PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Borschev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannibal Lyons (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.

Borschev
vs
Lyons

201 cm
25
285 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

209 cm
24
300 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

The Big Kabosh

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dmitry Borschev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hannibal Lyons!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borschev connects with a leg kick. Lyons looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Borschev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Lyons.
Lyons digs a good body shot into Borschev's ribs.
Lyons uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Borschev.
Borschev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lyons.
Borschev throws out a leg kick but Lyons moves out of range and Borschev only half commits.
Borschev misses with a wild body shot.
A low kick from Borschev misses

and Lyons counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Borschev's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lyons with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lyons loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Borschev looking for a sweep. Not yet Borschev, not yet.
Lyons wants to control from the top but Borschev keeps moving.
Lyons has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyons controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lyons cracks Borschev with a solid left hand.
Borschev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Borschev looking to control.
Borschev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lyons wants to pass the guard but Borschev is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Borschev lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lyons's sensitive parts.
Borschev throws a leg kick that misses.
Lyons throws a leg kick but Borschev checks it.
Lyons lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Lyons has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Dmitry Borschev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Borschev lands with a kick to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Borschev blocks the body kick.
Borschev tries to land a leg kick but Lyons saw it coming and moves away.
Borschev throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lyons dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Borschev buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Lyons.
Lyons throws a hook but Borschev blocks it.
Borschev thuds his shin into the meat of Lyons's side.
Lyons thows a body shot but no joy.
Borschev buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borschev delivers a nice body kick.
Lyons looks winded!
Lyons keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Borschev thows a body shot but no joy.
That kick from Borschev tenderised Lyons's leg. Lyons is trying to keep his angry face on.
Borschev moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Borschev fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lyons.
Borschev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
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!
Nice body kick from Borschev.
Borschev connects with an inside leg kick.
Lyons takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Borschev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Borschev dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lyons. That did some damage!
Dmitry Borschev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Borschev connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lyons. Lyons circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Borschev is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Borschev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
An inside leg kick lands from Borschev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyons has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Borschev finds it's way round the side to connect with Lyons's head.

Borschev moves into the clinch.
Lyons's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Borschev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lyons backwards.
Borschev tries a body shot but Lyons blocks it.
Lyons looking to slow down the pace here.
Lyons wants to break free but Borschev has control.

Borschev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Borschev 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.
Borschev misses with a wild body shot.
Borschev lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Borschev on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lyons misses with a low kick.
Borschev lands with a right hand.
Borschev lands with a kick to the ribs.
Borschev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Borschev dominated that round.
That's time! Borschev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Borschev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lyons moves away.
Lyons lands with a good body shot.
Borschev 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.
Borschev misses with a body kick.
Lyons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Borschev scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lyons looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Borschev throws a lazy uppercut

and Lyons counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Borschev!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Borschev prevents Lyons from improving position.
Lyons in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Borschev wants to control but Lyons postures up.
Borschev tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyons in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Borschev struggling a bit here.
Lyons in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lyons lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Borschev down.
Borschev avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Lyons.
Borschev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lyons tries to score with some ground and pound. Borschev controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyons wants to control but Borschev is keeping him busy.
Lyons wants to control for a moment but Borschev uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Lyons trying to control from half guard but Borschev is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borschev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Borschev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Borschev keeping full guard, as Lyons tries to pass.
Lyons throwing strikes from guard but Borschev blocks nicely.
Lyons wants to control from the top but Borschev keeps moving.
Lyons throws a strike but Borschev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyons is trying to keep Borschev in close.
Borschev wants to control from the top but Lyons keeps moving.
Borschev passes Lyons's left leg - he's now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borschev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lyons does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannibal Lyons showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Borschev tries a low kick but Lyons avoids it.
Borschev misses with an uppercut.
Lyons throws a jab but it's blocked by Borschev.
Lyons blocks a head kick by Borschev.
Lyons tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dmitry Borschev is winning the standup battle so far.
Lyons throws a low kick but Borschev moves out of range easily.
Lyons ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Borschev moves away.
Borschev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lyons manages to avoid it.
Good work by Borschev as he checks the leg kick.
Borschev misses the jab.
Lyons pivots, looking for a leg kick but Borschev is out of range and Lyons settles back down.
Lyons misses with a hook. Borschev ducked under it nicely.
Lyons chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Borschev can pounce on him.
Borschev swings for the body but Lyons moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Lyons misses.
Borschev goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyons scores with a head kick.
Borschev misses with a leg kick

