edwards gets a clinch.

Edwards breaks from the clinch.

Diaz drives through with a takedown into guard.

Edwards has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Diaz has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Diaz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diaz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Edwards .
A head punch blocked on the inside by Edwards .
Edwards is looking for a takedown.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Edwards to keep the fight standing.

Diaz jumps guard and drags Edwards to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to stand and escape but Edwards is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edwards wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.
Edwards in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Edwards controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Diaz looking to control but Edwards passes into half guard.
Edwards is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Edwards is looking to take a break and control but Diaz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Edwards is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Edwards trying to control from half guard but Diaz is working away.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Edwards .
Diaz feinted with a counter takedown.
Matthew Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Edwards .
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As Diaz backs off Edwards throws a huge counter combo but Diaz manages to avoid it all.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Edwards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Edwards moves out of range of the body kick.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Edwards is breathing heavily.

Edwards instigates a clinch.
Edwards wants a takedown.
Edwards is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Diaz leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Diaz to work.

Diaz pulls guard successfully.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Edwards advances to half guard.
Edwards is keen to just control but Diaz is a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dave Edwards will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Diaz sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Edwards shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diaz throws a wild body kick that Edwards sees coming a mile off.
Despite the aggression on Edwards 's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Edwards fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Edwards goes for a double leg but Diaz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Diaz continues to drive forward.
Matthew Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Edwards .
Edwards tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Edwards .
Edwards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Diaz moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Diaz just stands there and leans against the cage.

Diaz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Edwards utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

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 lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Edwards works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Diaz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Diaz is in close to Edwards 's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Edwards is working an open guard so Diaz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Diaz rushes Edwards and presses him up against the cage.
Edwards goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Diaz.
Edwards tries to pull guard but Diaz holds him up against the cage and eventually Edwards drops back down to his feet.
Edwards is trying to break the clinch but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Edwards stalling in the clinch.
Diaz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Diaz controls the action.
Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Edwards avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Diaz has Edwards pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz pulls guard effortlessly.
Edwards wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.

Edwards stands and steps away. Diaz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Edwards shoots in looking for a takedown but Diaz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Edwards 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Edwards sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Edwards tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Diaz but Diaz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Diaz feinted with a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Edwards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz throws a leg kick but Edwards moved away.
Edwards misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Diaz drives through and clinches with Edwards against the cage.

Diaz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Edwards is trying to keep an underhook but Diaz manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Edwards has one foot on Diaz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Dave Edwards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Edwards fails in his attempt to clinch.

Diaz moves into the clinch successfully.

Diaz drags the fight down to the ground.
Diaz 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.

Diaz throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Edwards escapes and throws Diaz's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Matthew Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dave Edwards is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Edwards decides to stand back up. Edwards steps back and let's Diaz get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Edwards 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dave Edwards !