PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Trenton Diaz (ranked 6137 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Slobodyanyuk (ranked 5610 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Diaz
vs
Slobodyanyuk

180 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

185 cm
25
158 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Trenton Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roman Slobodyanyuk!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Slobodyanyuk wants to improve his position but Diaz is controlling well.
Diaz slows the pace down in half guard.

Diaz is looking for a kimura but Slobodyanyuk is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Diaz to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slobodyanyuk is trying to stand back up but Diaz is controlling him
Diaz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Diaz has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Slobodyanyuk tries to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk is desperately trying to improve his position but Diaz has a good base and remains in mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Diaz there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Diaz moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Slobodyanyuk has worked his arm free - good work by Slobodyanyuk!
Slobodyanyuk struggling a bit here.
Slobodyanyuk is not content to let Diaz control the position.
A lull in the action here.
Diaz in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Slobodyanyuk is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Diaz off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to break free.
Slobodyanyuk throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Slobodyanyuk has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Slobodyanyuk tightening his grip on Diaz, looking for the choke.
Slobodyanyuk throwing sloppy strikes.

Slobodyanyuk looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz manages to reverse the position and now he's in Slobodyanyuk's guard. Nice work there by Diaz.
Diaz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Slobodyanyuk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Diaz is one step ahead there.
Slobodyanyuk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Slobodyanyuk pulls Diaz in close to prevent any damage.

Diaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Diaz trying to move into half guard but instead Slobodyanyuk has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Slobodyanyuk wants to stand but Diaz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Slobodyanyuk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Slobodyanyuk slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Diaz.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz is not content to let Slobodyanyuk control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roman Slobodyanyuk will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Slobodyanyuk throws a sloppy head kick
and Diaz counters with a right hand to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Slobodyanyuk. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.
Slobodyanyuk changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Slobodyanyuk moves out of range.
And Slobodyanyuk tries to counter it with a takedown but Diaz pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Diaz throws a one two combo.

It looks like Roman Slobodyanyuk has been cut.
Slobodyanyuk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diaz is fending him off so far but Slobodyanyuk persists. Nope, Diaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Diaz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Slobodyanyuk counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Diaz!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Slobodyanyuk is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Diaz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Slobodyanyuk is trying to get an arm triangle but Diaz is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz looks to move to half guard but instead Slobodyanyuk has passed into mount! Damn!
Diaz swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Slobodyanyuk controlling from mount.

Slobodyanyuk working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Diaz really wants to buck Slobodyanyuk off and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Slobodyanyuk tries to control but Diaz wriggling away.
Slobodyanyuk sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Diaz swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Slobodyanyuk throws a wild left hand from mount and Diaz manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Slobodyanyuk stops Diaz from getting back to his feet.
Slobodyanyuk thows a huge punch but Diaz dodges it nicely.

Slobodyanyuk wants to work for an arm triangle but Diaz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Diaz tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Slobodyanyuk slows the pace down in half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Slobodyanyuk is trying to control the action in half guard but Diaz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Diaz wants to clinch but Slobodyanyuk slips to the side
and Slobodyanyuk makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Diaz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Diaz wants it to stay on the feet.

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.

Slobodyanyuk closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Diaz has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Slobodyanyuk escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Slobodyanyuk!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diaz tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Slobodyanyuk has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Diaz!
Slobodyanyuk takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Slobodyanyuk throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Slobodyanyuk.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Slobodyanyuk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Roman Slobodyanyuk's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Slobodyanyuk clinches up with Diaz and pushes him back against the cage.
Slobodyanyuk is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Diaz is keeping busy.
Diaz fails to pull guard.
Slobodyanyuk trying to land knees to the body.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Slobodyanyuk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Slobodyanyuk gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Slobodyanyuk throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz is working for takedown but Slobodyanyuk is calmly controlling the position for now.
Slobodyanyuk jumps guard but Diaz stands there with Slobodyanyuk around his waist. Slobodyanyuk gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Slobodyanyuk wants a takedown but no success here.
Diaz trying to control the position but instead, Slobodyanyuk has worked for underhooks and has pushed Diaz into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Slobodyanyuk rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.

Slobodyanyuk manages to pull guard.
Diaz preventing the sweep.
Slobodyanyuk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Slobodyanyuk keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Slobodyanyuk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Slobodyanyuk controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.
Diaz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Slobodyanyuk swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Slobodyanyuk.
Diaz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Slobodyanyuk working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Slobodyanyuk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Slobodyanyuk striking off his back but it's not causing Diaz any problems.

Slobodyanyuk working for a triangle but Diaz defends it easily.
Diaz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Slobodyanyuk is pulling down on Diaz's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Slobodyanyuk.

Slobodyanyuk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Slobodyanyuk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diaz stays in close to Slobodyanyuk's body and controls the position.
Diaz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Slobodyanyuk's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Slobodyanyuk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Trenton Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Slobodyanyuk.

Diaz moves into the clinch.
Slobodyanyuk avoiding damage as Diaz throws knees to the body.
Slobodyanyuk leaning his opponent against the cage.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.
Diaz lands a jab-cross combination.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Diaz trying to control but Slobodyanyuk is working from the bottom.
Diaz wanted to stand there but Slobodyanyuk had control of the position.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Slobodyanyuk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diaz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Trenton Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roman Slobodyanyuk is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Slobodyanyuk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trenton Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Slobodyanyuk 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Slobodyanyuk!