PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Lydon (ranked 24936 p4p, 3698 weight class) and Phuc Tran (ranked 361 p4p, 335 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.

Lydon
vs
Tran

173 cm
18
145
1 - 2 - 0

163 cm
25
148
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Lydon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phuc Tran!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tran misses with a body kick.
Lydon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lydon misses with a body shot.
Tran throws out a loose jab but Lydon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lydon takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lydon slaps away a takedown attempt from Tran, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A counter left hand to the body from Lydon misses its target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lydon moves out of range as Tran strikes.
A punch combination from Lydon misses.
Lydon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tran tries to counter with a clinch but Lydon shakes him off and moves away.
Tran fails with a takedown attempt.
Lydon seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lydon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tran.
Tran wants to counter with a clinch but Lydon pushes him away.
Tran uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lydon.
Tran wants to counter with a clinch but Lydon pushes him away.
Tran wants to clinch
and Lydon counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tran tries to clinch
and Lydon counters with a stiff right hand.
Lydon throws a right and a left that Tran avoids nicely.
Tran steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lydon.
Tran is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lydon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tran moves out of range of the strikes.
Tran takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tran is defended easily by Lydon.
John Lydon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phuc Tran.
Lydon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tran moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tran takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tran rushes Lydon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran lands a good knee to the midsection. Lydon won't want to take too many of those.
Tran misses with a knee to the head.
Tran comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Tran throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tran putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lydon in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lydon is breathing heavily.
Lydon avoiding damage as Tran throws knees to the body.
Tran tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tran misses with a knee strike.
Tran tries to land a knee to the head but Lydon blocks with his arms.
Tran unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lydon lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lydon on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lydon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A knee to the head by Tran.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tran comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Tran tries a knee to the head but Lydon blocks it.
Tran lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tran tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lydon avoids it.
Tran drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lydon pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tran dodges the punch combination from Lydon.
Lydon scores with a nice strike.
Danga de danga de dang - Lydon scores with a four punch combination!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Lydon will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lydon tries to keep at a distance but Tran has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lydon prevents the takedown attempt.
Tran lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tran tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tran lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lydon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lydon managing to block the knees to the body from Tran.
Lydon avoiding damage as Tran throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tran tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lydon avoids it.
Tran is working for takedown but Lydon is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lydon wants to get back to striking at distance but Tran won't allow it.
Tran is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran landing knees to the body.
Tran with a knee to the head.
Tran is breathing heavily.
Tran misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lydon.
Lydon gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tran.
John Lydon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phuc Tran.
Lydon avoids the elbow strike from Tran, against the cage.
Tran working Lydon over with knees to the body.
Tran has Lydon pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lydon manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lydon can't break the clinch.
Tran has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tran throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tran is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lydon is defending well for now.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tran obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tran tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lydon avoids it.
Lydon wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lydon dodges an elbow strike from Tran.
Tran prevents Lydon from breaking the clinch.
Tran with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tran throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tran throws an elbow but it misses.
Lydon is looking to break free of the clinch but Tran has double underhooks.
Lydon on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Lydon's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tran throws an elbow but it misses.
Tran landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran trying to land knees to the body.
Tran looking to throw knees to the head but Lydon is blocking nicely.
Tran creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tran throws an elbow but it misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Tran misses with a knee strike.
Tran missing with knees to the body.
Lydon is trying to break the clinch but Tran is controlling him.
Lydon avoiding damage as Tran throws knees to the body.
Lydon avoiding damage as Tran throws knees to the body.
Lydon blocks the elbow strike.
Tran throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tran tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tran tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lydon smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lydon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lydon tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tran was well out of range. Poor timing from Lydon.
John Lydon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lydon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tran circles away quickly and effectively.
Tran uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lydon.

Tran changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lydon looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Lydon throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lydon ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lydon misses with a series of wild punches.
Tran steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lydon.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phuc Tran showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lydon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tran tries to clinch but Lydon moves away
and Lydon counters with a three punch combo that has Tran backing up. Tran nods at Lydon to acknowledge the strikes.

Lydon has managed to clinch.
Lydon takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lydon is trying to break the clinch but Tran is controlling him.
Lydon tries to break free but Tran pushes him back against the cage.
Phuc Tran seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lydon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lydon takes an elbow to the temple.
Tran with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tran is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lydon is defending well for now.
Tran goes for a takedown attempt but Lydon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tran takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lydon throws a one two combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tran.
Tran tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lydon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tran somewhat.
John Lydon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phuc Tran.
Lydon lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lydon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tran tries to clinch there but Lydon circles away.
Tran shoots in but no luck this time.
Tran tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
John Lydon is winning the standup battle so far.
Tran takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tran is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lydon.
Tran steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lydon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran fails with the takedown
and Lydon counters with a straight right hand.
Lydon lands a jab to Tran's midsection.
Tran shoots in and drives through. Lydon sprawls well.
Tran takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tran fails in his attempt to clinch.
A left and a right from Lydon both land. Nice combination.

Tran drives through with a takedown into guard.

Lydon scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lydon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tran moves away.
Tran with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tran takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tran doesn't manage to clinch there - Lydon circles away.

Lydon clinches up with Tran and pushes him back against the cage.
Lydon dodges an elbow strike from Tran.
Lydon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tran using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tran misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lydon.
Lydon on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lydon tries to circle away but Tran has him pinned against the cage.
Tran lands a good knee to the midsection. Lydon won't want to take too many of those.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Lydon showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lydon has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Lydon!
A victorious John Lydon thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.