PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juan Diego (ranked 3932 p4p, 3531 weight class) and Sahara Sam (ranked 354 p4p, 327 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Diego
vs
Sam

175 cm
26
155
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
26
155
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Juan Diego !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sahara Sam!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, David Hoff and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sam throws a head kick but Diego moves out of range.
Sam throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Diego 's head.
Sam connects with an inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sam. That's going to slow Diego down.
Sam on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Diego tries to clinch but Sam is having none of it.
Sam swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Juan Diego seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sam throws a leg kick but Diego sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Diego has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Acme Island Savages in the buildup to the fight.
Diego throws a right and a left that Sam avoids nicely.
Sam avoids the body shot from Diego .
Diego throws a right and a left that Sam avoids nicely.
Diego just misses with a punch to the body.
Diego swings for the body but Sam moves out of range.

Diego closes the distance and pushes Sam back into the cage.

Sam escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diego wants to clinch.
Sam lands a leg kick that knocks Diego off balance momentarily.
A low kick lands for Sam.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sam does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Diego moves in looking to clinch but Sam pushes him off.
Sam drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Diego defends it well.
That kick from Sam tenderised Diego 's leg. Diego is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sam tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sam swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diego misses with a double jab

and Sam counters with a nice double leg into side control. Diego won't be happy with that.

Diego bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sam is looking to score with low kicks.
Diego doesn't manage to clinch there - Sam circles away.
Sam changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Diego fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sam lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sam rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diego moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sam attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sam thuds a left hand into Diego 's body.
Diego tries to clinch but Sam is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diego looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sam has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Sahara Sam has been cut.
Diego throws the left hand but Sam avoids the punch easily.
Diego throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sam sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diego avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Diego is looking to clinch.
Diego takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sam dips to his left and cracks Diego with an uppercut!
Diego lands a jab to Sam's midsection.

Diego fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sam, pushing him back against the cage.
Diego misses with some punches.
Diego swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Sam breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diego misses with a looping right.
Sam scoring well with a low kick there.
Diego connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Diego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sam paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sam tries a head kick but it misses.
Sam scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Diego doesn't seem bothered though.
Diego tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sam manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sam lands a leg kick that knocks Diego off balance momentarily.
Sam keeps the fight on the outside.
Diego avoids the head kick by Sam.
Diego throws a big counter combination but Sam scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sam lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sam throws a leg kick but Diego checks it.
Diego throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Diego fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sam looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Diego rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sam moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Diego drops Sam with a left and a right! Oh, Sam is hurt - Diego dives into side control looking to finish!

Sam is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sam is trying to get back to his feet.
Sam is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diego wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sam keeps working.
Sam is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Diego has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sam lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Diego is looking to wear down Sam with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sam keeps the fight on the outside.
Diego swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diego avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diego . Sam does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sam thumps Diego with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diego looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diego is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Juan Diego will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sahara Sam's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Diego misses with a wild body shot.
That kick from Sam tenderised Diego 's leg. Diego is trying to keep his angry face on.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Diego throws a body shot but no joy.
Diego is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Diego tries to clinch but Sam is having none of it.
Sahara Sam seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sam tries a head kick but it misses.
Sam dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diego . That did some damage!
Sam fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Diego is out of range.
Sam misses with a leg kick.
Diego keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
It looked like Diego was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sam keeps the fight on the outside.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sam.
Good leg kick by Diego .
Sam is looking to chop away at Diego 's legs.
As Sam looks to move away, Diego throws a big counter combo but Sam just gets out of the way.
Diego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sam paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego wants to clinch up but Sam keeps it at a distance.
Diego blocks a head kick by Sam.
Good leg kick by Sam.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sam.
Diego looks to land a combination but Sam avoids it well.
Diego tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sam manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam misses with a wild combination.
Diego fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sam is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Diego tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Diego misses.
Diego throws a right hand that Sam ducks under and follows up with a left that Sam also avoids with ease.
Sam tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diego looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Juan Diego is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sam fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Diego is out of range.
Sam cracks Diego with a right hand to the side of the head.
That kick from Sam tenderised Diego 's leg. Diego is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sam buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Diego on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sam. Sam obviously looking to wear him down.
Diego showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sam.
Sam scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Diego doesn't seem bothered though.
Sam moves out of range of the strikes.
Sam scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diego on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sam shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sam tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diego throws a quick inside leg kick.
Diego fails with an attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Diego .
Sam with the counter takedown but Diego avoids it easily.
Sam connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Diego throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sam on the side of the head.
Sam finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sam goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sam throws a head kick that misses.
Diego doesn't manage to clinch there - Sam circles away.
Diego throws a nice looking combination but Sam bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diego is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sam.
Diego tries to clinch up.
Sam with the counter takedown but Diego avoids it easily.
Sam circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego tries to clinch up but Sam circles away and keeps his distance.
Sam is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sam is looking to score with low kicks.
Diego takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Diego throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sam scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Diego tries to bum rush Sam with a series of wild strikes but Sam uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diego chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sam can pounce on him.
That kick from Sam tenderised Diego 's leg. Diego is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sam bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diego walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Diego tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A low kick lands for Sam.
Diego takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sam thumps Diego with a low kick.
Sam fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Diego checks it well.
Diego chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sam can pounce on him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A good leg kick by Sam.

