PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and babalu santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machado comes to the cage accompanied by Entrance. Fernando Machado has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Machado
vs
santana

200 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Fernando Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, babalu santana!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado tries to clinch but santana moves out of range.

santana decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
santana passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Machado!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
santana landing strikes from the mount.
santana tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
santana is in the full mount, landing strikes.
santana controlling his opponent.
Machado is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
santana looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that santana has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I looks like santana might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, babalu santana just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
santana shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

santana scores a takedown into full mount!
Machado is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
A nice elbow there by santana.
santana controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
santana landing strikes from the mount.
santana content just to control the position here.
Machado can't escape the position.
santana has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machado taking shots to the head.
Machado squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
santana looking to control but Machado is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
santana controlling the position easily from mount.
santana looks gassed!
Machado is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
santana trying to control but he's not successful this time.
santana tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Machado is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
santana can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Machado is looking to escape.
Machado is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
santana working Machado over with strikes here.
santana postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Machado looks a forlorn figure.
santana takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, babalu santana just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

santana looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
santana prevents Machado from standing back up.
Machado knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for santana on the ground.
santana controlling the action here.
Machado is in trouble now - santana has advanced to mount!
santana takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Machado throws a sloppy head kick and santana moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick from Machado misses.

santana drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Machado gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
santana looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
santana's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
babalu santana has got the better of the ground game so far.
santana scoring with strikes but Machado is staying in there.
santana lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
santana controlling from mount.
santana wants to control the pace but Machado is squirming around nicely.

Despite being in the dominant position, babalu santana just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

santana scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado wants to get back to his feet.
santana keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
santana is keen to just control but Machado is a slippery customer.
santana looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Well, if santana is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Machado wants to get back to full guard.
santana moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but santana wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
santana passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Machado!
santana sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Machado is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
santana controlling his opponent.

Despite being in the dominant position, babalu santana just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
santana slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Machado stuffs the takedown.
Machado throws a wild body kick that santana sees coming a mile off.
Nice takedown defense from Machado. No joy for santana on that attempt.
Fernando Machado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machado misses with a head kick.

santana feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
santana is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
santana trying to control but Machado is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

babalu santana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Machado tries to close the distance and clinch up but santana swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Machado connects with a high kick.
santana blocks a head kick by Machado.

santana drives through with a takedown into guard.
Machado being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, babalu santana just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
santana avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Machado wants to clinch up but santana keeps it at a distance.
Machado throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by santana.

santana closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
santana has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Machado!
santana sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
santana lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
santana raining down shots from the mount!
Machado wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
santana content just to control the position here.
santana landing strikes from the mount and Machado is in trouble!
babalu santana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
santana lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
santana content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
santana landing shots from mount.
santana takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
santana tries to control but Machado wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Despite being in the dominant position, babalu santana just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machado tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but santana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Machado goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A head kick misses from Machado.

santana drives through with a takedown into guard.
santana in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Machado wants to stand but santana is controlling the position.
santana works over Machado with some ground and pound from guard.
santana sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Machado is looking to stand up but santana isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
babalu santana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got santana winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 26:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... babalu santana!