PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Tidwell (ranked 5057 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Slobodyanyuk (ranked 4420 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Tidwell
vs
Slobodyanyuk

175 cm
25
157 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

185 cm
25
158 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

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 5 - 5 - 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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roman Slobodyanyuk!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slobodyanyuk scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tidwell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Slobodyanyuk.
Tidwell ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Tidwell closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Slobodyanyuk trying to remain calm as Tidwell controls from the top position.

Tidwell tries for a kimura but Slobodyanyuk is defending well.
Tidwell working the body and head with strikes.
Slobodyanyuk trying his best to control but Tidwell has mounted him.
Slobodyanyuk bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slobodyanyuk being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tidwell can't keep his opponent in guard - Slobodyanyuk advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Slobodyanyuk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tidwell keeps working.
It looks like Slobodyanyuk is going to stand back up.
Slobodyanyuk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Slobodyanyuk trying to control from half guard but Tidwell is working away.

That's two 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.
Tidwell preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Tidwell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tidwell tries to get out of the position.
Slobodyanyuk wants to stand up but Tidwell is controlling the position.
Slobodyanyuk trying to control from half guard but Tidwell is working away.
Tidwell is controlling Slobodyanyuk's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Slobodyanyuk wants to take a breather but Tidwell is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk shoots in for a takedown but Tidwell shows good takedown defense.
Tidwell tries to counter with a takedown but Slobodyanyuk is quick to defend against it.
Slobodyanyuk shoots and misses

and Tidwell counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tidwell postures up.

Tidwell drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Slobodyanyuk manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tidwell has Slobodyanyuk in his guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tidwell holds on and takes a little breather.

Slobodyanyuk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Slobodyanyuk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Slobodyanyuk drops back looking for a leg! Tidwell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tidwell manages to kick Slobodyanyuk off! Slobodyanyuk jumps back into Tidwell's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tidwell wants to sweep here but Slobodyanyuk controlling him for the moment.
Slobodyanyuk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Slobodyanyuk trying to control but Tidwell is working from the bottom.
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 Rob Tidwell will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A head kick misses from Tidwell.
Tidwell sets himself, and Slobodyanyuk steps forward looking for the clinch! Tidwell avoids it this time.
Slobodyanyuk throws a head kick that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Tidwell as Slobodyanyuk shoots in.
Slobodyanyuk looks to score with a jab to the body but Tidwell is just out of range.
Tidwell closes the distance and clinches up with Slobodyanyuk, looking for a takedown. Tidwell pushes Slobodyanyuk against the cage but Slobodyanyuk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Slobodyanyuk fails with an attempt to clinch.
Slobodyanyuk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tidwell's waist but Tidwell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Slobodyanyuk off to one side.
Tidwell tries to counter by clinching up but Slobodyanyuk breaks away and moves out of range.
Slobodyanyuk tries to close the distance and clinch but Tidwell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Tidwell darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tidwell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Slobodyanyuk on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tidwell connects with a nice short shot to Slobodyanyuk's temple.
Slobodyanyuk tries to roll over but Tidwell keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tidwell scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tidwell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tidwell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Slobodyanyuk knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tidwell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

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.
Tidwell wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Slobodyanyuk uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Slobodyanyuk is trying to keep Tidwell in close.
Tidwell won't allow Slobodyanyuk to sweep him here.
Tidwell controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tidwell seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Slobodyanyuk for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tidwell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Slobodyanyuk was covering up waiting for the punch and Tidwell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Slobodyanyuk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Slobodyanyuk tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Slobodyanyuk wants to control from the top but Tidwell keeps moving.
Slobodyanyuk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tidwell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tidwell wants to sweep here but Slobodyanyuk controlling him for the moment.
Tidwell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Slobodyanyuk.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tidwell controlling Slobodyanyuk's posture.
Tidwell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Tidwell dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Slobodyanyuk throws a combination. Tidwell tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Slobodyanyuk fails with a takedown attempt.

Tidwell closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tidwell is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Slobodyanyuk is looking for a sweep. Tidwell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tidwell is controlling the pace.
Tidwell working over Slobodyanyuk with some ground and pound. Slobodyanyuk looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tidwell is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Slobodyanyuk to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Tidwell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tidwell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Slobodyanyuk is keeping the position for now.
Slobodyanyuk is trying to control the position but Tidwell postures up.
Tidwell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tidwell showing good wrestling skills 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.
Slobodyanyuk has a takedown stuffed.
Slobodyanyuk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tidwell.
Slobodyanyuk unleashes a big counter combination but Tidwell bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Tidwell closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Slobodyanyuk's guard.
Slobodyanyuk controls Tidwell momentarily but Tidwell frees himself.
Tidwell controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tidwell wants to pass the guard but Slobodyanyuk is keeping the position.
Tidwell controls from within his opponent's guard.

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.
Slobodyanyuk wants to stand and escape but Tidwell is having none of it.
Rob Tidwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tidwell has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Slobodyanyuk is proving hard to escape from.

Slobodyanyuk looking for a guillotine here but Tidwell defends easily.
Tidwell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Slobodyanyuk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tidwell's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rob Tidwell.
Well Tidwell 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Tidwell!