PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Halberstram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz comes into the arena with Trick Daddy - Let's Go ft Twista & Lil Jon blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Halberstram's choice of entrance music: Murder The Government. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Marcus Halberstram enters the cage!

Diaz
vs
Halberstram

169 cm
31
145 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

175 cm
27
147 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Gilop®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oscar Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Halberstram!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Halberstram throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diaz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diaz moves away from the strike by Halberstram.
Diaz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Halberstram ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Diaz missing with a left hand there. Halberstram was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Diaz lands with a nice body punch.
Diaz blocks a jab.
Halberstram slips under a jab from Diaz.
Diaz swings for the body but Halberstram moves out of range.
Diaz wants to clinch.
Diaz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Halberstram lands a nice shot to the body.

Halberstram shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Diaz's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Diaz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Halberstram has given up his back. Will we see Diaz going for some submissions?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halberstram tries to escape the position.
Diaz is trying to control but Halberstram is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Halberstram is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Diaz tries to control but Halberstram wriggling away.
Halberstram wants to control but Diaz is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halberstram is wriggling around trying to escape.
Diaz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Oscar Diaz.

Halberstram looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Diaz!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Halberstram controlling the pace for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Oscar Diaz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Halberstram sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Diaz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Halberstram stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A shot to the body from Diaz misses
and Halberstram counters with a right hand to the body.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Halberstram.
Halberstram gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Halberstram throws a head kick that misses.
Halberstram lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Halberstram at a distance.
Halberstram cracks Diaz with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Diaz scores with a kick to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Halberstram tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Halberstram to the ground. Halberstram escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Halberstram misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diaz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Halberstram.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.

Halberstram closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Halberstram blocking some punches.
Diaz can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oscar Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halberstram has Diaz pressed against the cage, preventing Diaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Halberstram tries to work over Diaz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Diaz cracks Halberstram with a nice body shot.
Diaz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Still in the clinch, Halberstram scores with a nice short uppercut.
Diaz tries to break the clinch but Halberstram is controlling the position.
Halberstram taking a breather.
Diaz throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Halberstrams head.
Halberstram blocking some punches.

Diaz gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Halberstram is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halberstram wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Halberstram keeps moving.
Halberstram working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Oscar Diaz just wasn't active enough.
Diaz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Halberstram throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Oscar Diaz is winning the standup battle so far.
Diaz throws a shot from downtown. Halberstram moves away and avoids it.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Halberstram.
Some bone on bone action there as Halberstram checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Diaz gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Halberstram counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Halberstram.
Halberstram lands with a slapping head kick.
Diaz scores with the left hand. Halberstram knows he should have avoided that one.
Halberstram takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Diaz wants to land a leg kick but Halberstram is out of range.
Halberstram fails with an attempt to clinch.
Halberstram works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Halberstram avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Diaz has clasped his hands together around Halberstram's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Halberstram is not content to let Diaz control the position.
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Halberstram is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Diaz misses with a wild combination.
Diaz tries to clinch but Halberstram moves away
and Halberstram counters with a big head kick but Diaz shrugs it off.
Halberstram looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Halberstram persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Halberstram fails to land with a series of punches.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Halberstram.
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Halberstram sprawls well.
Halberstram cracks Diaz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Halberstram lands a jab to the nose.
Halberstram takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Diaz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Halberstram wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Halberstram lands an overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Halberstram stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Halberstram wants it to stay on the feet.
Halberstram connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halberstram tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Halberstram.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Diaz drops his hands momentarily and Halberstram takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Diaz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Diaz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Halberstram counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Halberstram swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Halberstram tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Halberstram to the ground. Halberstram escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oscar Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halberstram throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Diaz counter with a right hand.
Diaz ducks right into an uppercut from Halberstram.
Halberstram catches Diaz with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Diaz is rocked!
Oscar Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halberstram keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Halberstram misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diaz looks to land a body kick but Halberstram moved away.

Diaz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halberstram seems keen to control Diaz's posture.
Halberstram utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Diaz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Halberstram controlling the position.
Halberstram keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Oscar Diaz just wasn't active enough.
Diaz lands with a shot to the body.
Halberstram scores with a nice right hand.
Diaz misses with a leg kick.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Halberstram.
Halberstram keeps the fight on the outside.
Diaz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Halberstram stuffs the takedown attempt from Diaz. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Oscar Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Halberstram throws a head kick that misses.
Oscar Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Diaz missing with a left hand there. Halberstram was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halberstram throws a low kick but Diaz moves out of range easily.
Diaz fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Halberstram checks it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to clinch but Halberstram is having none of it.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Halberstram shoots in and gets a takedown into Diaz's guard.
Marcus Halberstram has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Halberstram wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.
Halberstram won't allow Diaz to get back to his feet.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Halberstram from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halberstram is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Marcus Halberstram has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Halberstram takes a shot to the body in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Halberstram 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Oscar Diaz!