PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Slacks Houligan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Tran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Houligan
vs
Tran

175 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 5 - 1

168 cm
24
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Slacks Houligan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lucas Tran!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tran shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Houligan regains half guard.
Tran is thwarting Houligan's attempts to control the position.
Tran is keen to just control but Houligan is a slippery customer.
Houligan moves into full guard.
Houligan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tran wants to stand but Houligan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Houligan controlling the position.
Houligan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Houligan looking for a sweep. Not yet Houligan, not yet.
Houligan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tran controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Slacks Houligan just wasn't active enough.

Tran gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Houligan is trying to maintain a safe position but Tran gets an underhook and turns Houligan into the cage.

Tran works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Houligan looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tran puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Tran prevents Houligan from improving his position.
Tran controlling the pace.
Houligan wants to control but Tran is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Houligan is trying to get back to full guard.
Tran keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Let's hope that Tran has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Lucas Tran has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Houligan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tran counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tran.
Houligan controlling the position.
Houligan looking for a sweep. Not yet Houligan, not yet.
Tran trying to control the position from guard on top but Houligan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tran throwing strikes but missing.
Houligan looking for a sweep. Not yet Houligan, not yet.
Houligan is trying to control the position but Tran postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Houligan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Houligan tries for a takedown but Tran circles away easily

and Tran counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tran is trying to control. Houligan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Tran there.
Houligan is not content to let Tran control the position.
Tran is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Houligan gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houligan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tran!
Tran tries to hold on but Houligan pushes him away.
Tran takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Houligan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tran tries to hold on but Houligan pushes him away.
Houligan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Tran is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Houligan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Houligan is breathing heavily.
Tran wants to hold on but Houligan pushes him away.
Houligan thowing shots but they're missing.
Tran keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Houligan avoids the attempt from Tran to control.
Tran is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Houligan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tran counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Houligan!
Tran wants to control the pace but Houligan is squirming around nicely.
Lucas Tran has got the better of the ground game so far.
A nice elbow there by Tran.
Houligan is looking to improve his position but Tran isn't that keen on the idea.
Tran lands with some strikes.
Tran avoids the attempt from Houligan to control.
Houligan is trying to stand.
BOOM! Tran connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tran tries to control but Houligan wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houligan regains half guard.
Tran with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Houligan pushes Tran off looking to stand but Tran dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Houligan is looking to control Tran's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Houligan avoid being mounted?
Tran stalling.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Lucas Tran has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Houligan feints and as Tran raises his hands in defense, Houligan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran pulls Houligan in close to his closed guard and prevents Houligan from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tran wants to sweep but no luck.
Houligan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tran works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Houligan stops Tran from standing up.
Houligan throws a big right hand that misses.
Houligan connects with a couple of short punches.
Tran is trying to keep Houligan in close.
Tran wants to sweep but no luck.
Houligan postures up and lands a big shot to Tran's brow.
Houligan throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houligan preventing the sweep.

Tran escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Houligan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tran wants to get back to his feet but Houligan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Houligan cracks Tran with a solid left hand.
Tran is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tran avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Houligan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Houligan postures up and lands a big shot to Tran's brow.
Tran looking to control.
Houligan landing with the ground and pound.
Houligan throwing strikes but missing.
Houligan lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tran is trying to control the position but Houligan postures up.
Houligan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Houligan won't allow Tran to sweep him here.
Tran is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Houligan postures up in Tran's guard and throws a big left but Tran blocks it.
Houligan scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lucas Tran will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Houligan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tran counters with a nice double leg into side control. Houligan won't be happy with that.
Houligan tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Tran easily slips into full mount!
Houligan wants to hold on but Tran pushes him away.
Houligan regains half guard.
Tran performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Houligan wants to improve his position but Tran is controlling well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tran controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tran landing strikes, looking to finish!
Houligan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tran works his way to his opponent's back.
Tran lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Tran is looking to control Houligan but Houligan is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Houligan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houligan is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Tran controlling from the back.
Houligan manages to reverse the position and now he's in Tran's guard. Nice work there by Houligan.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Houligan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tran works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Houligan!
Tran trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Houligan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tran controlling from the full mount.
Houligan tries to hold on but Tran pushes him away.

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.
Houligan is desperately trying to improve his position but Tran has a good base and remains in mount.
Tran can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Houligan is looking to escape.
Houligan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tran wants to control the pace but Houligan is squirming around nicely.

Tran jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Houligan manages to avoid the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucas Tran comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tran has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucas Tran!