PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Elias Lyon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and St Petersburg Strangler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that St Petersburg Strangler was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Lyon
vs
Petersburg Strangler

163 cm
24
142 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

174 cm
26
144 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Elias Lyon!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, St Petersburg Strangler!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strangler moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lyon's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Strangler connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lyon scrambles back to his feet.

Lyon shoots in and gets a takedown into Strangler's guard.
Lyon trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Strangler manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Lyon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Strangler is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lyon has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Strangler has passed into side control.
Lyon tries to buck Strangler off but Strangler is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Lyon's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lyon is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Strangler is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lyon is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Fight Factory, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Lyon is trying to get back to half guard.
Strangler content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lyon is not content to let Strangler control the position.
Lyon is looking for a sweep.
Lyon struggling a bit here.
Lyon tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Lyon tries to hold on but Strangler pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyon is trying desperately to improve position.
Lyon sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lyon has a hand on Strangler's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Strangler takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Lyon is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Lyon is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lyon swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Strangler looking to control but Lyon is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyon is working to get back to half guard.
Strangler controlling his opponent.
Lyon is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strangler wants to control the pace but Lyon is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lyon walks into a left hand.

Strangler gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lyon to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Strangler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Strangler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lyon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lyon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Strangler is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lyon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strangler is looking to advance position but Lyon won't allow it.
Lyon trying to get back to full guard but Strangler takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Lyon tries to lock up and control but Strangler gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lyon is looking to improve his position but Strangler isn't that keen on the idea.
Strangler can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lyon is looking to escape.
Strangler avoids the attempt from Lyon to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyon can't escape the position.
Strangler controlling from mount.
Lyon regains half guard.
Lyon gets back to full guard.
Strangler won't allow Lyon to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyon trying to control the position here.
Lyon lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strangler wants to sweep here but Lyon controlling him for the moment.
Lyon trying to control but Strangler is working from the bottom.
Strangler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lyon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lyon throws a big elbow that misses.
Lyon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lyon lands a couple of elbows.
Lyon is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lyon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lyon scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lyon landing with the ground and pound.
Strangler is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lyon gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lyon is on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Elias Lyon will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A jab lands there for Strangler.
Lyon swings widly with a right hand
and Strangler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lyon takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Strangler scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Lyon shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Strangler napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lyon wants to control but Strangler is keeping him busy.
Lyon landing a few strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lyon in side control, throwing shots but Strangler defends.
Strangler tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lyon wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Strangler is not content to let Lyon control the position.
Strangler manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lyon's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyon working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Strangler is trying to maintain the position but Lyon is very close to passing his half guard.
Lyon drops an elbow to the side of Strangler's head.
Lyon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strangler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lyon is thwarting Strangler's attempts to control the position.
Lyon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lyon trying to control from Strangler's half guard. Strangler has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Lyon trying to control the position from guard on top but Strangler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyon makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lyon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lyon won't allow Strangler to sweep him here.
Lyon wants to control from the top but Strangler keeps moving.
Lyon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lyon throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Strangler has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Strangler enables Lyon to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Strangler manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Lyon throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Strangler holds on and takes a little breather.
Lyon tries to free his leg and advance position but Strangler is retaining full guard.
Lyon seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Strangler is trying to control the position but Lyon postures up.
Lyon wants to control from the top but Strangler keeps moving.
Lyon scoring with some ground and pound.
Lyon cracks Strangler with a solid left hand.
Lyon makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lyon lands a couple of elbows.
Lyon chips away with some ground and pound.
Lyon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lyon connects with a couple of short punches.
Elias Lyon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lyon distracts Strangler with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lyon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lyon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lyon stopping the sweep attempt from Strangler.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lyon trying to control the position from guard on top but Strangler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lyon postures up and lands a big shot to Strangler's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Lyon clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Strangler fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Strangler is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Lyon drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Strangler manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Strangler lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Strangler's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Lyon is trying to stall.
Strangler lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lyon wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Strangler is stalling here.
Strangler continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Lyon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Lyon manages to end up in side control.
Strangler tries to buck Lyon off but Lyon is having none of it.
Lyon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strangler keeps working.
Strangler is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyon tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Lyon is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Strangler has escaped the position, nice work there.
Strangler defending against the ground and pound.
Lyon misses with the ground and pound.
Strangler can't do much from the bottom here.
Lyon lands a few punches from side control.
Lyon wants to control but Strangler is keeping him busy.
An elbow from Lyon crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyon working the head and body with strikes.
Lyon landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Strangler struggling a bit here.
Lyon creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Lyon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Strangler knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Strangler wants to control but Lyon postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyon lands a nice forearm strike.
Lyon working the strikes but Strangler uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Lyon seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lyon lands strikes from half guard.
Lyon passes the guard and advances to mount!
Lyon has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Strangler sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lyon is working for a kimura but Strangler is defending it quite comfortably.
Lyon thows a huge punch but Strangler dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Elias Lyon will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Strangler moves out of range of the strikes.

Lyon shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Strangler napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Strangler managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lyon.
Strangler is trying to improve his position.
Lyon working the ground and pound but Strangler is defending the strikes.
Lyon in side control, throwing shots but Strangler defends.
Lyon postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Lyon tries to advance to mount but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lyon lands an elbow.
Strangler tries to bench press Lyon off him but Lyon keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyon scoring with punches and elbows.
Lyon trying to control the position but Strangler is working away.
Strangler manages to get back to half guard.
Lyon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Strangler's head.
Lyon throws a strike but Strangler avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Lyon looking to sit in guard and control but Strangler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Strangler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lyon wants to sweep here but Strangler controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lyon throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Strangler escapes and throws Lyon's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Strangler controls the position from side control.
Strangler working away.
Lyon tries to improve position but can't.
A lull in the action here as Strangler stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyon sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lyon makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lyon.
Strangler sitting in guard here, content to control.
Strangler is continuing to stall.
Strangler being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Lyon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Lyon working for submissions but it's allowed Strangler to get to half guard.
Lyon moves into full guard.
St Petersburg Strangler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strangler slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Elias Lyon.
I think Lyon 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 49:47
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 48:47
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elias Lyon!
Elias Lyon retains his featherweight title!
Elias Lyon thanked the fans post fight for their support.