PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Atunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bartel Diakite (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diakite has chosen Diamonds as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Bartel Diakite enters the cage!

Atunes
vs
Diakite

180 cm
22
180 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

186 cm
22
176 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

EVOLUTION Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leonardo Atunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Bartel Diakite!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diakite uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Atunes.
Atunes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've been told by Atunes's head coaches at Team Alpha Male that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Diakite closes the distance and clinches up with Atunes, looking for a takedown. Diakite pushes Atunes against the cage but Atunes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Atunes moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Atunes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diakite.
Atunes lands with a right hand.
Diakite tries for a takedown but Atunes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Leonardo Atunes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bartel Diakite.
Diakite tries to score a power double leg takedown but Atunes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diakite somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atunes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diakite was well out of range. Poor timing from Atunes.
Diakite is trying hard to land a takedown here. Atunes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Atunes misses its target.
Atunes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Diakite looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Atunes stuns Diakite with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diakite fails with the takedown
and Atunes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diakite.
Diakite shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Atunes sprawls well. Atunes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Diakite gets slowly back to his feet.
Diakite fails to land the takedown.
Leonardo Atunes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Diakite shoots in and gets a takedown into Atunes's guard.
Atunes is pulling down on Diakite's head. It's preventing any offense from Diakite, at least for the moment.
Diakite wants to pass the guard but Atunes is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diakite wants to control from the top but Atunes keeps moving.
Diakite looking to pass the guard.
Atunes pulls Diakite in close to prevent any damage.

Diakite drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Atunes dives on top into guard.

Diakite is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Atunes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Diakite isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Atunes stacks Diakite on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Atunes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Atunes continues to stall.
Diakite is looking to regain half guard here but Atunes keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee asks Atunes politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Atunes prefers to stall for the moment though.
Diakite manages to work his way to half guard, despite Atunes's best efforts.

Diakite looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Diakite actively working from the bottom here.
Diakite is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Atunes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Atunes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Diakite misses with a takedown
and Atunes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Atunes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diakite is defended easily by Atunes.
Leonardo Atunes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bartel Diakite.
Atunes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Diakite stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Atunes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diakite misses with a takedown
and Atunes counters with a nice body shot.
Atunes connects with a jab.
Diakite fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diakite tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Atunes swivels and escapes.
A quick step to the side and Atunes tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Diakite drives through with a takedown into Atunes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Diakite looking to pass the guard.

Diakite drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Atunes dives on top into guard.

Diakite is looking for a triangle here but Atunes uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Atunes slows the pace down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diakite wants to control but Atunes postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diakite tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Atunes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Atunes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diakite can do to turn this around?
Diakite is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Atunes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Diakite wants to control but Atunes is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Diakite has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Atunes escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Atunes!
Diakite wants to control but Atunes postures up.
Diakite tries to buck Atunes off but Atunes is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atunes in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Diakite is trying to improve his position.
Diakite manages to get back to half guard.

That's four 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.
Atunes controlling the pace.
Diakite wants to improve his position but Atunes is controlling well.

Diakite looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diakite trying to get back to full guard but Atunes takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Diakite is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Atunes controlling the pace for now.
Diakite looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Atunes dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Atunes lands a nice hook to Diakite's body. Diakite takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Diakite doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Atunes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Atunes dips to his left and cracks Diakite with an uppercut!
Diakite fails with the takedown
and Atunes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bartel Diakite is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diakite misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Atunes to counter with a crisp jab.
Leonardo Atunes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bartel Diakite.
Diakite has his takedown stuffed
and Diakite takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Atunes takes a swing at Diakite's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diakite shoots in but Atunes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Atunes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Diakites jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Atunes is looking to wear down Diakite with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Atunes misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atunes misses with a body shot.
Atunes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Atunes lands with a shot to the body.
Diakite fails with the takedown
and Atunes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diakite takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Atunes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diakite tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Atunes defends well and Diakite ends up having to push Atunes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Diakite with a lazy takedown attempt
and Atunes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Diakite has a takedown stuffed.
Diakite throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Atunes's waist but Atunes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diakite off to one side.
Atunes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Diakites jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Atunes lands a leg kick that knocks Diakite off balance momentarily.
Leonardo Atunes is winning the standup battle so far.
Atunes scores with a shot to the body.
Atunes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diakite moves away.
Atunes misses with a wild body shot.
Diakite changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atunes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diakite.
It appears Atunes was looking to counter with a kick there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Atunes scores with a punch to the head.
Diakite with a lazy takedown attempt
and Diakite takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Diakite is rocked!
Atunes cracks Diakite on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Diakite falls backwards against the cage. Atunes follows up with more strikes that drop Diakite to his knees. Atunes keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Diakite! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Leonardo Atunes!
Leonardo Atunes spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.