PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Tidwell (ranked 4008 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Slobodyanyuk (ranked 3340 p4p, 0 weight class). Roman Slobodyanyuk will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Tidwell
vs
Slobodyanyuk

175 cm
25
157 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
158 lbs
4 - 1 - 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 3 - 2 - 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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roman Slobodyanyuk!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tidwell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Slobodyanyuk is fending him off so far but Tidwell persists. Nope, Slobodyanyuk circles away and we're back to standing.
Slobodyanyuk pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Tidwell back to the cage. Slobodyanyuk follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A low kick from Slobodyanyuk is predictable there

and Tidwell counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Slobodyanyuk!
Slobodyanyuk wants to control but Tidwell postures up.
Tidwell scoring with punches and elbows.
Slobodyanyuk manages to get back to half guard.
Tidwell with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Tidwell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Slobodyanyuk missing with punches from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slobodyanyuk trying to hold on to Tidwell's head to control him but Tidwell postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk gets full guard.
Slobodyanyuk can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tidwell controls the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tidwell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Slobodyanyuk throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tidwell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tidwell wanted to stand there but Slobodyanyuk had control of the position.
Tidwell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Slobodyanyuk on the ground.
Slobodyanyuk can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tidwell controls the pace.
Slobodyanyuk is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tidwell swats away the attempt to clinch by Slobodyanyuk.
Tidwell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Slobodyanyuk dives in and grabs Tidwell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tidwell pushes down on Slobodyanyuk's head and hops out.
Tidwell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Slobodyanyuk's waist but Slobodyanyuk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tidwell off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Tidwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tidwell on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Slobodyanyuk closes the distance and clinches up with Tidwell, looking for a takedown. Slobodyanyuk pushes Tidwell against the cage but Tidwell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Tidwell moves into the clinch.
Tidwell tries to land knees in the clinch but Slobodyanyuk avoids the damage to the body.
Slobodyanyuk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Tidwell turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Tidwell tries to stand but Slobodyanyuk is controlling his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tidwell wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Slobodyanyuk manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Slobodyanyuk is looking for a sweep. Tidwell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Slobodyanyuk trying to control but Tidwell postures up.
Tidwell tries to stand but can't do so whilst Slobodyanyuk controls his leg.
Tidwell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tidwell wants to pass the guard but Slobodyanyuk is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tidwell is controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Slobodyanyuk shoots in for a double leg but Tidwell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Slobodyanyuk gets caught flat footed, as Tidwell shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Slobodyanyuk looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tidwell passes into half guard.
Slobodyanyuk trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Slobodyanyuk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Slobodyanyuk scores with a one two! Tidwell had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Slobodyanyuk shoots in for a takedown but Tidwell shows good takedown defense.

Tidwell gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tidwell lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Tidwell seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Slobodyanyuk is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tidwell pulls his head out easily.
Tidwell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tidwell stops Slobodyanyuk from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tidwell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tidwell clinches up with Slobodyanyuk and pushes him back against the cage.
Slobodyanyuk jumps guard but Tidwell turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Tidwell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Slobodyanyuk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tidwell manages to avoid it.
Slobodyanyuk shoots in for a takedown but Tidwell shows good takedown defense.
Rob Tidwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Slobodyanyuk.
A left and a right from Slobodyanyuk both land. Nice combination.

Slobodyanyuk gets tackled into the cage by Tidwell. Tidwell maintains the clinch.
Slobodyanyuk wants to take the fight to the mat but Tidwell manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Slobodyanyuk is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tidwell is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Slobodyanyuk to the mat. Slobodyanyuk regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Tidwell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Tidwell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Slobodyanyuk looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Slobodyanyuk looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Slobodyanyuk!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk gets to mount! Tidwell was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Tidwell tries to reverse the position but Slobodyanyuk maintains control.
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.
Tidwell tries to lock up and control but Slobodyanyuk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Slobodyanyuk with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Tidwell is squirming around, avoiding Slobodyanyuk's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tidwell holds of for dear life.
Tidwell tries to hold on but Slobodyanyuk postures up.
Slobodyanyuk throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Slobodyanyuk looking to control but Tidwell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Roman Slobodyanyuk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Tidwell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tidwell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Slobodyanyuk throws a lazy body kick

and Tidwell counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Slobodyanyuk!
Slobodyanyuk tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Tidwell biding his time, controlling Slobodyanyuk.
Slobodyanyuk breaks Tidwell's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Tidwell controlling Slobodyanyuk's posture.
Tidwell's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tidwell looking for a sweep. Not yet Tidwell, not yet.
Rob Tidwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tidwell controlling the position.
Slobodyanyuk wants to control from the top but Tidwell keeps moving.
Tidwell trying to control the position.
Slobodyanyuk trying to control but Tidwell is working from the bottom.

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 has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Slobodyanyuk preventing the sweep.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Slobodyanyuk trying to control but Tidwell is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slobodyanyuk dives in and grabs Tidwell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tidwell pushes down on Slobodyanyuk's head and hops out.
Tidwell shoots in for a takedown but Slobodyanyuk shows good takedown defense.
Slobodyanyuk shoots in but no luck this time.
Rob Tidwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Slobodyanyuk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tidwell but Tidwell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rob Tidwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Slobodyanyuk.
Slobodyanyuk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Slobodyanyuk misses with a kick to the body

and Tidwell counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tidwell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tidwell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Slobodyanyuk trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tidwell is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tidwell moves into full mount! Slobodyanyuk won't be happy about that!
Tidwell controlling the position easily from mount.
Tidwell working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tidwell fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tidwell working for a submission but Slobodyanyuk is keeping him at bay.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Tidwell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tidwell 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28

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