PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Tachia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lawrence Soliman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Soliman's choice of entrance music: detox. Lawrence Soliman told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Tachia
vs
Soliman

186 cm
22
217 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

197 cm
23
225 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Predator Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lyoto Tachia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lawrence Soliman!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Soliman misses.
Soliman looks to land a right hand but Tachia moved out of range.
Tachia tries a head kick but it misses.
Tachia misses with a head kick.

Tachia has closed the distance and engaged Soliman in a clinch.
Tachia tries to land knees in the clinch but Soliman avoids the damage to the body.
Tachia wants to break free but Soliman has control.
Tachia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soliman.
Tachia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soliman.
Soliman goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tachia prevents it.
Soliman tries to score a body lock takedown but Tachia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Tachia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tachia tries to close the distance and clinch but Soliman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Soliman misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Soliman.
Soliman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tachia.
Tachia cracks the inside of Soliman's front leg.
Tachia slips a straight right by Soliman.
Tachia avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Soliman is predictable there
and Tachia makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Soliman looks gassed!

Tachia has managed to clinch.
Tachia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Tachia has hold of one of Soliman's legs. Soliman is fighting the takedown attempt but Tachia gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Tachia in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tachia prevents Soliman from getting back to his feet.
Tachia is stalling in the full guard.
Tachia throws a big right hand that misses.
Soliman 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tachia controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tachia stops Soliman from standing up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tachia throws out a powerful jab.
Lawrence Soliman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tachia takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Lawrence Soliman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!
Soliman throws a lazy body kick
and Tachia counters with a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tachia.
Tachia fakes the leg kick and cracks Soliman in the body.
Tachia throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Soliman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tachia connects with a jab.
Soliman ducks right into an uppercut from Tachia.
Tachia buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Tachia darts in and clinches Soliman up against the cage.
Tachia drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tachia trying to control the position but instead, Soliman has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tachia into the cage.
Soliman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tachia is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lyoto Tachia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lawrence Soliman.

Tachia manages to break the clinch.
Tachia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Soliman blocks a jab.
Soliman lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soliman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Soliman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tachia slips a straight right by Soliman.
Tachia drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tachia lands with a shot to the body.
Tachia misses with a body kick.
Soliman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tachia counters with a good, hard body kick but Soliman shrugs it off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tachia thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Soliman if he has to take too many more of those.

Tachia darts in and clinches Soliman up against the cage.
Tachia unloads a knee to the mid-section. Soliman lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tachia looking to throw knees to the head but Soliman is blocking nicely.
Tachia taking a breather.
Soliman tries for a takedown but Tachia manages to get underhooks.
Tachia lands a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Tachia dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tachia lands with a nice combination. Soliman backs away looking to recover.
Tachia getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tachia defending well as Soliman loads up on a big left hand.
Tachia ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A left lands for Tachia.
Soliman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tachia throws a lazy right hand but Soliman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Soliman takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Tachia clinches up against the cage.
Tachia is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Soliman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tachia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Soliman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tachia misses with a knee strike.
Tachia trying to land knees to the body.
Tachia looking to stall.
Tachia is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Soliman tries to score a body lock takedown but Tachia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Tachia - that landed with a thud.
Tachia goes for a takedown attempt but Soliman pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Soliman throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tachia counters with an outside leg kick.
Tachia lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Soliman blocks the body kick.
Soliman looks to land a left hand but Tachia moved out of range nicely.
Tachia blocks a jab.
Tachia lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Soliman stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tachia.
Tachia lands with a right hand.
Tachia scores with a nice body kick.

Tachia forces Soliman back against the cage and clinches.
Tachia content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tachia fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyoto Tachia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soliman stops a takedown attempt from Tachia.
Tachia slowing the pace effectively.
Tachia missing with knees to the body.
Tachia tries to work over Soliman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tachia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Soliman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tachia looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Soliman is working for takedown but Tachia is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tachia missing with knees to the body.

Tachia decides to pull guard.
Soliman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Soliman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tachia is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tachia controls Soliman momentarily but Soliman frees himself.
Tachia is pulling down on Soliman's head to control his posture.
Tachia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Soliman wants to pass the guard but Tachia is keeping the position.

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.
Tachia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tachia is looking to sweep but instead, Soliman has passed into half guard.
Tachia misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Soliman. No joy for Tachia on that attempt.
Tachia throws a sloppy head kick and Soliman moves out of range easily.
Tachia avoids the body shot from Soliman.
Tachia swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Tachia dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A low kick from Soliman is predictable there
and Tachia counters with an inside leg kick.
Tachia comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Soliman changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Soliman misses with a jab to the body
and Tachia counters with a left to the body.
A slow jab from Soliman misses its intended target.
Tachia shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Soliman as he jumps to the side.
Tachia throws a leg kick but Soliman moved away.
Soliman throws a hook to the side of Tachia's head but Tachia sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Soliman takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Soliman lands a slapping body shot.
Soliman thows a leg kick but Tachia checks it

and Tachia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soliman is working for takedown but Tachia is calmly controlling the position for now.

Tachia has Soliman pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Tachia pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Soliman tumbling to the mat - Tachia dives into Soliman's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soliman pulls Tachia in to control the position.
Soliman is looking to sweep but instead, Tachia has passed into half guard.
Tachia is thwarting Soliman's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tachia not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tachia content to control rather than advance.
Soliman wants to get back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Tachia seems content to control.
Soliman is trying to maintain the position but Tachia is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tachia tries to clinch but Soliman moves out of range.
Soliman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tachia moves away.
Lyoto Tachia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Soliman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Soliman throws a nice outside leg kick.
Soliman throws a right hand that Tachia ducks under and follows up with a left that Tachia also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Tachia, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tachia.
Tachia lets loose with a powerful body kick. Soliman will feel that in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to de liver by Tachia. Beautiful body shot.
Tachia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tachia connects with a body shot.
Tachia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tachia lands a nice shot to the body.
Tachia thows a body kick. Soliman tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Lawrence Soliman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tachia goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Soliman thows a leg kick but Tachia checks it
and Tachia makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Soliman really felt that one!
Soliman takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tachia.
Tachia bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Soliman has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Tachia.
Tachia shoots in and drives through. Soliman sprawls well.
Soliman throws a lazy right hand but Tachia sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Tachia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tachia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Tachia!