PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Blackburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conan Lyall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Blackburn
vs
Lyall

190 cm
18
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
225 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Blackburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Conan Lyall!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Russell Pearce and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lyall swinging wildly here.
Blackburn tries for a takedown but Lyall circles away easily

and Lyall counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lyall.
Blackburn is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lyall is defending well.
Blackburn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lyall avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Blackburn. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Blackburn has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lyall uses from the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Blackburn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lyall defends well.
Lyall postures up.
Lyall stays in close to Blackburn's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackburn is trying to control the position but Lyall postures up.
Lyall controlling from the top position.
Lyall scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyall trying to stand up but can't free himself from Blackburn's guard.
Blackburn wants to sweep here but Lyall controlling him for the moment.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Lyall has eaten all the pies!
Blackburn has a closed guard, preventing Lyall from standing up.
Lyall looking to pass the guard.
Lyall slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Conan Lyall was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Lyall looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Blackburn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lyall wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lyall tries to stand but Blackburn is controlling his head.
Lyall is chipping away with strikes.
Blackburn is not content to let Lyall control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blackburn is trying to get back to half guard.
Lyall creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blackburn stops Lyall from passing to mount.

Lyall looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lyall wants to stand but Blackburn has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Lyall looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Blackburn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lyall can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Blackburn will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blackburn is on top in guard.
Lyall wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Blackburn trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lyall's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lyall looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Lyall dominated that round.
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.

Blackburn looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lyall pulls Blackburn in close to his closed guard and prevents Blackburn from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lyall is looking to stand up but Blackburn isn't so interested in that idea.
Blackburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Lyall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lyall escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blackburn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blackburn trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lyall's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyall not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Blackburn drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Blackburn jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Blackburn is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lyall is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lyall has escaped and now he's on top!
Blackburn can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lyall controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyall trying to control but Blackburn is working from the bottom.
Blackburn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Blackburn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Blackburn has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lyall is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Blackburn.
Lyall takes a little break here. Blackburn wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Lyall tries to stand but Blackburn is controlling his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn manages to get back to half guard.
Blackburn is looking to improve his position.
Lyall trying to control the pace.
Blackburn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lyall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyall sitting and controlling from the half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Conan Lyall hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Lyall looks for the body kick but Blackburn saw that one coming.
Blackburn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Lyall clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lyall throws an elbow but it misses.

Lyall has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Blackburn is trying to keep an underhook but Lyall manages to get the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Lyall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lyall.
Blackburn can't do much from the bottom here.
Lyall is looking to take a break and control but Blackburn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blackburn gets back to half guard.
Lyall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blackburn keeps working.
Blackburn trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Blackburn tries to reverse the position but Lyall maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conan Lyall has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lyall controlling the position easily from mount.
Blackburn tries to buck Lyall off but he can't manage it.

Lyall looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Blackburn is trying desperately to improve position.
Blackburn tries to hold on but Lyall postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyall lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Lyall controlling the pace for now.
Blackburn tries to hold on but Lyall pushes him away.
Blackburn is desperately trying to improve his position but Lyall has a good base and remains in mount.
Lyall looking to control and managing it successfully.
Blackburn is squirming around, avoiding Lyall's attempts to control the action.
Blackburn is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Lyall has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lyall has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Lyall is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Blackburn is keeping busy.
Blackburn breaks Lyall's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lyall lands an upkick as Blackburn stands over him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lyall can do anything to dispel that myth.
Blackburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Lyall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyall wants to stand but Blackburn is controlling the position.
Lyall is trying to keep Blackburn in close.
Blackburn trying to control but Lyall is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alex Blackburn.

Blackburn is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lyall's half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Conan Lyall.
Well Lyall 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight for Conan Lyall!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Conan Lyall!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Conan Lyall!

Conan Lyall wins by unanimous decision!