PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Mallett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Mallett is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Diaz
vs
Mallett

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alejandro Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Mallett!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Diaz with that takedown attempt.
Mallett tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mallett tries to land knees in the clinch but Diaz avoids the damage to the body.

Mallett wants the takedown. Diaz is fighting it off but Mallett persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Diaz's guard against the cage.
Mallett trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mallett must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mallett stands and throws Diaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
Mallett tries to advance to mount but Diaz denies him.

Mallett thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Diaz wants to control but Mallett postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Mallett trying to control the position but Diaz is working away.

Mallett goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Diaz rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mallett's guard! Nice work there by Diaz!

Mallett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Mallett keeps moving.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Mallett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diaz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mallett swivels and escapes.

Mallett shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mallett missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mallett lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mallett throwing shots but Diaz is blocking nicely.

Mallett is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mallett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diaz's head.
Diaz wants to control but Mallett is keeping busy.
Diaz manages to get to full guard.
Diaz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mallett preventing the sweep.
Mallett looking to pass the guard.
Mallett wants to control from the top but Diaz keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mallett moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.

Mallett scores with a takedown into Diaz's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Mallett is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Diaz is on top in guard.
Diaz slips nicely into half guard.
Mallett wants to improve his position but Diaz is controlling well.

Mallett looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Diaz stalling away here and it's allowed Mallett to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Diaz wants to stand but Mallett has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mallett manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaz manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Mallett dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mallett counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Diaz!
Mallett working the ground and pound effectively.
Diaz taking shots to the head.

Diaz is rocked!
Diaz squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Diaz is trying to escape the mount.

Mallett with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Mallett trying to control but Diaz is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mallett is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Diaz is surviving well by controlling Mallett's body position as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mallett cracks Diaz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Oh Diaz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mallett landing strikes, looking to finish!
Mallett trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Diaz tries to reverse the position but Mallett maintains control.

Mallett goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Diaz turns into him and now he's in Mallett's guard.
Diaz seems to have got his legs back now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mallett can do anything to dispel that myth.

Mallett working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mallett is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing.

Mallett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mallett is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz throwing strikes from guard but Mallett blocks nicely.
Diaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Mallett is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control but Mallett is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mallett fails with an attempt to clinch.

Mallett clinches.
Diaz tries to stall but Mallett uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mallett stalling the fight.
Mallett misses with a knee strike.
Diaz managing to block the knees to the body from Mallett.

Mallett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mallett throws out a leg kick but Diaz moves out of range and Mallett only half commits.

Mallett closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mallett is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Diaz blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Mallett successfully pulls guard.
Mallett keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

Mallett looking for a guillotine here but Diaz defends easily.
Mallett throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Mallett tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mallett wants to improve his position but instead Diaz has moved into half guard.
Ryan Mallett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Mallett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mallett 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.

Ryan Mallett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Diaz misses with a takedown

and Mallett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diaz's guard.
Diaz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mallett!
Diaz thowing shots but they're missing.
Mallett working to try and regain half guard.
Diaz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mallett can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Mallett manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mallett is refusing to be controlled, as Diaz sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mallett is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mallett is trying to control but can't.
Mallett manages to get to full guard.
Mallett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mallett swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mallett looking for a sweep. Not yet Mallett, not yet.
Mallett trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Mallett escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diaz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Diaz fails with the takedown.
Diaz with a poor takedown

and Mallett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diaz's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mallett is controlling him.
Mallett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Mallett throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mallett!
Diaz takes Mallett's back.
Mallett looking very determined here, making life difficult for Diaz.
Mallett manages to reverse the position and now he's in Diaz's guard. Nice work there by Mallett.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Mallett postures up.
Mallett trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mallett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mallett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Diaz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mallett can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Mallett drops back, looking for a kneebar! Diaz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Diaz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Diaz!
Mallett can't do much from the bottom here.
Mallett is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Mallett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mallett has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Mallett!