PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zolph Diggler (ranked 5437 p4p, 5334 weight class) and Edson Tavares (ranked 419 p4p, 418 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.

Diggler
vs
Tavares

173 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
150
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zolph Diggler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edson Tavares!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Lou da Vinci and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diggler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diggler has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tavares finds it's way round the side to connect with Diggler's head.
Tavares looks to score with a jab to the body but Diggler is just out of range.
Tavares missing with a left hand there. Diggler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Diggler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavares.
Diggler takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tavares throws a shot from downtown. Diggler moves away and avoids it.
Tavares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diggler gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Diggler moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tavares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Tavares! But no joy.
The fighters circling - Diggler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diggler takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tavares smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A telegraphed right hand from Tavares misses the target.
Tavares throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tavares slips a straight right by Diggler.
Tavares swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tavares scores with a sloppy right hand. Diggler should have avoided that one.

Diggler shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Diggler showed some decent athleticism there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tavares can do anything to dispel that myth.
Diggler stops Tavares from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diggler seems to be looking for submissions.
Tavares avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Diggler.

Tavares manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Diggler keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Tavares escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tavares takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tavares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A clash of legs there as Tavares blocks the low kick.
Tavares uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diggler.
Nice shot by Tavares.
Tavares moves into range and connects with a jab.
Diggler looks to score with a jab to the body but Tavares is just out of range.
Diggler slips under a jab from Tavares.
Diggler swings for the body but Tavares moves out of range.
Tavares ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diggler moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diggler staying out of range there.
Tavares swings for the body but Diggler moves out of range.
Edson Tavares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good standup being displayed there by Tavares as he connects with a hook.
Diggler has a takedown stuffed.

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

Diggler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Diggler works his way into full mount!
Tavares is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poor strikes thrown by Diggler there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Tavares dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Diggler drops his hands momentarily and Tavares takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tavares misses with a looping left.
Tavares lands a nice looking body shot.
Zolph Diggler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice uppercut lands for Tavares. That snapped Diggler's head back.
Diggler connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Diggler misses the shot to the body.
Tavares connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Diggler's hands.
Diggler throws a lazy right hand but Tavares sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diggler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tavares.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Diggler just misses with a punch to the body.
Tavares throws out a loose jab but Diggler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tavares lands with a shot to the body.
Tavares has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diggler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tavares takes a swing at Diggler's ribcage but misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diggler throws a hook but Tavares avoids it easily.
A clash of legs there as Tavares blocks the low kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tavares.
Diggler misses with a straight left.
Diggler throws a shot from downtown. Tavares moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tavares blocks a jab.
Diggler throws a chopping leg kick but Tavares manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Diggler uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tavares.
Diggler walks into a straight right hand from Tavares.
Tavares misses the shot to the body.
Diggler was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Diggler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavares.
Diggler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tavares connects with a nice looking jab.
The fighters circling - Diggler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tavares ducks under a wild hook from Diggler.
Tavares misses with a looping right.
A cross from Tavares lands.
Diggler ducks under a wild hook from Tavares.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tavares. Diggler does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tavares connects with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tavares misses with an uppercut.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Diggler doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tavares counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Diggler at a distance.
Diggler on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The fighters circling - Tavares throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A counter left hand to the body from Diggler misses its target.
Diggler misses with an uppercut
and Tavares counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tavares jabs Diggler to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tavares connects with a nice looking jab.
Diggler looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Diggler moves away from the strike by Tavares.
A shot to the liver by Tavares. Beautiful body shot.
Tavares throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No luck for Diggler with that takedown attempt.
Diggler throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tavares cracks Diggler with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Edson Tavares seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavares jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Diggler uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tavares.
Tavares misses with a straight right.
Diggler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Tavares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tavares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diggler was well out of range. Poor timing from Tavares.
Tavares scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Diggler uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tavares.
Diggler misses with an uppercut. Tavares saw that one coming.
Tavares now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Diggler misses with a hook. Tavares ducked under it nicely.
Diggler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tavares moves away.
Diggler throws a leg kick but Tavares sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tavares cracks Diggler with a good jab.
A shot to the liver by Tavares. Beautiful body shot.
Tavares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Tavares misses.
Tavares moves into range and connects with a jab.
Diggler moves out of range as Tavares strikes.
Tavares throws a jab when Diggler was well out of range.
Tavares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diggler is looking to counter with a body kick.
Diggler throws a hook but Tavares blocks it.

Diggler shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Diggler is trying to work for a kimura but Tavares is defending well.
Zolph Diggler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diggler prevents Tavares from standing back up.

Diggler is working for a submission of some sort.

Diggler is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Diggler is working for a kimura but Tavares is defending it quite comfortably.
Diggler looks to land a strike but Tavares avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Zolph Diggler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diggler wants to pass the guard but Tavares is keeping the position.
Diggler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tavares's head.
Edson Tavares is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tavares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diggler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Diggler connects with a couple of short punches.

Tavares kicks Diggler off and gets to his feet.
Diggler avoids the body shot from Tavares.
Tavares takes a swing at Diggler's ribcage but misses.
Diggler takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Tavares misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diggler.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edson Tavares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tavares winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edson Tavares!