PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Pigden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Diaz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Diaz
vs
Pigden

190 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

No Shit Nutrition

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Pigden!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pigden has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.
Diaz crunches a lovely knee into Pigden's ribcage.
A right hook to the body lands for Pigden.
Diaz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Pigden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pigden but Pigden pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pigden circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pigden counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diaz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Diaz trying to stall but Pigden improves his position.
Pigden lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Pigden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz tries to clinch up

and Pigden holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pigden lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pigden landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Diaz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pigden blocks an elbow strike from Diaz.
Diaz misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Diaz throws an elbow but misses.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Pigden manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz lands a knee to the head.
Pigden throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Diazs head.
Diaz misses with a knee strike.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Pigden throws an elbow but it misses.
Pigden scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a knee to the head.
Diaz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pigden lands an uppercut.
Pigden scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pigden scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Pigden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Pigden has managed to clinch.
Pigden lands an elbow inside.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pigden has him pressed against the cage.
Pigden lands with a light punch inside.

Pigden breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pigden throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pigden throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Pigden fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diaz, pushing him back against the cage.

Pigden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz clinches but Pigden breaks the clinch

and Pigden counters with a head kick that drops Diaz!

Diaz is rocked!

Pigden decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Diaz walks into a jab.

Pigden closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pigden lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Diaz.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Diaz.
Pigden lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Diaz takes an elbow to the temple.
Pigden lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Diaz tries to land a knee to the head but Pigden blocks with his arms.

Pigden breaks the clinch.

Pigden closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Pigden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pigden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pigden chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pigden swinging wilding here.
A left and a right from Pigden both land. Nice combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pigden!
Diaz clinches but Pigden breaks the clinch

and Pigden moves into the clinch.
Pigden landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pigden lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Pigden wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Pigden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pigden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Diaz.

Pigden rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.
Pigden tries to land a knee to the head but Diaz blocks with his arms.
Pigden is trying to break the clinch but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.

Pigden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pigden counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diaz taking a breather.
Pigden throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Diaz wants a takedown but no success here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Pigden is working Diaz over against the cage.
Diaz tries a knee to the head but Pigden blocks it.
A nice left hand lands by Pigden.
Pigden working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Pigden pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pigden scoring well with a low kick there.

Pigden forces Diaz back against the cage and clinches.
Diaz stalling in the clinch but Pigden improves position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pigden.
Pigden scores with a nice hook to the head.
Diaz misses with a knee to the head.

Pigden breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pigden clinches up against the cage.
Nice elbow from Diaz.
Diaz throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pigden creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Pigden manages to break the clinch.
Diaz closes the distance but Pigden moves to the side

and Pigden counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diaz unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pigden lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A knee to the head by Diaz.
Pigden scores with a shoulder strike.
Diaz connects with a knee to the head.
Pigden lands a hook to the side of the head.
Diaz stalling in the clinch but Pigden improves position.
Pigden gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Diaz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pigden fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Pigden closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Diaz.
A knee to the head by Diaz.
Pigden digs a right hand into Diaz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Diaz's gas tank.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Pigden dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pigden tries a head kick but it misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Pigden in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Diaz tries to clinch up

and Pigden counters by clinching up.

Pigden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big left from Diaz misses.
Pigden lands a jab to the nose.
Diaz walks into a jab.
Pigden avoids the head kick by Diaz.
Pigden circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pigden counters with a two punch combo.
Diaz wants to clinch but Pigden slips to the side

and Pigden moves into the clinch.
Pigden working aggressively here.
Pigden misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Pigden.
Diaz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Diaz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pigden has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pigden misses with an elbow over the top.
Eric Pigden seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diaz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pigden has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pigden lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pigden's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Anthony Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pigden closes the distance and clinches.

Pigden manages to break the clinch.
Pigden feints and then cracks Diaz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Diaz down.
Pigden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz clinches but Pigden breaks the clinch
and Pigden counters with a one-two to the body.

Pigden has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.
Diaz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pigden lands an uppercut.
Pigden throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Diazs head.
Pigden lands a knee to the body.

