PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oscar Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz has chosen Trick Daddy - Let's Go ft Twista & Lil Jon as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Oscar Diaz has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Santiago
vs
Diaz

176 cm
26
135 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

169 cm
24
145 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Conviction

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Santiago!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Oscar Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santiago tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz swings for the body but Santiago moves out of range.
Diaz throws a shot to the body.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab from Diaz does it's job there.
Diaz swinging wildly here.
Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz looks to land a left hand but Santiago moved out of range nicely.
Santiago moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Diaz thows a body shot but no joy.
Santiago walks into a stiff left hand from Diaz.
Diaz throws a jab when Santiago was well out of range.
Diaz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Santiago.
Diaz moves away from the strike by Santiago.

Santiago gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz won't allow Santiago to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Diaz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Santiago is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Diaz, into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santiago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santiago tries to stand but Diaz is controlling from the bottom.
Santiago lands a couple of digs.
Santiago working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Diaz is working an open guard so Santiago takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Santiago lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago can't do much from the bottom here.

Diaz swings around for an armbar but Santiago sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Diaz's guard.
Diaz looks gassed!
Santiago stops Diaz from standing up.
Santiago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santiago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santiago passes into half guard.
Santiago sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
Diaz is not content to let Santiago control the position.
Santiago wants to stand up but Diaz is controlling the position.
Santiago wants to control but Diaz is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diaz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santiago pinned against the cage. Santiago gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diaz.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oscar Diaz.
Santiago takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Santiago throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.

Santiago clinches.
Santiago really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Diaz is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Santiago can't fight it off and eventually Diaz manages to take the fight to the floor. Santiago looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Santiago is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Diaz is looking to work some ground and pound but Santiago has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago pulls Diaz in close to prevent any damage.
Diaz postures up in Santiago's guard and throws a big left but Santiago blocks it.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz chips away with some ground and pound.
Santiago wants to sweep but no luck.
Santiago is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Diaz tries to keep at a distance but Santiago has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Diaz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz looks to clinch
and Santiago counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Joe Santiago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Santiago circles away easily
and Santiago connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Santiago tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz wants to clinch.
Santiago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Santiago fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diaz, pushing him back against the cage.
Santiago is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Santiago misses with a knee to the head.
Diaz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Diaz wants a takedown.
Santiago misses with a knee strike.
Diaz working aggressively here.
Santiago stalling.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago tries to move into range but Diaz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Santiago tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Santiago avoids it really well and circles away.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oscar Diaz.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Santiago.
Joe Santiago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Santiago closes the distance and clinches.
Diaz tries to break free but Santiago pushes him back against the cage.
Santiago missing with knees to the body.
Santiago gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Santiago connects with a nasty looking knee right to Diaz's face.
Santiago throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Diaz misses with some punches.
Diaz takes an elbow to the temple.
Diaz misses with some punches.
Diaz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Diaz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Diaz blocks the elbow strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Santiago has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Santiago lands a nice elbow.
Diaz goes for a takedown attempt but Santiago pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Santiago closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Santiago creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Diaz's defenses.
Santiago lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Diaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Santiago has double underhooks.
Santiago prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Santiago just misses with a elbow thrown towards Diaz's brow.
Santiago landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Santiago misses with a knee to the head.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santiago with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Diaz is trying to force a seperation but Santiago has the dominant position.
Diaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Diaz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Santiago gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago lands a nice elbow.
Santiago prevents a takedown attempt there.
Santiago stalling.
Santiago creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Diaz's defenses.
Santiago scores a nice knee to the body.
Santiago lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Santiago crunches a lovely knee into Diaz's ribcage.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Santiago to work.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Santiago for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Nice elbow from Santiago.
Santiago lands an elbow that stopped Diaz in his tracks for a moment.
Santiago displaying some good clinch control by pressing Diaz up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Joe Santiago.
Santiago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries to clinch but Diaz moves away

and Diaz counters with a shoot takedown. Santiago fights it but they end up in guard.
Santiago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santiago is controlling Diaz's posture.
Santiago wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz slips nicely into half guard.
Diaz trying to mount his opponent but Santiago defends it.
Santiago tries to roll over but Diaz keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Santiago dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Diaz misses with an uppercut.
Santiago closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Santiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Joe Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santiago tries to clinch
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Santiago throws a leg kick but Diaz checks it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diaz.
Santiago stuffs the takedown attempt from Diaz. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diaz takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Santiago looks to clinch

and Diaz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Santiago!
Santiago is wriggling around trying to escape.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santiago wants to control but Diaz is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago is desperately trying to improve his position but Diaz has a good base and remains in mount.
Santiago blocking the ground and pound.
Diaz throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Santiago because Diaz loaded up on that one.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Santiago is squirming around nicely.
Santiago really wants to buck Diaz off and get back to his feet.

Diaz swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Santiago is now in Diaz's guard. A big mistake from Diaz there, giving up the dominant position!

Diaz working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Santiago has passed into half guard!

Santiago is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two 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.
Santiago passes the guard and advances to mount!
Diaz has given up his back here.
Santiago throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Diaz trying to control the hands but Santiago breaks the grip.
Santiago trying to control momentarily.
Diaz breaks Santiago's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Santiago wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santiago scores with a shot to the body.
Santiago tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
Santiago fails in his attempt to clinch.

