PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Lydon (ranked 2565 p4p, 357 weight class) and Strategos Themistokles (ranked 2981 p4p, 408 weight class). Strategos Themistokles told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Lydon
vs
Themistokles

183 cm
23
205 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

187 cm
35
210 lbs
25 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
BONGOL BRAND ($50 for all design)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Lydon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Strategos Themistokles!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lydon misses with a kick to the body.
Themistokles takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Themistokles feints a jab promting Lydon to slip. Themistokles then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Lydon slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Lydon lets loose with a powerful body kick. Themistokles will feel that in the morning.
We've been told by Lydon's head coaches at BIGISLAND BIGGUNS WARRIOR TRAINING that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Lydon throws a series of punches but Themistokles moves out of range.
Lydon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Themistokles.
Themistokles takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Themistokles lunges at Lydon with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lydon's hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lydon lands with a good body shot.
Themistokles lands a slapping body shot.
Lydon takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Themistokles scores with a body shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lydon.
Lydon checks the leg kick.
Themistokles fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lydon manages to avoid it.
Themistokles throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Themistokles throws a looping overhand right but Lydon ducks down to avoid it.
Lydon avoids the body shot from Themistokles.
Themistokles dodges the punch combination from Lydon.
No joy there for Lydon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lydon lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Themistokles at a distance.
Lydon pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Themistokles was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Themistokles moves out of range of the body kick from Lydon.
A punch combination from Lydon misses.
Lydon takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lydon blocks a head kick by Themistokles.

Lydon moves into the clinch.
Lydon misses with a body punch.
Lydon misses with the head strike.
Themistokles lands an elbow inside that Lydon shrugs off.

Lydon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lydon tries to clinch up.
Lydon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Themistokles avoids a kick to the body.
Lydon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Themistokles moves away.
Lydon backing away here, and Themistokles unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Lydon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A punch lands to the side of Lydon 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Johnny Lydon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lydon throws a hook but Themistokles avoids it easily.
Lydon scoring well with a low kick there.
Lydon does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lydon throws a series of punches but Themistokles avoids them all with ease.
Themistokles flicks out a counter leg kick but Lydon steps away.

Lydon has managed to clinch.
Lydon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Themistokles lands an uppercut.
Themistokles blocks a body shot from Lydon.
Themistokles pushes Lydon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lydon tries to break free but Themistokles pushes him back against the cage.
Lydon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lydon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lydon is trying to break the clinch but Themistokles is controlling him.

Lydon manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Lydon does no damage.
Lydon throws a push kick but Themistokles slaps the foot to one side.
The crowd cheers as Themistokles lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lydon doesn't seem phased though.
Lydon moves in looking to clinch but Themistokles pushes him off.
Themistokles misses with a wild body shot.

Lydon rushes Themistokles and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lydon wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Themistokles has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Themistokles.
Themistokles tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lydon's elbow.
Lydon can't find room to land a body shot as Themistokles controls the action.
Themistokles tries to throw a body punch but Lydon avoids it by throwing Themistokles back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Themistokles misses with a knee strike.
Lydon tries a body shot but Themistokles blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Themistokles fails to land.
Lydon missing with knees to the body.
Lydon tries to break free but Themistokles pushes him back against the cage.
Themistokles misses with a short punch on the inside.
Themistokles lands a shoulder strike.
Themistokles lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lydon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Themistokles's elbow.
Lydon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lydon tries a body shot but Themistokles blocks it.
Lydon can't break the clinch.
Lydon trying to land knees to the body.
Lydon struggles to land a body shot inside as Themistokles controls his hands.
Themistokles prevents a body shot from Lydon.
Themistokles using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lydon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lydon lands a nice knee to the body.
Themistokles lands a knee to the head.

Lydon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lydon lands a really nice looking cross but Themistokles seems unphased.
Themistokles feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lydon's calf.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lydon throws a series of punches but Themistokles avoids them all with ease.
Themistokles looks to throw the jab but Lydon is out of range.
Lydon throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lydon fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Themistokles has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Themistokles moves out of range of the leg kick from Lydon.
Themistokles is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lydon.
Lydon looks to throw the jab but Themistokles is out of range.
Lydon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Themistokles pushes Lydon up against the cage in a clinch.
Themistokles on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Themistokles lands with a short shot to the head.
Themistokles lands a body shot in the clinch.
Themistokles lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Themistokles gets through Lydon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lydon.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Themistokles lands with a right to the head.
Themistokles throws a head punch that misses.
Lydon lands a body shot.
Lydon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Themistokles.
Themistokles throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johnny Lydon will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Themistokles scores with a spinning back kick!
Lydon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Themistokles.
Themistokles connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lydon misses with a body kick.
Lydon slips a jab and a cross from Themistokles.
A nice inside leg kick there by Themistokles. That's going to slow Lydon down.
Themistokles scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Lydon motions for Themistokles to come forward. Lydon throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lydon misses with a low kick.
Themistokles takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lydon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lydon.
Lydon's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Themistokles connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lydon scrambles back to his feet.
Lydon throws the left hand but Themistokles avoids the punch easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Themistokles has a couple of punches blocked by Lydon.

