PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Santos (ranked 4116 p4p, 431 weight class) and Mohammed Lyon (ranked 4315 p4p, 447 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Santos
vs
Lyon

180 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

163 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mohammed Lyon!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Lyon tenderised Santos's leg. Santos is trying to keep his angry face on.
Santos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Santos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lyon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lyon throws a head kick that misses.

Lyon clinches.
Lyon with a knee to the head.

It looks like Gabriel Santos has been cut.
Santos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Santos jumps guard but Lyon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Santos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos being controlled against the cage.

Lyon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lyon as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyon avoids a kick to the body.
Lyon throws a counter combo.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lyon as he avoids it easily.
Lyon is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Gabriel Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santos stuffs the takedown.
Santos has a takedown stuffed.

Santos rushes Lyon and presses him up against the cage.

Lyon breaks from the clinch.

Santos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Santos misses with a body punch.
Lyon lands a damaging elbow.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Lyon has eaten all the pies!

Lyon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lyon circles away quickly and effectively.

Lyon forces Santos back against the cage and clinches.
Santos is pressed up against the cage. Lyon has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Santos down to the mat. Santos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Santos stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lyon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santos somewhat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Lyon forces Santos back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyon lands with a light punch inside.
Lyon goes for a takedown attempt but Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Santos throws a low kick but Lyon avoids it.

Santos has Lyon up against the cage in a clinch.
Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lyon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lyon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lyon comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lyon misses with a body punch.
Santos wants to get back to striking at distance but Lyon won't allow it.
Lyon lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lyon breaks the clinch.

Santos tries to keep at a distance but Lyon has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Lyon on the inside.
Lyon with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Lyon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Lyon takes the fight into the clinch.
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!
Lyon drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santos pulls his leg out and moves away.
Santos fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lyon checks it well.
Lyon is looking for the big counter here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santos.
As Santos backs off Lyon throws a huge counter combo but Santos manages to avoid it all.
Santos cracks the inside of Lyon's front leg.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Lyon pushes Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Santos wants to break free but Lyon has control.
Lyon tries a knee to the head but Santos blocks it.
Lyon lands a right hand that snaps the head of Santos backwards.
Lyon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santos wants to break free but Lyon has control.

Lyon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Santos rushes Lyon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lyon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Santos's efforts to push away.

Lyon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santos fails with the takedown.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Santos forces Lyon back against the cage and clinches.
Good body shot from Lyon.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lyon takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Santos gets control of Lyon's arms and successfully pulls guard. Santos will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Santos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lyon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lyon wants to get up but he can't break Santos's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lyon.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lyon lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lyon's guard.

Lyon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santos is one step ahead there.
Lyon wants to stand and escape but Santos is having none of it.

Santos decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lyon, up you get!
Santos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lyon sprawls well. Lyon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santos gets slowly back to his feet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Lyon closes the distance and pushes Santos back into the cage.
A short right from Lyon.
Santos has Lyon pushed against the cage.
A hook to the body from Santos.
Lyon looking to stall.
Lyon misses with a knee strike.
Lyon is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Lyon tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lyon looks winded!
Santos fails to pull guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Lyon breaks the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Lyon. No joy for Santos on that attempt.
Santos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lyon defends well and Santos ends up having to push Lyon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Lyon is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lyon as he avoids it easily.
Santos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lyon has his takedown stuffed

and Santos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Santos.
Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lyon is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Lyon breaks the clinch.

Santos feints and as Lyon raises his hands in defense, Santos changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohammed Lyon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Santos's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Lyon fails with a takedown attempt.
Lyon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lyon somewhat.

Lyon rushes Santos and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lyon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santos looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lyon is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Santos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gabriel Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Lyon.
Lyon is breathing heavily.
A knee to the head by Lyon.
Lyon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lyon misses with some punches.
Santos is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Santos has had enough of the clinch but Lyon keeps him there for the moment.
Lyon with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Santos has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lyon uses from the top position.
Lyon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lyon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Santos is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos is trying to keep Lyon in close.
Lyon trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos trying to control the position here.
Lyon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lyon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Santos is working an open guard so Lyon takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Santos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lyon, pushing him back against the cage.
Santos keeps control of Lyon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lyon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Santos fails to pull guard.
Santos wants to take the fight to the mat but Lyon manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Lyon breaks from the clinch.

Lyon rushes Santos and presses him up against the cage.
Lyon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lyon connects with a knee to the head.
Lyon lands an elbow inside.
Lyon lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lyon looking to throw knees to the head but Santos is blocking nicely.

Lyon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Santos shoots in but Lyon avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.

Lyon instigates a clinch.

Lyon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Santos pushes Lyon up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lyon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Santos has closed the distance and engaged Lyon in a clinch.
Lyon tries to pull guard but Santos forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lyon creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Lyon tries to land a knee to the head but Santos blocks with his arms.

Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lyon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Lyon darts in and clinches Santos up against the cage.
Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lyon is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Lyon.
Lyon lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lyon tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lyon tries a knee to the head but Santos blocks it.
Lyon is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Santos blocks a body shot from Lyon.
Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lyon smiles and moves away.

Lyon has Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Santos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lyon pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lyon controlling the action here for a moment.
Lyon looking to throw knees to the head but Santos is blocking nicely.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lyon takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lyon misses with a knee strike.
Lyon misses with a knee strike.

Santos manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lyon is one step ahead there.

Lyon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lyon has managed to get both his arms back between Santos's legs - danger averted.
Lyon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Lyon stands and steps away. Santos gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lyon defends well and Santos ends up having to push Lyon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Santos backs off Lyon throws a huge counter combo but Santos manages to avoid it all.
Santos closes the distance and clinches up with Lyon, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes Lyon against the cage but Lyon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Lyon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Lyon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Lyon pushes Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Santos is looking to control Lyon's arms but Lyon gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santos has his back to the cage.

Lyon manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Santos or perhaps it was just good defense by Lyon, which made it look bad.
Lyon shoots in but Santos avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Lyon gets a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lyon - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Lyon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Santos closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lyon is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Santos asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Santos is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lyon is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohammed Lyon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lyon 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Paul Aken scores the fight for Mohammed Lyon!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Mohammed Lyon!
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Mohammed Lyon!

Mohammed Lyon wins by unanimous decision!