PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleg Minakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Diaz
vs
Minakov

181 cm
25
181 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
163 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jimmy Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Oleg Minakov!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Minakov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Minakov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Minakov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches.

Diaz jumps guard and drags Minakov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Diaz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Minakov manages to get himself to full guard.

Diaz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz postures up in Minakov's guard and throws a big left but Minakov blocks it.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Minakov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Minakov is looking to reverse the position.
Minakov is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.
Diaz trying to control the action but Minakov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A control attempt from Minakov but he's now mounted!
Minakov wants to get back to his feet.

Diaz goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Minakov turns into him and now he's in Diaz's guard.

Diaz throws his legs up looking for a submission but Minakov uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to control but Minakov postures up.
Diaz is not content to let Minakov control the position.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Minakov in side control, throwing shots but Diaz defends.
Diaz tries to bench press Minakov off him but Minakov keeps the position.
An elbow from Minakov crashes against the mat.
Minakov avoids the strikes from the bottom by Diaz.

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.
Diaz is looking to regain half guard here but Minakov keeps moving and retains side control.
Diaz is letting Minakov control him for a moment.
Diaz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Diaz tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz is looking for a sweep. Minakov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Minakov is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Minakov as he avoids it easily.
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 Jimmy Diaz will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Minakov tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Minakov to the ground. Minakov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Minakov shows good takedown defense.
Minakov moves out of range as Diaz throws a body kick.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Minakov scores with a body shot.
Minakov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diaz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Minakov as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Minakov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Minakov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Diaz sprawls well. Diaz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Minakov gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Minakov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Diaz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Minakov circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Minakov gets a clinch.

Diaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz doesn't manage to clinch there - Minakov circles away.
Minakov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Diaz swivels and escapes.
Minakov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Diaz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Minakov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Diaz swivels and escapes.
Diaz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Minakov swivels and escapes.
Minakov shoots in for a takedown but Diaz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz is looking to counter the offense by Minakov and move into the clinch.
Minakov shoots in for a double leg but Diaz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And Diaz counters with a quick kick to the body but Minakov blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minakov tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Minakov steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Diaz. That one must have hurt.
Minakov misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaz tries to clinch but Minakov moves out of range.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Minakov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Minakov has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.

Minakov pulls Diaz into guard.
Jimmy Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz throws a big right hand that misses.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Minakov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz passes Minakov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Diaz is just content to waste time from the top position. Minakov takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Diaz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Minakov won't let him.
Diaz stops Minakov from standing up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Minakov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Minakov keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz throws an elbow that misses. Minakov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Diaz's guard. Nice move by Minakov!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Minakov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Minakov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diaz is trying to keep Minakov in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz working a defensive guard but Minakov passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Minakov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Minakov swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Diaz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Minakov closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minakov can't get the takedown.
Diaz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Minakov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Diaz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Minakov prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Minakov avoids it.
Diaz can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee calls for Minakov to work.
Minakov tries to pull guard but Diaz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Diaz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Minakov is defending well.

Minakov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Diaz as Minakov shoots in.
Diaz half committed to a counter leg kick.
Minakov scores with a three punch combo!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Minakov. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Diaz fails to land the takedown.
Diaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Oleg Minakov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minakov throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.

Diaz tries to keep at a distance but Minakov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Minakov jumps guard.
Minakov keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Diaz wants to stand but Minakov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Diaz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Minakov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Minakov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Minakov wants to improve his position but Diaz is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Diaz in particular looking to stall.

Diaz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Minakov defends it well.
Diaz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Minakov defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Minakov has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Diaz escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Diaz!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Minakov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Minakov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Diaz is controlling him well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oleg Minakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Minakov 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleg Minakov!