Lydon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Themistokles scoring well with a low kick there.
Jab from Themistokles.
Lydon wants to slow Themistokles down by chopping away at his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Themistokles finds it's target.
Themistokles with a nice cross.
Lydon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lydon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lydon scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Themistokles checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lydon throws a body kick that misses.
Themistokles lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Themistokles scores with a nice right hand.
Lydon scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice cross by Themistokles.
Lydon lands a slapping body shot.
Themistokles pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lydon takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Themistokles dodges the punch combination from Lydon.
Themistokles clobbers Lydon with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Johnny Lydon is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Themistokles connects with a right hand. Lydon shakes it off.
Lydon fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Themistokles is out of range.
Lydon lands with a nice combination. Themistokles backs away looking to recover.
Lydon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Themistokles lands with a hook. Lydon tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lydon throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Lydon moves forwards but Themistokles connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Lydon swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Themistokles counters with a thumping low kick.
Themistokles tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lydon was well out of range. Poor timing from Themistokles.
Lydon moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Themistokles lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lydon pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Themistokles back to the cage. Lydon follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lydon lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Themistokles has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Themistokles and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Lydon misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lydon moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lydon takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Themistokles takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Themistokles scores with a nice strike.
Themistokles jabs Lydon to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Themistokles throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Themistokles is looking to slow Lydon down with leg kicks.
Lydon lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Johnny Lydon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lydon ducks under a wild hook from Themistokles.
Themistokles checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Themistokles misses with a straight left.
Themistokles moves out of range of the body kick from Lydon.
Themistokles swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Themistokles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lydon moves away.
Lydon misses the shot to the body.
Lydon throws a head kick that Themistokles semi-blocks.

Themistokles has Lydon up against the cage in a clinch.
Themistokles managing to block the knees to the body from Lydon.
Themistokles has a couple of punches blocked by Lydon.
Lydon is trying to push Themistokles away but Themistokles has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Themistokles blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Strategos Themistokles seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short left from Themistokles.
Themistokles doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lydon misses with a punch to the body.
Themistokles's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Lydon missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lydon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lydon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lydon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Themistokles throws a knee to the head but misses.
Themistokles using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lydon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Themistokles lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Themistokles makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lydon misses with a body punch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Themistokles.
Themistokles lands with a left to the head.
Themistokles blocking some punches.
Themistokles gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Themistokles scores with a shot to the side of Lydon's head.
Lydon looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Themistokles prevents a body shot from Lydon.
Themistokles crunches a lovely knee into Lydon's ribcage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right hand to the body from Themistokles.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Themistokles.
Themistokles working Lydon over with knees to the body.
Themistokles scores with a shot to the side of Lydon's head.
Themistokles lands a hook that snaps the head of Lydon backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Strategos Themistokles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Themistokles dodges the punch combination from Lydon.
Lydon walks into a stiff left hand from Themistokles.
Lydon needs to keep his hands up - Themistokles had a free shot at his head there.
Themistokles tries to clinch there but Lydon circles away.
Lydon is looking to wear down Themistokles with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Themistokles takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Themistokles clobbers Lydon with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Themistokles keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lydon.
Lydon scores with a shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Lydon. Those never looked like landing.
Lydon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lydon swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Lydon will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lydon misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Themistokles keeps Lydon at a distance using the push kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Themistokles tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lydon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lydon throws the kick towards the body but Themistokles avoids it.
Jab by Themistokles.
Lydon drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lydon with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Themistokles to score with a decent uppercut.
Lydon wants to land a leg kick but Themistokles is out of range.
Themistokles moves out of range of the strikes.
Themistokles looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice defenses there by Themistokles.
Lydon moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lydon gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Themistokles, as that shot connected.
Themistokles connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lydon. Lydon circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Lydon is rocked!
Themistokles lands with a shot to the body.
Themistokles dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lydon gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Themistokles.
Oh Lydon is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lydon throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A nice side step and Themistokles releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Themistokles with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lydon seems to have got his legs back now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Themistokles tests Lydon's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Themistokles moves out of range of the body kick.
Lydon takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A telegraphed right hand from Themistokles misses the target.
Themistokles moves out of range of the strikes.
Lydon throws a hook but Themistokles blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lydon looks for the body kick but Themistokles saw that one coming.
Themistokles fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lydon has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Themistokles has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lydon connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lydon takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lydon misses with a body kick.
Themistokles displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lydon throws out the jab.
Themistokles feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lydon's calf.
Themistokles moves out of range as Lydon throws a body kick.
Lydon with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Themistokles to score with a decent uppercut.
A combination from Lydon does no damage.
Lydon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Themistokles.
Themistokles keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lydon.
Themistokles dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lydon cracks Themistokles with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Themistokles looks to land a right hand but Lydon moved out of range.
Themistokles digs a good body shot into Lydon's ribs.
Themistokles stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Themistokles scores with a hook.
Themistokles lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Themistokles connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lydon. Lydon circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lydon takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Lydon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Good shot there by Themistokles.
Themistokles moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Themistokles turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lydon takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lydon misses with a few strikes there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lydon.
A slow jab from Lydon misses its intended target.
Themistokles fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lydon manages to avoid it.
Lydon takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lydon misses with a low kick.
Themistokles wants to counter with a clinch but Lydon pushes him away.
Themistokles has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lydon.
Lydon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good leg kick by Themistokles there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lydon tries to clinch up.
Themistokles cracks a nice hook into Lydon's ribs.
Lydon wants to clinch up but Themistokles keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lydon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Themistokles paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lydon walks into a left hand.
Lydon scores with a jab to the body.
Themistokles lands with a right hand.
Lydon shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Themistokles scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Donk. Themistokles catches Lydon right on the button with a cross.
Lydon takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lydon takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lydon takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Lydon. Themistokles shrugs it off though.
Themistokles scores with a nice head shot.
Lydon bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice uppercut lands for Themistokles. That snapped Lydon's head back.
Lydon throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Themistokles just misses with a punch to the body.
Themistokles blocks the body kick.
It seemed like Themistokles was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Strategos Themistokles comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Themistokles 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Strategos Themistokles!
During a confident post fight interview, Strategos Themistokles thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.