PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Lakanik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory Lyons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lakanik
vs
Lyons

191 cm
39
195 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

192 cm
30
198 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

{R.W} Four Aces Nutrition

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 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Lakanik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rory Lyons!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jorge Garcia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lyons gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lakanik throws a big right hand that misses.
Lakanik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lakanik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lakanik trying to control but Lyons is working from the bottom.
Lakanik distracts Lyons with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lyons utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lakanik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lakanik throws a big right hand that misses.
Lyons preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lyons avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyons trying to control the position here.
Lyons being controlled here, momentarily.
Lakanik throws a strike but Lyons rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lyons wants to pass the guard but Lakanik is keeping the position.
Lakanik is trying to keep Lyons in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyons loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lyons's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lyons content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lakanik has Lyons pulled in close to control his posture.
Lyons lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lyons throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lakanik is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lakanik managing to control the position.
Lyons wants to control from the top but Lakanik keeps moving.
Lyons has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyons not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rory Lyons was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Lyons misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lakanik.
Lakanik buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lakanik is looking to score with low kicks.
Lakanik throws a sloppy head kick
and Lyons connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lakanik misses with a low kick.
Lyons is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyons moves out of range of the body kick.
Lakanik misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lakanik wants to clinch up but Lyons keeps it at a distance.
Lakanik throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lyons throws out a leg kick but Lakanik moves out of range and Lyons only half commits.

Lakanik dives in and scores a takedown into Lyons's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lakanik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lakanik has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Lakanik preventing the sweep.
Lakanik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lyons keeping moving, preventing Lakanik from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lakanik dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lakanik clinches up with Lyons and pushes him back against the cage.
Lyons wants to get back to striking at distance but Lakanik won't allow it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lyons.
Lyons lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Lakanik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lakanik drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lyons lands a jab to the head.
Lakanik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lyons or perhaps it was just good defense by Lakanik, which made it look bad.
John Lakanik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lakanik pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lyons keeps the fight on the outside.

Lyons throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lakanik tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lyons is in Lakanik's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lyons throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyons pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lakanik is keeping the position for now.
Lakanik is looking to sweep but instead, Lyons has passed into half guard.
Lyons scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lyons is trying to control. Lakanik wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lakanik is trying to get back to full guard.
Lyons working over Lakanik with some ground and pound. Lakanik looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lyons wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lakanik keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lakanik avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lyons.
Lyons wants to free his trapped foot but Lakanik is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lyons not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lakanik on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lakanik tries to get out of the position.
Lyons is trying to control the action in half guard but Lakanik is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lakanik moves into full guard.
Lyons throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lyons wants to control from the top but Lakanik keeps moving.
Lyons postures up.
Lyons chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyons sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lyons throws an elbow that misses. Lakanik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lyons's guard. Nice move by Lakanik!
Lakanik throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lakanik accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lyons looking to control.
Lakanik wants to control from the top but Lyons keeps moving.
Lakanik is looking to work some ground and pound but Lyons has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyons trying to keep a closed guard but Lakanik is proving a slippery customer.
Lyons bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lakanik's guard.
Lyons trying to control but Lakanik is working from the bottom.
Lyons controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lyons tries to free his leg and advance position but Lakanik is retaining full guard.
Lakanik knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lyons on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lakanik is trying to control the position but Lyons postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lakanik thumps Lyons with a low kick.
Lyons throws a leg kick which misses Lakanik's front leg but catches the back leg as Lakanik tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Lyons showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lyons scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lyons keeps the fight on the outside.
Lakanik fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lakanik tries to clinch up but Lyons circles away and keeps his distance.

Lyons shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lyons was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lyons tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Lakanik is looking to regain half guard here but Lyons keeps moving and retains side control.
Lyons trying to control the position but Lakanik is working away.
Lyons in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lyons goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lakanik has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lyons but great work by Lakanik.
Lyons tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lakanik wants to stand but Lyons has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Lyons is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyons has his hands on Lakanik's head, controlling the position.
Lakanik throws a big elbow that misses.
Lyons utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lakanik looking to sit in guard and control but Lyons gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lyons slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lyons's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyons advances position into side control!

Lyons tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lakanik dodges the ground and pound from Lyons.
Lyons lands some shots froms side control.
Lyons in side control lands a decent elbow.
Lakanik taking a bit of punishment here - Lyons scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyons working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Lakanik tries to bench press Lyons off him but Lyons keeps the position.
Lyons sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lakanik is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Lakanik is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lyons controlling the position.
Lyons is looking to take a break and control but Lakanik is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lyons controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rory Lyons comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lyons has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory Lyons!
Rory Lyons made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'It has been a privilege to share with Jules, and an honor to win this title. I would like to thank my fans, my camp, and my mom. I coming home with the gold!'.