PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Tidwell (ranked 6058 p4p, 0 weight class) and Izzedin El Derabani (ranked 5792 p4p, 0 weight class). Izzedin El Derabani is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tidwell
vs
El Derabani

175 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rob Tidwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Izzedin El Derabani!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
El Derabani tries to clinch up.

Tidwell shoots in and gets a takedown into El Derabani's guard.
Tidwell is standing up over El Derabani. El Derabani looks to escape but Tidwell dives into side control.

El Derabani seems a little lost for a moment, as Tidwell dominates the positioning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
El Derabani tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
El Derabani taking shots to the head.

Tidwell looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tidwell lands a heavy elbow.
Tidwell connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tidwell lands a heavy elbow.
El Derabani throwing hammer fists to the chest of Tidwell. What's that going to do exactly?
Tidwell controlling the pace for now.
Tidwell raining down shots from the mount!
Tidwell controlling his opponent.
Tidwell putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Tidwell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tidwell connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tidwell looking to control and managing it successfully.
BOOM! Tidwell connects with a massive shot to the dome!
El Derabani flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
El Derabani tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tidwell controlling from mount.
El Derabani tries to reverse the position but Tidwell maintains control.
Tidwell is landing with some decent strikes but El Derabani is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
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!
Tidwell controlling from the full mount.

Tidwell stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Derabani is looking to slow Tidwell down with leg kicks.
Tidwell tries to clinch but El Derabani is having none of it.

Tidwell shoots in and gets a takedown into El Derabani's guard.
El Derabani is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Tidwell dives into side control.

El Derabani gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Tidwell tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Tidwell with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tidwell controlling from the full mount.
Tidwell breaks from El Derabani's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tidwell controlling from the full mount.
El Derabani is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tidwell content just to control the position here.

El Derabani defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tidwell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Tidwell dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tidwell forces El Derabani back against the cage and clinches.
El Derabani stops a takedown attempt from Tidwell.
Tidwell has El Derabani pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. El Derabani manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tidwell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tidwell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite El Derabani's efforts to push away.
Tidwell stalling in the clinch.
El Derabani tries for a takedown. No joy.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Derabani fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tidwell prevents El Derabani from breaking the clinch.
El Derabani wants a takedown.
Rob Tidwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Izzedin El Derabani.
El Derabani gets underhooks to prevent Tidwell's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Derabani tries to circle away but Tidwell has him pinned against the cage.
Tidwell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

El Derabani pulls Tidwell into guard.
Tidwell throwing strikes but missing.
Tidwell passes El Derabani's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Tidwell there.

Tidwell seems to be looking for submissions.
El Derabani is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
El Derabani bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Derabani looking to sit in guard and control but Tidwell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tidwell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
El Derabani has a closed guard, preventing Tidwell from standing up.
Tidwell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tidwell forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tidwell with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Tidwell seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Tidwell not doing much 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.
El Derabani on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tidwell seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Tidwell frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tidwell sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tidwell lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Tidwell dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

El Derabani misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tidwell doesn't manage to clinch there - El Derabani circles away.
El Derabani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
El Derabani throws a body punch but Tidwell moves out of range.
Tidwell tried to counter with a leg kick but El Derabani avoided it.
El Derabani fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rob Tidwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
El Derabani misses with a series of wild punches.

Tidwell feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tidwell postures up and lands a big shot to El Derabani's brow.
Tidwell is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tidwell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tidwell slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Tidwell has gone for a leg lock! El Derabani slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tidwell's guard.

Tidwell 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.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

El Derabani is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Tidwell has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. El Derabani is looking to defend but Tidwell has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for El Derabani! Tidwell pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, El Derabani taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rob Tidwell!