and Lyons counters with a takedown into side control.
Borschev tries to bench press Lyons off him but Lyons keeps the position.
Lyons misses with the ground and pound.
Lyons looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Borschev is avoiding damage well.
Borschev takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lyons wants to lay and pray for a moment but Borschev keeps working.
Lyons sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Borschev is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Lyons seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Lyons sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Borschev is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Lyons works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Lyons grinds an elbow into Borschev's temple.
The ground and pound from Lyons seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Lyons working the head and body with strikes.
Lyons grinds an elbow into Borschev's temple.
Borschev struggling a bit here.
Lyons is looking to take a break and control but Borschev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyons tries to score with some ground and pound. Borschev controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Borschev managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lyons.
Lyons wants to lay and pray for a moment but Borschev keeps working.
The ground and pound from Lyons seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyons cracks Borschev with a big right hand but Borschev just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lyons lands a decent elbow from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Borschev tries to buck Lyons off but Lyons is having none of it.
Lyons throwing strikes but Borschev manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Lyons gets back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lyons is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannibal Lyons really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Borschev tries to bum rush Lyons with a series of wild strikes but Lyons uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice shot by Lyons.
Lyons connects with an inside leg kick.
Borschev lands a jab to the head.
Borschev takes a jab right on the kisser.
Borschev throws the left hand but Lyons avoids the punch easily.
Lyons throws a lazy right hand but Borschev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lyons lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Borschev throws a hook but Lyons avoids it easily.
Lyons misses with a low kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lyons darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Borschev misses the shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Borschev keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lyons misses with a left hand
letting Borschev counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borschev throws a hook but Lyons avoids it easily.
Borschev missing with a left hand there. Lyons was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Borschev with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Borschev lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Borschev throws a head kick that misses.
Borschev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Borschev.
Nice shot lands for Lyons.
Borschev scores with a hook to the body. Lyons takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Borschev moves to clinch but Lyons breaks away

and Lyons counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Lyons is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lyons not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lyons stalling away here and it's allowed Borschev to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borschev trying to keep a closed guard but Lyons is proving a slippery customer.
Borschev has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Borschev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Borschev pulls Lyons in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lyons throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borschev trying to keep a closed guard but Lyons is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dmitry Borschev just wasn't active enough.
Lyons scoring well with a low kick there.
Lyons works Borschev's body with a nice hook.
Lyons throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lyons throws a low kick, looking for Borschev's leg but Borschev calmly moves out of range.
Lyons shoots in but no luck this time.
Borschev moves out of range of the leg kick from Lyons.
Lyons ducks under a wild hook from Borschev.
Lyons throws a low kick, looking for Borschev's leg but Borschev calmly moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borschev moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Borschev connects with a solid leg kick.
Borschev swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Lyons counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Borschev is doing well to control the position and prevent Lyons from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Borschev regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Lyons.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Hannibal Lyons will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Borschev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Borschev blocks the body kick.
Borschev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lyons.
Borschev misses the body punch

and Lyons counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lyons trying to control the action but Borschev is working from the bottom.
Borschev is trying to control but can't.
Lyons wants to free his trapped foot but Borschev is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lyons looks to land a strike but Borschev avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borschev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lyons is looking to work some ground and pound but Borschev has wrist control.
Borschev is controlling Lyons's posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Borschev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lyons is one step ahead there.
Lyons trying to control the position from guard on top but Borschev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dmitry Borschev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dmitry Borschev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Borschev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lyons swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lyons fails to land with a series of punches.
Lyons throws a leg kick but Borschev checks it.
Borschev throws the left hand but Lyons avoids the punch easily.
Borschev misses with a body shot.
Lyons lands a nice leg kick that just misses Borschev's sensitive parts.
Borschev looks to land a left hand but Lyons moved out of range nicely.
Borschev misses the shot to the body.
Borschev throws a leg kick but Lyons checks it.
Borschev throws a leg kick but Lyons checks it.
Lyons lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borschev just misses with a punch to the body.
That kick from Lyons tenderised Borschev's leg. Borschev is trying to keep his angry face on.
Borschev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lyons is looking to slow Borschev down with leg kicks.

Lyons drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lyons trying to control the position from guard on top but Borschev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Borschev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lyons throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lyons postures up in Borschev's guard and throws a big left but Borschev blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyons sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Borschev's guard.
Borschev won't allow Lyons to pass to mount.
Borschev regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Lyons.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Borschev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lyons's guard.
Hannibal Lyons is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lyons looking to control but Borschev passes into half guard.
Borschev content to control rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borschev is thwarting Lyons's attempts to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hannibal Lyons comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lyons 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 47:48
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 47:48
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannibal Lyons! Hannibal Lyons retains his super heavyweight title!
In his post fight interview, Hannibal Lyons gave a big smile as he said 'I'm the Natural Born Killer! Who's next??'.