PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Delavine (ranked 5081 p4p, 395 weight class) and Arvids Lidaka (ranked 5744 p4p, 422 weight class). Ryan Delavine could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Arvids Lidaka's chin.

Delavine
vs
Lidaka

205 cm
20
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

220 cm
24
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Delavine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arvids Lidaka!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jonathan Paton and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lidaka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Delavine fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Lidaka clinches with his opponent.
Lidaka goes for a takedown in the clinch but Delavine prevents it.
Delavine lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lidaka backwards.
Lidaka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Delavine trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lidaka tries to pull guard but Delavine forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ryan Delavine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arvids Lidaka.
Delavine landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lidaka tries to pull guard but Delavine holds him up against the cage and eventually Lidaka drops back down to his feet.

Delavine's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Delavine closes the distance and pushes Lidaka back into the cage.

Delavine breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Delavine misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lidaka is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Lidaka moves into the clinch successfully.
Lidaka looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Delavine landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Delavine breaks the clinch.

Delavine fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lidaka, pushing him back against the cage.

Delavine breaks the clinch.

Lidaka gets tackled into the cage by Delavine. Delavine maintains the clinch.
Delavine doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lidaka is looking to take this one to the mat.
Delavine tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lidaka's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delavine stops a takedown attempt from Lidaka.
Our sources have told us that Delavine has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Delavine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Delavine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lidaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lidaka throws a counter combo.
Delavine is looking to clinch but Lidaka is avoiding it.

Delavine gets tackled into the cage by Lidaka. Lidaka maintains the clinch.
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!
Lidaka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

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

Delavine forces Lidaka back against the cage and clinches.
Delavine is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lidaka is defending well for now.
Lidaka fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Delavine landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Delavine missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delavine tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Delavine just leaning against Lidaka, taking a breather.

Delavine's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Delavine is breathing heavily.

Delavine closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Delavine breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lidaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Delavine tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Lidaka manages to circle out of the way.
A jab from Delavine misses.

Lidaka drives through and clinches with Delavine against the cage.

Delavine breaks from the clinch.
Lidaka checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Lidaka is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Lidaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lidaka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lidaka successfully pulls guard.
Lidaka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Delavine is one step ahead there.
Lidaka lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lidaka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
It looks like Lidaka might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Delavine dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Delavine leaves Lidaka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lidaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Delavine rushes Lidaka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lidaka fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Delavine's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lidaka.
Delavine throws a counter high kick but Lidaka was just alert enough to avoid it.
Lidaka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lidaka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ryan Delavine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arvids Lidaka.
Lidaka defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Delavine.
Delavine swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lidaka shoots in looking for a takedown but Delavine manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lidaka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
It looked like Delavine was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Delavine defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lidaka.
Lidaka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Delavine sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lidaka somewhat.
Lidaka shoots for a takedown but Delavine saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Arvids Lidaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Delavine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lidaka.
Lidaka wants to counter with a clinch but Delavine pushes him away.

Lidaka closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Delavine did well to prevent Lidaka getting side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lidaka is trying to control the action in half guard but Delavine is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Delavine has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Lidaka is on him like a limpet, forcing Delavine back against the cage.
Lidaka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Delavine smiles and moves away.
Lidaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Delavine.
Delavine tries to clinch but Lidaka moves out of range.
Lidaka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Delavine as he avoids it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Delavine uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lidaka.
Ryan Delavine is winning the standup battle so far.

Lidaka gets tackled into the cage by Delavine. Delavine maintains the clinch.
Delavine is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lidaka jumps guard but Delavine stands there with Lidaka around his waist. Lidaka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Delavine is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lidaka is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lidaka is trying to pull guard but Delavine has him pressed against the cage.
Delavine taking a breather.
Ryan Delavine has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Delavine creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Delavine lands a shot to the body.
Lidaka tries for a takedown but Delavine manages to get underhooks.
Delavine is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lidaka can do to turn this around?
Lidaka fails to pull guard.
Delavine gets underhooks to prevent Lidaka's takedown attempt.
Delavine's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Lidaka has picked Delavine up - he's going for a ride! Lidaka dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delavine tries to kick Lidaka off but Lidaka keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lidaka is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Delavine!
Arvids Lidaka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lidaka looking to control and managing it successfully.

Lidaka looking to secure an arm triangle but Delavine defends it well.
Lidaka has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Delavine's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Delavine dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Delavine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lidaka takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lidaka throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Delavine to counter with a crisp jab.

Lidaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lidaka tries to score a body lock takedown but Delavine shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lidaka wants a takedown but no success here.
Delavine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Delavine is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lidaka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Delavine walks away with a smile on his face. Lidaka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ryan Delavine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arvids Lidaka.
Delavine tries to close the distance and clinch but Lidaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lidaka rushes Delavine and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delavine trying to land knees to the body.
Delavine tries a body shot but Lidaka blocks it.
Delavine missing with knees to the body.
Delavine has Lidaka pressed against the cage.
Delavine tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lidaka avoids it.

Lidaka jumps guard.
Lidaka has Delavine pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Delavine postures up.
Lidaka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lidaka 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.
Delavine wants to stand but Lidaka has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delavine trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Delavine wants to stand and escape but instead Lidaka has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Lidaka throws a big elbow that misses.
Lidaka 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 ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lidaka connects with a couple of short punches.
Lidaka 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 referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Delavine might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lidaka slips nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lidaka in particular looking to stall.

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.
Lidaka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Lidaka drives through and clinches with Delavine against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lidaka is trying to pull guard but Delavine has him pressed against the cage.

Lidaka gets control of Delavine's arms and successfully pulls guard. Lidaka will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Arvids Lidaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryan Delavine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lidaka throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arvids Lidaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Delavine has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Delavine!
Ryan Delavine decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.