PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daron Diaz (ranked 24602 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Fuller (ranked 5821 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Diaz
vs
Fuller

167 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

173 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daron Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benjamin Fuller!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fuller misses with a head kick.
Diaz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fuller with the counter takedown but Diaz avoids it easily.

Fuller drives through and clinches with Diaz against the cage.

Fuller breaks from the clinch.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Fuller moves out of range.

Fuller closes the distance and pushes Diaz back into the cage.

Fuller manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Fuller won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuller is controlling Diaz's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz throws a big right hand that misses.
Fuller wants to improve his position but instead Diaz has moved into half guard.
Diaz prevents Fuller from standing back up.
Diaz wants to stand but Fuller has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Fuller rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz taking a breather.
Diaz is trying to maintain a safe position but Fuller gets an underhook and turns Diaz into the cage.
Diaz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Fuller works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Diaz is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Fuller presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Diaz has a couple of punches blocked by Fuller.
Fuller throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Fuller digs a right hand underneath Diaz's ribcage. Diaz let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Diaz tries to circle away but Fuller has him pinned against the cage.

Fuller pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fuller working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.
Fuller really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Diaz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fuller is looking to sweep but instead, Diaz has passed into half guard.
Diaz wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz prevents Fuller from improving his position.
Diaz really is a fat lump.

That's four 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.
Fuller has his hands clasped together around Diaz's back. He's all about the action.
Fuller wants to sweep but Diaz has passed to side control!
Fuller is working to avoid the ground and pound but Diaz connects with a decent elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fuller is trying to control Diaz's posture but Diaz avoids it.
Fuller tries to bench press Diaz off him but Diaz keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Benjamin Fuller will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fuller throws a head kick that misses.
Fuller wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Fuller circles away.
Fuller blocks a head kick by Diaz.
Fuller lands a nice looking body shot.

Fuller has taken the fight to the clinch.

Fuller manages to break the clinch.

Fuller shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Diaz is trying to defend but Fuller finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Diaz manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Fuller!

It looks like Daron Diaz has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuller blocks a head kick by Diaz.
Fuller throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.

Fuller scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fuller misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Daron Diaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom here.

Fuller stands up and beckons Diaz to his feet.

Fuller lands a left and a right that send Diaz crashing to the mat, dazed. Fuller thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Diaz is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Fuller pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Oh Diaz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Diaz is trying to force a seperation but Fuller has the dominant position.

Fuller jumps guard and drags Diaz to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz tries to stand but Fuller is controlling from the bottom.
Fuller looking for a sweep. Not yet Fuller, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Fuller.
Fuller tries to kick Diaz off but Diaz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Diaz tries to stand and escape but Fuller is controlling the position.
Fuller is looking to improve his position.
Diaz tries to stand but can't do so whilst Fuller controls his leg.
Fuller flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Fuller makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fuller.
Fuller has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Fuller has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diaz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fuller wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Diaz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fuller is proving hard to escape from.
Fuller has control of Diaz's left arm, preventing Diaz from doing any damage.
Fuller keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fuller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diaz is one step ahead there.
Diaz throws an elbow that misses. Fuller uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Diaz's guard. Nice move by Fuller!

Diaz seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuller stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fuller tries to stand but Diaz is controlling from the bottom.
Fuller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Diaz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Fuller seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Diaz is trying to keep Fuller in close.

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.
Fuller stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Diaz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fuller controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fuller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fuller wants to get up but he can't break Diaz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Fuller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Daron Diaz's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Diaz enables Fuller to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Diaz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Diaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fuller doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fuller manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fuller throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diaz controlling the position.
Fuller is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Fuller tries to pass.
Fuller content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuller wants to get up but he can't break Diaz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Diaz looking for a guillotine here but Fuller defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fuller tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.
Fuller wants to stand but Diaz is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Diaz checks a leg kick.

Fuller bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Diaz manages to get back to half guard.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Fuller is very close to passing his half guard.
Fuller content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Fuller decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Diaz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fuller swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Fuller feints and as Diaz raises his hands in defense, Fuller changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Fuller is still trying to improve position.
Fuller wants to stand and escape but instead Diaz has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Diaz won't allow Fuller to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Fuller controlling Diaz's posture.

Fuller 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diaz being controlled here momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Fuller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fuller 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Fuller!