PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Elias Lyon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zaki Zaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elias Lyon has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Lyon
vs
Zaki

163 cm
21
142 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

150 cm
22
138 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Elias Lyon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Zaki Zaki!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaki shoots in and drives through. Lyon sprawls well.

Lyon throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zaki was covering up waiting for the punch and Lyon finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zaki throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Lyon lands a couple of elbows.
Lyon looking to pass the guard.
Lyon is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lyon controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaki is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Lyon dives into side control.
Zaki should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Zaki tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Lyon easily slips into full mount!
Lyon controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lyon lands a couple of good shots and Zaki has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Lyon connects with a big shot to the side of Zaki's head.
Zaki tries to escape but Lyon has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Zaki is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Lyon.
Zaki is trying to get back to his feet but Lyon has full control of the position and if anything, Zaki has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyon biding his time, controlling Zaki.
Lyon gets his hands free as Zaki looks to control.
Lyon controls the action.
Lyon connects with a big shot to the side of Zaki's head.
Lyon lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Zaki.
Lyon connects with a big shot to the side of Zaki's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyon is landing with strikes from the back.
Lyon just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Lyon punches Zaki on the ear.
Zaki grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Lyon keeps control of the position easily here as Zaki tries to buck him off.
Lyon lands punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zaki wants to control his opponent's hands but Lyon gets his hands free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Lyon dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zaki misses with a two punch combination.

Zaki gets caught napping as Lyon dives in and scores a takedown. Zaki manages to retain guard.
Zaki wants to get back to his feet but Lyon passes into half guard.

Lyon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Lyon drops an elbow to the side of Zaki's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lyon content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyon has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zaki trying to control but Lyon postures up.
Lyon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Zaki is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lyon scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lyon is taking a breather. Zaki says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zaki fails with the takedown
and Zaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lyon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zaki misses with a wild combination.
Zaki fails with the takedown
and Lyon counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyon scores with a body shot.
Lyon lands an overhand right.
Lyon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zaki moves away.
Lyon tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Lyon.
Zaki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Elias Lyon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zaki Zaki.
Zaki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lyon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lyon is looking to wear down Zaki with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zaki shoots in for a takedown but Lyon shows good takedown defense.
Zaki is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lyon closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zaki did well to prevent Lyon getting side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lyon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Lyon lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Lyon dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lyon but Lyon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lyon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Lyon throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zaki was covering up waiting for the punch and Lyon finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lyon is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Lyon.
Zaki working a defensive guard here.
Lyon landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lyon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lyon postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Zaki has eaten all the pies!
Lyon passes Zaki's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lyon takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lyon is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lyon working Zaki over with strikes.
Lyon lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyon takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lyon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Lyon seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zaki for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lyon trying to pass the guard but Zaki defending well.
Lyon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lyon is nestled in close to Zaki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Elias Lyon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lyon working Zaki over with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lyon is nestled in close to Zaki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lyon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zaki Zaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lyon stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elias Lyon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lyon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:25
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elias Lyon!