PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Sousa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and zejk machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sousa
vs
machida

191 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

220 cm
18
250 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Sousa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, zejk machida!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sousa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
machida is looking to escape.
machida gets back to full guard.
Sousa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sousa postures up.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sousa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sousa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has machida pinned against the cage. machida gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
machida throws a head kick that half lands.
Sousa tries to clinch up.
Sousa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sousa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around machida's waist but machida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sousa off to one side.

machida moves into the clinch.

machida has Sousa pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. machida pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sousa tumbling to the mat - machida dives into Sousa's guard.
machida looking to pass the guard.
machida sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

machida stands and steps away. Sousa gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Excellent takedown into side control there by machida.
Sousa pushes machida away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, machida gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sousa tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but machida presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
machida lands a big shot there that rocks Sousa but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sousa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
machida sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
machida dominating with strikes here.
Sousa tries to lock up and control but machida gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

zejk machida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Sousa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sousa doesn't succeed with the takedown

and machida counters by clinching up.

machida drags the fight down to the ground.
machida wants to get back to his feet but Sousa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
machida pulls Sousa in close to his closed guard and prevents Sousa from doing any damage or advancing position.
machida is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
machida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sousa's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
machida passes Sousa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
machida slips a nice elbow through Sousa's hands, connecting with Sousa's forehead.

machida is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
machida controlling the pace.
Let's hope that machida 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Sousa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa trying to control here.

machida stands up and beckons Sousa to join him on the feet.

machida shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
machida content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sousa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for machida on the ground.

machida looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
machida moves to back control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sousa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sousa tries to close the distance and clinch but machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rafael Sousa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sousa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and machida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sousa won't be happy with that.
Sousa is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, machida asserts his dominance and retains side control.
machida controls the position from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Sousa!
machida sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
machida lands a heavy elbow.
Sousa is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
machida content just to control the position here.

Despite being in the dominant position, zejk machida just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sousa with a lazy takedown attempt

and machida counters with a single leg into guard. Sousa didn't expect that.
machida's corner is telling him to maintain position.

machida decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa tries to clinch but machida moves away

and machida moves into the clinch.
Sousa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. machida is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Sousa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

machida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sousa wants to get back to full guard but machida has mounted him!
Sousa slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, machida seems content to control.
machida trying to mount his opponent but Sousa defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
machida lands strikes from half guard.
machida working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sousa tries to roll over but machida keeps him under control.
machida looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rafael Sousa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
zejk machida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
machida passes to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
zejk 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... zejk machida!