PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Lennon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Lidell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Lennon
vs
Lidell

175 cm
23
148 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, John Lennon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Lidell!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lennon fails with a takedown attempt.
Lennon shoots in but Lidell avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Lennon forces Lidell back against the cage and clinches.
Lennon throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lidell avoiding damage.
Lennon tries to land a knee to the head but Lidell blocks with his arms.
Lennon fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lennon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lennon creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lidell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lennon tries to land knees in the clinch but Lidell avoids the damage to the body.
Lennon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lidell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lennon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lennon looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lennon tries to pull guard but Lidell won't allow it.
Lennon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Lidell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Lidell 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.
Lennon pushing down on Lidell's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lidell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lennon. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennon works his way into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lennon wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lidell, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Lidell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Lennon working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lennon is breathing heavily.
Lennon working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lidell is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Lidell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lidell wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
You can see the frustration on Lidell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lennon misses with a takedown attempt - Lidell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lidell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lennon counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lidell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lennon's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lidell trying to control but Lennon is working from the bottom.

Lennon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lidell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lidell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lidell cracks Lennon with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lidell sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Lennon working for a triangle but Lidell defends it easily.

Lennon isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lidell stacks Lennon on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Lidell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lennon dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lidell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lennon tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lennon has his foot on Lidell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lidell works his way back into a safe position though.
Lidell looking to pass the guard.
Lidell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lidell trying to control the position from guard on top but Lennon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lennon had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lidell is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lennon Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lidell's back instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lennon working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Lidell trying to control the hands but Lennon breaks the grip.

Lennon tightening his grip on Lidell, looking for the choke.
Lennon is hanging on to Lidell's back as he tries to escape.

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.
Lidell turns into Lennon and is now in his guard.
Lidell looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Lidell looking to pass the guard.

Lennon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lidell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lidell trying to control but Lennon is working from the bottom.
Lidell sitting in guard here, content to control.

Lidell content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Lennon has locked up a guillotine! Lennon's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Lidell is holding on here and Lennon must be using up a lot of energy. Lidell has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Lennon gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). John Lennon!