PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mladen Milenkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Tidwell (ranked 0 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.

Milenkovic
vs
Tidwell

175 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mladen Milenkovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Tidwell!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tidwell bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Milenkovic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Milenkovic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tidwell moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Tidwell scoring with punches from side control.
Milenkovic takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Tidwell cracks Milenkovic with a big right hand but Milenkovic just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Tidwell stands up and we're back to a striking position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tidwell is taking a breather. Milenkovic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Milenkovic wants to get back to his feet.
Tidwell is looking to take a break and control but Milenkovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Milenkovic wants to get back to his feet.
Milenkovic trying to control here.
Tidwell takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Tidwell is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two 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.
Milenkovic is trying to stand back up but Tidwell is controlling him

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Milenkovic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Milenkovic slaps away a takedown attempt from Tidwell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tidwell looks gassed!
No joy there for Tidwell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Milenkovic shoots and misses

and Tidwell counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Milenkovic!
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic is in a horrible position here. Tidwell smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Milenkovic is just holding on here. Tidwell manages to take his back.
Tidwell is hanging on to Milenkovic's back as he tries to escape.
Tidwell is looking to control Milenkovic but Milenkovic is wriggling around and keeping busy.

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.
Milenkovic trying to control the position but Tidwell manages to sink in the hooks.
Milenkovic is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tidwell is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Milenkovic covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Milenkovic trying to control the action but Tidwell just sinks the hooks in.
Milenkovic has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Tidwell trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Tidwell dominated that round.
That's time! Milenkovic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

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

Milenkovic looking for submissions off his back.
Tidwell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Milenkovic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Milenkovic is trying to stand up here but Tidwell is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milenkovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tidwell sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Milenkovic doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tidwell counters by moving into the clinch.
Milenkovic tries for a takedown. No joy.
Milenkovic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tidwell lands an elbow that stopped Milenkovic in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Mladen Milenkovic has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tidwell prevents Milenkovic from breaking the clinch.

Tidwell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tidwell wants to sweep here but Milenkovic controlling him for the moment.

Milenkovic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tidwell looking for a sweep. Not yet Tidwell, not yet.
Milenkovic looking to pass the guard.
Tidwell looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tidwell keeping moving, preventing Milenkovic from controlling successfully.
Milenkovic preventing the sweep.
Tidwell keeping moving, preventing Milenkovic from controlling successfully.

Tidwell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Milenkovic trying to control but Tidwell is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Milenkovic misses with a takedown attempt

and Tidwell counters with a nice double leg into side control. Milenkovic won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mladen Milenkovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Milenkovic is trying to control Tidwell's posture but Tidwell avoids it.
Milenkovic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tidwell connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Milenkovic some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Tidwell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mladen Milenkovic's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tidwell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tidwell showed some decent athleticism there.
Milenkovic tries to get to full guard but Tidwell has control of the leg.
Well, if Tidwell is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Milenkovic is looking to control Tidwell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Milenkovic avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tidwell tries to pass to full mount but Milenkovic defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tidwell moves nicely into side control.
Milenkovic is not content to let Tidwell control the position.
Milenkovic is looking to regain half guard here but Tidwell keeps moving and retains side control.
Tidwell trying to control the position but Milenkovic is working away.

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.
Milenkovic can't do much from the bottom here.
Milenkovic wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Milenkovic tries to land a front kick but Tidwell steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Milenkovic moves in looking to clinch but Tidwell pushes him off.

Milenkovic gets caught flat footed, as Tidwell shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Milenkovic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Milenkovic looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tidwell puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tidwell is keen to just control but Milenkovic is a slippery customer.
Tidwell performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Tidwell blocks the strikes from Milenkovic.
Milenkovic is not content to let Tidwell control the position.
Milenkovic is trying to stand.
The fighters are battling for position here. Milenkovic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Milenkovic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tidwell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Milenkovic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tidwell defends it easily.
Tidwell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Milenkovic 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Tidwell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tidwell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

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