PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian lucca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida's entrance music is Lyoto Machida. A fine choice. Lyoto Machida could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Brian lucca's chin.

Machida
vs
lucca

185 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

188 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brian lucca!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from lucca.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horrible takedown by lucca or perhaps it was just good defense by Machida which made him look bad.
Machida stuffs the takedown.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian lucca.

Machida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Machida has his foot on lucca's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. lucca works his way back into a safe position though.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Machida 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.
lucca is looking to stand up but Machida won't let him.
lucca looking to pass the guard.
lucca trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
lucca wanted to stand there but Machida had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
lucca throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
lucca fails with an attempt to clinch.
lucca tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.
Machida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? lucca is fending him off so far but Machida persists. Nope, lucca circles away and we're back to standing.

lucca instigates a clinch.
Machida gets underhooks to prevent lucca's takedown attempt.

lucca gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
lucca perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

lucca decides to stand and escape the position.

lucca bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

lucca is trying to get an arm triangle but Machida is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida is looking to regain half guard here but lucca keeps moving and retains side control.
lucca cracks Machida with a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

lucca tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no lucca has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
lucca scores with a couple of short elbows.
lucca moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Machida is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

lucca tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no lucca has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

lucca looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida is trying to control lucca's posture but lucca avoids it.
lucca advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
lucca lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Machida hang on?
Machida is desperately trying to improve his position but lucca has a good base and remains in mount.

lucca stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Machida throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by lucca.
lucca looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
lucca gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

lucca has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Machida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian lucca dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Machida shoots in and drives through. lucca sprawls well.
lucca shoots and misses

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into side control. lucca won't be happy with that.

Machida goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, lucca has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Machida but great work by lucca.
Machida struggling a bit here.
Machida gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Machida is desperately trying to improve his position but lucca has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida is bucking up trying to escape but lucca cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
lucca wants to control the pace but Machida is squirming around nicely.
Machida is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

lucca is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Machida can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Machida tries to hold on but lucca pushes him away.
lucca in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

lucca goes for an armbar but Machida turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Machida.
lucca is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Machida is controlling him.
lucca keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

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

lucca escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Machida gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

lucca escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Machida gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Machida stands and throws lucca's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
lucca is looking for a sweep.
lucca misses with an elbow from the bottom.
lucca wants to control but Machida postures up.
Machida connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused lucca some visible discomfort.
lucca is trying to work for a sweep but Machida has mounted him!
Machida unloading with bombs!
Machida lands with some vicious ground and pound - can lucca hang on?
lucca squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
lucca wants to control but Machida is having none of it.
lucca is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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.

Machida looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
lucca is desperately trying to improve his position but Machida has a good base and remains in mount.
Machida postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. lucca looks a forlorn figure.
Machida throws some wild stikes that lucca manages to avoid easily.
lucca in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Machida trying to control but lucca is having none of it.
lucca is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

lucca tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.
Machida has a takedown stuffed.
lucca misses with a takedown
and Machida counters with a big head kick but lucca shrugs it off.
lucca tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
lucca shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
lucca shoots in but Machida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian lucca.

Machida changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. lucca looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
lucca wants to control but Machida postures up.
Machida is looking to take a break and control but lucca is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
lucca tries to control but Machida manages to take his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I really don't envy lucca right now.
Brian lucca has got the better of the ground game so far.
lucca is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Machida lands an elbow to the side of the head.
lucca tries to break free.
Machida is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Machida is looking for the choke from the back position but lucca is controlling his hands well.
lucca tries to escape the position.
Machida is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Machida gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Machida gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Machida apologises and we restart here on the feet.
lucca doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Machida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in lucca's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
lucca working a defensive guard but Machida passes into half guard.
lucca wants to improve his position but Machida is controlling well.
lucca trying to control here.

lucca actively working from the bottom here.
lucca is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Machida scores with a couple of nice shots.
lucca tries to get to full guard but Machida has control of the leg.
lucca has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Machida is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Machida.
Machida working away.

Machida tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
lucca sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

lucca actively working from the bottom here.
lucca wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
lucca is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Machida scores with a couple of nice shots.
Machida trying to control from half guard but lucca is working away.

lucca actively working from the bottom here.
lucca wants to get back to his feet.
Machida is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Machida tries to pass to full mount but lucca defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
lucca with a lazy takedown attempt

and Machida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in lucca's guard now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida pushes down on lucca's leg and manages to get into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Machida 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

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