Pigden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pigden buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pigden scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Pigden tries a head kick but it misses.
Diaz tries to clinch

and Pigden counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diaz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Diaz taking a breather.
Pigden lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pigden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Pigden breaks from the clinch.
Pigden lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Pigden takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Eric Pigden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Pigden takes the fight into the clinch.
Diaz wants to break free but Pigden has control.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pigden creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pigden lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pigden.
Diaz tries to clinch but Pigden moves away
and Diaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Diaz lands an elbow inside.

Diaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz throws a push kick but Pigden slaps the foot to one side.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Pigden.
Diaz looks to clinch
and Pigden counters with a straight right hand.

Pigden closes the distance and pushes Diaz back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
Pigden tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diaz's elbow.
A knee to the head by Diaz.
Pigden lands an uppercut.
Pigden tries to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling the position.
Diaz trying to control the position but instead, Pigden has worked for underhooks and has pushed Diaz into the cage.
Pigden is looking to break free of the clinch but Diaz has double underhooks.
Diaz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Pigden's face.

Pigden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pigden circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Diaz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Diaz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pigden is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Pigden circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pigden holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pigden lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Diaz.
Diaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Pigden controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pigden lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Diaz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Pigden manages to break the clinch.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Pigden throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Diaz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pigden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses.

Pigden moves into the clinch successfully.
Pigden wants to get back to striking at distance but Diaz won't allow it.
Diaz misses with a knee strike.
Diaz looking to throw knees to the head but Pigden is blocking nicely.
Pigden lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Pigden working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Diaz scores with a knee to the head.
Pigden lands a body shot.
Diaz dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Diaz using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pigden lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Pigden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Diaz clinches but Pigden breaks the clinch

and Pigden counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diaz with a knee to the head.
Diaz swings wildly with an uppercut but Pigden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pigden prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pigden wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pigden looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Diaz scores with a shot to the side of Pigden's head.
Pigden throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.
Diaz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pigden blocks it with crossed arms.
Pigden working aggressively here.
Diaz landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pigden managing to block the knees to the body from Diaz.
Pigden lands a hook to the side of the head.

Pigden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pigden throws a solid leg kick but Diaz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Pigden.
Nice shot lands for Pigden.

Pigden rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.
Pigden lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pigden wants to get back to striking at distance but Diaz won't allow it.
Diaz dodges an elbow strike from Pigden.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Pigden has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pigden gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Diaz is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pigden has him pressed against the cage.

Pigden breaks from the clinch.
Pigden misses with a low kick.
Diaz throws a head kick but Pigden moves out of range.

Pigden closes the distance and pushes Diaz back into the cage.
Pigden lands with a right to the head.
Pigden lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Diaz throws a knee to the head but misses.

Pigden breaks the clinch.

Pigden has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.
Pigden lands a nice shot to the body.
Pigden lands a shoulder strike.
Diaz tries to land a knee to the head but Pigden blocks with his arms.
Diaz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pigden gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Pigden breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anthony Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pigden moves into the clinch.
Diaz lands an elbow that stopped Pigden in his tracks for a moment.
Diaz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Diaz takes a shot to the head.
Diaz trying to control the position but instead, Pigden has worked for underhooks and has pushed Diaz into the cage.
Pigden lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pigden lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Diaz controlling the action here for a moment.

Pigden manages to break the clinch.
A left and a right from Pigden both land. Nice combination.
Diaz looks to clinch
and Diaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pigden goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Diaz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Pigden scores with a three punch combo!
Diaz darts in trying to clinch
and Pigden makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pigden tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz connects with a high kick.
Pigden stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Pigden closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short right from Pigden on the inside.
Diaz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pigden lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Diaz stalling.
Pigden throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Pigden.
Pigden fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pigden circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pigden counters with a one-two to the body.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Pigden is avoiding it.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pigden rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.

Pigden breaks from the clinch.
Diaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pigden's waist but Pigden gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diaz off to one side.
Pigden lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Pigden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Diaz shoots in but Pigden avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Pigden clinches.
Diaz looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A short right from Diaz on the inside.
Pigden on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pigden scores with a shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Pigden scores with a hook to the body.
Diaz trying to control the position but instead, Pigden has worked for underhooks and has pushed Diaz into the cage.
Pigden lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Eric Pigden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Diaz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pigden.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Pigden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pigden 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Pigden!