PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tenlou Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Maia
vs
Machida

190 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Win Nutritional RJ - ever, more credibility
Win Nutritional RJ - ever, more credibility

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tenlou Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danga de danga de dang - Maia scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Lyoto Machida has been cut.
Machida throws a one two combo.

It looks like Tenlou Maia has been cut.

Machida closes the distance and pushes Maia back into the cage.
A short right from Machida on the inside.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maia misses with a takedown attempt - Machida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Machida moves out of range of the leg kick from Maia.
Maia looks for a takedown but Machida sprawls well.
Maia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Machida moves away.
Maia looks to land a combination. Machida sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maia misses with an attempted mid kick.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maia as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia shoots for a double leg takedown but Machida sprawls well. He's pushed Maia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tenlou Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia with a lazy takedown attempt

and Machida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Machida effectively controlling the action here.
Machida lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maia backwards.
Machida'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.
Machida with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Maia is breathing heavily.
Machida lands a knee to the head.
Maia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Machida is pressed up against the cage. Maia has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Machida down to the mat. Machida avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Machida pushes Maia up against the cage in a clinch.
Machida lands a nice shot to the body.
Machida landing knees to the body.
Machida stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on Machida's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

Machida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maia takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Machida has closed the distance and engaged Maia in a clinch.
Maia letting Machida take a breather here.
Machida landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Machida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Machida looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Maia!

Machida is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida moves into range and clinches up with Maia.
Machida using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Machida is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Machida gets control of Maia's arms and successfully pulls guard. Machida will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Machida managing to control the position.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maia is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida is pulling down on Maia's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machida uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Machida has taken the fight to the clinch.
Machida crunches a lovely knee into Maia's ribcage.
Machida is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Machida using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida lands a nice knee to the body.
Machida stalling against the cage.
Machida is working Maia over against the cage.
Come on Machida - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Machida connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Maia throws a sloppy head kick
and Machida counters with a head kick.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Machida counters with a slapping leg kick.

Machida closes the distance and clinches.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maia blocks the body kick.
Machida shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Maia tries to keep at a distance but Machida has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Machida.
Machida lands a nice knee to the body.
Machida displaying some good clinch control by pressing Maia up against the cage.

Machida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maia tries to clinch
and Machida counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Machida scores a takedown into full mount!

Machida stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Machida fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maia, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Machida.
Knees in the clinch landing for Machida.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Machida moves into the clinch successfully.
Machida is stalling here.
Machida with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Machida stalling.

Machida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maia with a lazy takedown attempt

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!
Maia wants to stand but Machida is controlling the position.

Machida stands and steps away. Maia gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tenlou Maia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maia circles away.
Machida lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tenlou Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nice jab there from Maia.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maia closes the distance but Machida moves to the side

and Machida counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Maia!

Machida stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a front kick that sends Maia stumbling back into the cage.

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

Maia postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Machida is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Maia, into his guard.
Maia looking for a sweep. Not yet Maia, not yet.
Lyoto Machida has got the better of the ground game so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Maia kicks Machida off and gets to his feet.
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!
Machida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Machida tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Maia tries for a takedown but Machida circles away easily

and Machida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Machida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Machida. No joy for Maia on that attempt.

Machida instigates a clinch.

Machida breaks the clinch.
A cross from Machida lands.
Maia takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Maia keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Machida pushes Maia up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida stalling.

Machida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Machida clinches with his opponent.
Maia trying to stall but Machida improves his position.
Maia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Machida will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Maia up against the cage.

Machida breaks from the clinch.

Machida gets the takedown into side control.

Machida decides to stand up, so the ref orders Maia to his feet.
Maia with a poor takedown

and Machida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tenlou Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Machida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tenlou Maia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Maia or perhaps it was just good defense by Machida which made him look bad.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Maia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A knee to the head by Machida.

Machida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Machida has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Machida clinches up against the cage.
Machida gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maia.
Machida manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Machida has taken the fight to the clinch.
Machida drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Maia gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Machida manages to break the clinch.
Maia closes the distance looking to clinch

and Machida decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maia's guard.

Maia working for a triangle but Machida defends it easily.

Maia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Machida has picked Maia up and slammed him! Maia can't keep hold of the triangle and Machida manages to pass to side control!
Maia is trying to work for a sweep but Machida has mounted him!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida avoids the attempt from Maia to control.
Machida looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Machida 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Machida!