PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Machine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machine has chosen Stupid KId as his entrance music. Ray Machine is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Stevens
vs
Machine

178 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
143 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Stevens!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Machine!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machine misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Machine takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Stevens throws a series of punches but Machine avoids them all with ease.
Matt Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch but Machine swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stevens tries a head kick but it misses.
Stevens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machine counters with a takedown into side control.
Stevens is looking to regain half guard here but Machine keeps moving and retains side control.
Machine throws an elbow but Stevens slips to the side and avoids it well.
A lull in the action here.
Machine blocks the strikes from Stevens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens stops Machine from passing to mount.
Stevens is not content to let Machine control the position.
Stevens tries to bench press Machine off him but Machine keeps the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

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

Machine darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Stevens looking for submissions off his back.
Stevens moves into full guard.

Stevens working for a triangle but Machine defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machine looking to pass the guard.
Machine thows a big elbow that misses.
Machine sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stevens's guard.
Stevens wants to get back to full guard.
Machine not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Machine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevens keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Machine is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Machine thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stevens with a lazy takedown attempt

and Machine counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevens won't be happy with that.
Stevens gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Stevens looking for submissions off his back.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Machine tries to stand but can't do so whilst Stevens controls his leg.
Machine has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Machine there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Stevens is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machine misses with a head shot.
Stevens is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Stevens tries to lock up and control but Machine gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Machine throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stevens because Machine loaded up on that one.
Stevens wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Machine.
Stevens slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Machine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevens keeps working.
Stevens is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Machine scores with a couple of nice shots.
Stevens has hold of Machine's hands but Machine slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet.
Machine passes to full mount!
Stevens is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Machine dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A head kick misses from Stevens.
Machine moves out of range of the body kick from Stevens.
Machine throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stevens fails with the takedown

and Machine counters with a shoot takedown. Stevens fights it but they end up in guard.
Machine postures up.
Machine looking to pass the guard.
Machine wanted to stand there but Stevens had control of the position.
Stevens keeping moving, preventing Machine from controlling successfully.
Machine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machine looking to pass the guard.
Stevens trying to control the position here.
Machineis looking to pass into half guard but Stevens pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Stevens is in guard.
Machine is breathing heavily.
Machine is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Stevens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stevens is refusing to be controlled, as Machine sits in half guard.

Stevens is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Machine pulls his head out easily.
Machine thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

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.
Machine content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Stevens is staying active underneath Machine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Stevens actively working from the bottom here.
Stevens works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stevens is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Machine has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stevens is proving hard to escape from.
Stevens throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stevens is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Stevens is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Machine defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machine trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machine stands and throws Stevens's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stevens wants to control but Machine postures up.
Stevens manages to get back to half guard.
Stevens regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Machine.
Machine trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Stevens trying to control the position.

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.

Machine avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Machine must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Machine with a flurry of punches that miss.
Machine trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stevens's guard.

Stevens is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Machine defends well.
Machine throws a big right hand that misses.

Stevens looking for a guillotine here but Machine defends easily.
Stevens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Machine.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Stevens will probably get the nod.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Machine lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Machine showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stevens.
Stevens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stevens with a lazy takedown attempt

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

Machine stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Stevens has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Machine manages to get his head free but now Stevens has transitioned to an armbar! Machine grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Stevens! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matt Stevens!
Matt Stevens is the new bantamweight champion!