PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabi Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes to the cage accompanied by Bleed it out - Linkin Park. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Machida
vs
Cruz

185 cm
21
205 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
215 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

FUEL Nutrition

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

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 - 1 - 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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabi Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Machida throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cruz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Machida shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Machida showed some decent athleticism there.
Cruz wants to control but Machida is keeping busy.
Machida stalling.
Machida trying to mount his opponent but Cruz defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz regains full guard. Nicely done.
Machida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Machida trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Machida doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Machida manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two 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.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Machida isn't so interested in that idea.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Machida moves into the clinch.
Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Machida gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cruz is working for takedown but Machida is calmly controlling the position for now.
Machida using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cruz tries to break the clinch but Machida is controlling the position.

Machida has clasped his hands together around Cruz's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Machida in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Cruz misses with a strike from the bottom.

Cruz bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Cruz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Machida makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Machida scores with a shot to the body.
Cruz looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machida clinches up with Cruz and pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz wants to break free but Machida has control.
Machida jumps guard but Cruz stands there with Machida around his waist. Machida gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short left from Machida.
Cruz stops a takedown attempt from Machida.
Cruz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machida blocks it with crossed arms.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyoto Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cruz up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Machida as the two fighters clinch.

Machida manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Machida misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
A telegraphed right hand from Cruz misses the target.
Machida throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Machida.
Cruz has his takedown stuffed
and Machida counters with a three punch combo that has Cruz backing up. Cruz nods at Machida to acknowledge the strikes.

Machida takes the fight into the clinch.

Machida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Machida gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cruz is trying to break free.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabi Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida breaks from the clinch.
Cruz wants to clinch
and Machida counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A right-left combo lands from Cruz.
Cruz throws a one two combo.
Machida throws a front kick that sends Cruz stumbling back into the cage.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
A shot to de liver by Machida. Beautiful body shot.
Machida throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Machida shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cruz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cruz misses with a strike from the bottom.

Machida is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cruz has escaped the position, nice work there.

Machida stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machida uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Machida lands a slapping body shot.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Machida drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Machida staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cruz for as long as he can get away with.
Machida's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Machida looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four 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.
Cruz gets back to half guard.

Machida stands up from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice shot lands for Machida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cruz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cruz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cruz wants to clinch
and Machida makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cruz wants to clinch
enabling Machida to counter with a crisp jab.
Machida lands with a nice body punch.
Machida lands a glancing blow to the side of Cruz's head.
Cruz tries to clinch up
and Machida counters with a good low kick that Cruz was not able to check.
Cruz tries to clinch
and Machida counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Machida circles away easily

and Machida moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida wants a takedown.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A right handed body shot lands from Machida.
Machida has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cruz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Machida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Machida fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabi Cruz.
Cruz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Machida throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.
Machida scores with a shot to the body.
Machida is looking to wear down Cruz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cruz wants to clinch but Machida slips to the side

and Machida counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz didn't expect that.
Cruz being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida pushes down on Cruz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Machida is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Machida seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is trying to get back to full guard.
Machida is trying to control the action in half guard but Cruz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cruz regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cruz wants to stand but Machida is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Machida is pushing down on Cruz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cruz is fighting to maintain full guard but Machida has managed to sneak the leg through.
Machida passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cruz is just holding on here. Machida manages to take his back.
Machida trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Cruz doesn't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Machida has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight for Lyoto Machida!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Lyoto Machida!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Lyoto Machida!

Lyoto Machida wins by unanimous decision!