Diaz forces Santiago back against the cage and clinches.
Diaz avoids a wild elbow strike from Santiago.
Santiago landing knees to the head.
Diaz throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Santiagos head.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santiago utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Diaz takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago lands a damaging elbow.
Santiago using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Diaz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Santiago is controlling him.
Santiago gets underhooks to prevent Diaz's takedown attempt.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oscar Diaz.
Santiago throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Diaz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Santiago stalls.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Santiago is controlling him.
Diaz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Santiago walks away with a smile on his face. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Santiago misses with a double jab
enabling Diaz to counter with a crisp jab.
Santiago is looking to clinch.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santiago tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz connects with a looping right hand.
Diaz blocks a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Oscar Diaz just about did enough to take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Santiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santiago.
Diaz cracks Santiago with an open hand slap.
Diaz misses with a wild combination.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Santiago moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santiago works Diaz's body with a nice hook.
Diaz tests Santiago's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Diaz misses with a looping right.

Santiago moves into the clinch successfully.
Diaz is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Santiago connects with a nasty looking knee right to Diaz's face.
Santiago throws an elbow that misses.
Santiago lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Santiago lands an elbow just above Diaz 's eye.
Santiago misses with an elbow strike.
Santiago landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diaz.
Diaz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santiago prevents it.
Santiago lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees in the clinch landing for Santiago.
Santiago will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Diaz up against the cage.
Santiago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santiago lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Diaz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Santiago avoiding damage.
Diaz takes an elbow to the temple.
Santiago lands a knee to the body.
Santiago landing knees to the body.
Santiago landing knees to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Diaz fails to land.
Nice elbow from Santiago.
Santiago with a knee to the head.
Diaz letting Santiago take a breather here.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Santiago won't allow it.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oscar Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago looking to throw knees to the head but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Diaz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santiago pulls his leg out and moves away.
Santiago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santiago swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Diaz counters with a nice body shot.
Santiago slips under a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diaz is defended easily by Santiago.
Santiago lands a nice looking body shot.
Santiago tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Diaz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Diaz shoots for a takedown but Santiago saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago wants to clinch.
Santiago moves away from the strike by Diaz.
Santiago tries to clinch up.

Santiago rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santiago scores with a knee to the head.
Diaz tries to score a body lock takedown but Santiago shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A bit of stalling here from Santiago.
Knees to the body from Santiago.
Diaz fails to pull guard.
Diaz working hard to break the clinch.
Santiago content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Diaz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Santiago lands an elbow that stopped Diaz in his tracks for a moment.
Diaz can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Santiago unloads a knee to the mid-section. Diaz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Diaz is trying to break free.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Santiago leaning his opponent against the cage.
Santiago lands a good knee to the midsection. Diaz won't want to take too many of those.
Santiago is pushing Diaz up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Santiago seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Joe Santiago has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Santiago prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.
Diaz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santiago smiles and moves away.
Santiago moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Diaz misses with a double jab

and Santiago moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Santiago had his way with Oscar Diaz in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Santiago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Santiago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santiago connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Santiago sprawls well. Santiago wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Santiago throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Santiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Santiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz keeps the fight on the outside.
Santiago swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diaz throws a nice looking combination but Santiago bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A big left from Diaz misses.
Santiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Diaz is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
A left and a right from Santiago both land. Nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago tries to clinch up.
Santiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
A cross from Diaz lands.
A jab from Diaz does it's job there.
Santiago keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice defenses there by Santiago.
Santiago moves out of range as Diaz strikes.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Santiago, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Santiago against the cage but Santiago circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Diaz thuds a left hand into Santiago's body.
Santiago staying out of range there.

Santiago clinches with his opponent.
Santiago gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A knee to the head by Santiago.
Santiago tries to stall but Diaz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Santiago lands an elbow that stopped Diaz in his tracks for a moment.
Diaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Santiago has double underhooks.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Diaz avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Santiago lands an elbow just above Diaz 's eye.
Santiago lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A shot in the inside from Diaz.
Santiago keeps control of Diaz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Santiago is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Diaz avoiding damage as Santiago throws knees to the body.
Diaz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Santiago crunches a lovely knee into Diaz's ribcage.
Diaz throws a punch but it's blocked by Santiago.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz shoots and misses

and Santiago counters by moving into the clinch.
Joe Santiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oscar Diaz.
The referee calls for Santiago to work.
Diaz throws a head punch that misses.
Santiago is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Diaz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santiago fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiago is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.

Santiago pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Santiago lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Diaz has picked Santiago up - he's going for a ride! Diaz dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Santiago desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Diaz is looking to stall here but Santiago recovers full guard.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Santiago wriggles free and stands up.
Santiago tries to clinch up
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Santiago wants to clinch
and Diaz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz jabs at Santiago's body.
Santiago lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Santiago misses with a body kick.
Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Santiago.
Diaz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Santiago showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Santiago 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Joe Santiago!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Joe Santiago!
Judge Suge Night scores the fight for Joe Santiago!

Joe Santiago wins by unanimous decision!
Joe Santiago retains his bantamweight title!