PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dylan Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Diaz
vs
Howlett

182 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dylan Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Howlett paws at him with a jab and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Howlett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Howlett slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Howlett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dylan Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Diaz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Howlett's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Diaz throwing strikes but Howlett manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.
The strikes coming from Howlett are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Howlett is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Diaz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Diaz sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett passes the guard and advances to mount!

Howlett moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Diaz has worked his arm free - good work by Diaz!
Howlett taking a break here but Diaz is having none of it and regains half guard.
Howlett keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Howlett is trying to control the action in half guard but Diaz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Howlett is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Diaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Howlett.
Howlett passes to side control.
Howlett working the head with strikes.
Howlett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howlett tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Howlett has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Diaz is looking to reverse the position.
Diaz is working hard here to advance position.

Howlett is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diaz has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Howlett is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Diaz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Howlett looks gassed!
Diaz wants to control but Howlett postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Howlett trying to control the position but Diaz is working away.
Howlett wants to control for a moment but Diaz uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Diaz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Howlett knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Howlett throws a right and a left that both miss.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Howlett circles away.
Howlett swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Diaz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Diaz showed some decent athleticism there.
Diaz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dylan Diaz dominated that round.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Diaz takes the fight into the clinch.

Howlett breaks from the clinch.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Howlett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Howlett fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Diaz on the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Howlett misses the target.

Diaz rushes Howlett and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz has Howlett pressed against the cage, preventing Howlett from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Howlett has had enough of the clinch but Diaz keeps him there for the moment.

Howlett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Howlett is trying hard to land a takedown here. Diaz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Diaz moves into the clinch.

Howlett breaks the clinch.
Howlett throws a big shot that misses.
Howlett dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Howlett's head and hops out.
Dylan Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howlett fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Howlett circles away and keeps his distance.
Howlett misses with a looping left.
Howlett is breathing heavily.
Howlett keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Howlett circles away from the clinch attempt
and Howlett counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diaz doesn't manage to clinch there - Howlett circles away.
Diaz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Howlett stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Diaz is looking to clinch.
Howlett stuffs the takedown.
Howlett stuffs the takedown attempt from Diaz. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dylan Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Diaz drives through and clinches with Howlett against the cage.
Diaz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Diaz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Howlett misses with an elbow over the top.
Howlett gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Howlett lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Diaz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Howlett's efforts to push away.
Diaz keeps control of Howlett as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Howlett is working Diaz over against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Howlett as the two fighters clinch.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Howlett.
Diaz avoids the elbow strike from Howlett, against the cage.
Howlett is trying to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling him.

Howlett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Howlett.
A head kick misses from Howlett.
Diaz is looking to clinch.
Diaz lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Howlett is trying to force a seperation but Diaz has the dominant position.

Howlett manages to break the clinch.
Howlett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Diaz sprawls well. Diaz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howlett gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Howlett on the side of the head.
Howlett misses with an attempted mid kick.
Howlett tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Howlett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Howlett tries to sprawl out of it but Diaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Howlett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz closes the distance but Howlett moves to the side
and Howlett counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A jab from Howlett misses.
Diaz moves out of range as Howlett strikes.

Diaz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Howlett is trying to defend but Diaz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Diaz is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Howlett!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Howlett is on top in guard.
Howlett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Howlett wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Diaz looking for a sweep. Not yet Diaz, not yet.
Howlett wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Howlett trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.

Howlett is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Diaz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Diaz has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dylan Diaz will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Diaz clinches with his opponent.

Howlett breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Howlett paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Howlett, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Howlett against the cage but Howlett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Howlett is avoiding it.

Diaz has managed to clinch.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Howlett gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stalling in the clinch from Howlett.
Howlett working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Howlett.

Howlett breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Howlett misses with a body shot.
Diaz fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dylan Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz doesn't manage to clinch there - Howlett circles away.
Diaz tries to clinch but Howlett moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz tries to clinch
and Howlett counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howlett keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Howlett is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.
Howlett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Howlett slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Diaz moves out of range of the strikes.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Howlett sprawls well. Howlett wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz slips under a jab from Howlett.
Howlett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diaz tries to clinch but Howlett moves out of range.
Howlett comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Howlett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Howlett instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett effectively controlling the action here.

Howlett breaks the clinch.

Howlett scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Howlett has control of the leg.
Howlett is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Howlett can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Diaz is looking to escape.

Howlett goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Diaz is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Howlett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Howlett is retaining full guard.

Diaz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Howlett is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Diaz, into his guard.
Howlett stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.
Dylan Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Howlett trying to stand up but can't free himself from Diaz's guard.
Diaz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Howlett manages to get himself to full guard.
Diaz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
James Howlett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Howlett is retaining full guard.
Howlett controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.
Dylan Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howlett throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Howlett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Howlett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Diaz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dylan Diaz!