PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Omar Tivodinogov (ranked 4359 p4p, 5773 weight class) and Keenan Downing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Keenan Downing was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tivodinogov
vs
Downing

184 cm
25
184
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
194
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Omar Tivodinogov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Keenan Downing!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tivodinogov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tivodinogov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Downing controls Tivodinogov momentarily but Tivodinogov frees himself.

Downing is looking for a triangle but Tivodinogov pushes his legs off easily.
Tivodinogov tries to stand but Downing is controlling from the bottom.

Downing has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tivodinogov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tivodinogov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tivodinogov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tivodinogov is working Downing over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tivodinogov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Downing's head.
Tivodinogov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Downing escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tivodinogov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tivodinogov content to stall in guard here.
Tivodinogov with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tivodinogov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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.
Downing tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Downing looking to control.

Downing is looking for a triangle but Tivodinogov pushes his legs off easily.
Tivodinogov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tivodinogov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tivodinogov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Downing is proving hard to escape from.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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

Tivodinogov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tivodinogov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Downing trying to control the position from guard on top but Tivodinogov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Downing sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tivodinogov's guard.
Tivodinogov is refusing to be controlled, as Downing sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tivodinogov is defending against the submission attempts here by Downing.
Tivodinogov is trying to stand up here but Downing is controlling him well.
Tivodinogov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tivodinogov.
Tivodinogov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tivodinogov tries to get out of the position.
Tivodinogov looking for a sweep. Not yet Tivodinogov, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tivodinogov is pulling down on Downing's head to control his posture.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Omar Tivodinogov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Downing shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Tivodinogov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've been informed that Downing has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Tivodinogov lands some shots froms side control.
Omar Tivodinogov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Downing gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Tivodinogov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Downing gets back to half guard.
Tivodinogov is thwarting Downing's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downing moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Downing working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tivodinogov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tivodinogov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tivodinogov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Downing on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tivodinogov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Downing is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tivodinogov defends well.
Tivodinogov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tivodinogov forces his way into half guard.

That's two 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.
Tivodinogov wants to pass the guard but Downing is defending well.
Tivodinogov content to control rather than advance.
Downing taking some punishment here, with Tivodinogov in his half guard.
Downing is trying to control but can't.
Tivodinogov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Downing is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downing taking some punishment here, with Tivodinogov in his half guard.
Tivodinogov winds up and cracks Downing with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Downing wants to control but Tivodinogov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tivodinogov controlling the action here.

Downing looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tivodinogov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Downing!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downing wants to hold on but Tivodinogov pushes him away.
Tivodinogov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Tivodinogov prevents Downing from getting the reversal.
Tivodinogov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Tivodinogov dominating with strikes here.

Tivodinogov wants to finish this one by submission but Downing is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Tivodinogov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Downing tries to hold on but Tivodinogov postures up.
Downing is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Tivodinogov dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tivodinogov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Downing.
Downing has his takedown stuffed
and Tivodinogov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Tivodinogov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tivodinogov tries a knee to the head but Downing blocks it.
Downing has Tivodinogov pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Downing.

Tivodinogov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Downing shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tivodinogov but Tivodinogov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Omar Tivodinogov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keenan Downing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downing looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tivodinogov is fending him off so far but Downing persists. Nope, Tivodinogov circles away and we're back to standing.
Downing takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tivodinogov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tivodinogov stuffs the takedown attempt from Downing. Downing gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tivodinogov drives through and clinches with Downing against the cage.

Tivodinogov gets control of Downing's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tivodinogov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Tivodinogov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Downing can do to turn this around?
Downing stopping the sweep attempt from Tivodinogov.
Downing is fighting to break Tivodinogov's control of his arms but Tivodinogov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Downing trying to control but Tivodinogov is working from the bottom.
Downing passes into half guard.
Tivodinogov controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Downing is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tivodinogov sees it coming and defends easily.
Tivodinogov wants to get back to full guard.
Downing works his foot free and advances to mount.
Tivodinogov tries to reverse the position but Downing maintains control.
Tivodinogov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Downing wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

Downing working for a guillotine from mount but Tivodinogov is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tivodinogov is looking to improve his position but Downing isn't that keen on the idea.
Keenan Downing has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Downing looking to finish with strikes here!
Downing wants to take Tivodinogov's back but he can't do it this time.
Tivodinogov is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

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.
Downing takes Tivodinogov's back.

Tivodinogov won't enjoy being in this position. Downing looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Tivodinogov is tapping - it's over boys! Downing picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Keenan Downing!
During a confident post fight interview, Keenan Downing thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.