Diego lands a left and a right that sends Sam crashing to the canvas! Diego dives into mount looking to finish!
Sam is still in real trouble! Can Diego finish him?
Sam wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diego raining down hammerfists from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diego looking to control but Sam is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Diego is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sam is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sam's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Diego is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sam can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sam is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Diego looking to control but Sam is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sam is trying to stand.
Sam seems to have recovered his senses.

Sam bucks up and throws Diego to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diego throws a right hand that Sam ducks under and follows up with a left that Sam also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sam with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sam dodges the punch combination from Diego .
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sahara Sam will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sahara Sam's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Diego on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sam. Sam obviously looking to wear him down.
Sam misses with a low kick.
Diego is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diego tries to clinch up.
Sam scores with a shot to the body.
Diego moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sam.
Diego sizes up Sam with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diego looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diego tries to clinch but Sam is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego moves in looking to clinch but Sam pushes him off.
That kick from Sam tenderised Diego 's leg. Diego is trying to keep his angry face on.

Diego drops his shoulder and cracks Sam with a huge uppercut! Sam goes down! Can Diego finish him?
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Sam is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Sam breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam lands with an overhand left.
Diego swinging wildly here.
No joy there for Diego , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Good leg kick by Sam.
Sam avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sam dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diego . That did some damage!
Sam on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Diego throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sam connects with a good right hand that stumbles Diego . Diego circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Diego blocks a leg kick.
Sam goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A low kick lands for Sam.
Sam shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diego throws a right hand that Sam ducks under and follows up with a left that Sam also avoids with ease.
Diego pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sam dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diego . That did some damage!
Diego avoids the head kick by Sam.
It looked like Diego was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sam connects with an inside leg kick.
Diego fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sam on the side of the head.
Sam listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sam showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diego .
A good leg kick by Sam.
Diego is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Good exchange - Sam coming out on top.
Sam shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Diego eats them both and turns towards Sam to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sam goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Diego tries to clinch up.
Sam lands a two punch combo.
Diego fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sam with a nice calf kick.
Sam looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Diego paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A combination from Sam does no damage.
Nice body punch from Diego .
Sam fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Diego .
Sam buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Diego closes the distance and clinches.
Diego makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Diego fails to land.
Diego lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Diego scores with a nice hook to the head.

Sam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diego tries to clinch but Sam moves out of range.
Sam misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diego swinging wildly here.
Diego avoids the head kick by Sam.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sam scores with a shot to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Sam.
Diego tries to clinch up.
Sam lands a really nice looking cross but Diego seems unphased.
Diego blocks a head kick by Sam.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sam.
An inside leg kick lands from Sam.
Sam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diego .
Diego tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diego tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diego lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sam fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Diego .
Diego lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sam circles away quickly and effectively.
Sam tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sam.
A low kick lands for Sam.
Sam connects with a jab.
Sam goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sam lands a head kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sahara Sam comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sam 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sahara Sam!
Post fight, Sahara Sam took to the microphone: 'For the Pyramids!'.