PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bret Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hart kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Sharpshooter. Machida has chosen For Whom The Bell Tolls as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hart
vs
Machida

185 cm
25
220 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
205 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Bret Hart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Machida throws a head kick but Hart moves out of range.
Hart tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hart throws a series of punches but Machida avoids them all with ease.
Hart misses with a straight right.
Machida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hart moves away.
Hart misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hart shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Machida manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Machida has control of Hart's left arm, preventing Hart from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hart being controlled here momentarily.
Hart preventing the sweep.
Hart in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Machida trying to strike off his back.
Hart wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Machida can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hart wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Hart has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hart misses with a body shot.

That's two 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.
Machida staying out of range there.
Machida lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hart misses with a shot to the body
and Machida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hart shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machida defends it nicely.
A slapping body kick lands there for Machida.
Machida misses with a head kick.
Hart throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart avoids the head kick by Machida.
Hart throws a looping overhand right but Machida ducks down to avoid it.
Hart shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hart misses with a shot to the body
and Machida counters with a head kick.
Hart is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Machida misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hart lands with a right hand.
Machida takes a swing at Hart's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart tests Machida's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Machida slips a jab and a cross from Hart.
Hart tests Machida's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hart misses with a leg kick
letting Machida counter with a right hand.
Machida checks a leg kick.
Hart misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Machida.
Machida throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
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!

Hart swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hart misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Machida counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hart fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.
Machida throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Machida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hart looks to land a combination but Machida avoids it well.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hart.

Hart gets the takedown into side control.
Machida tries to buck Hart off but Hart is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Machida's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Machida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hart. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hart keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hart looking for submissions off his back.
Hart is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Machida controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hart is staying active underneath Machida, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hart is trying to control but can't.
Hart tries to roll over but Machida keeps him under control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hart has a takedown stuffed.
Machida blocks a jab.
Machida is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hart rather than just go for the knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Hart misses the target.
Hart throws a left and a right that both miss
and Machida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hart takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Machida falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hart counters with a nice double leg into side control. Machida won't be happy with that.
Hart throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Machida is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida is trying to control Hart's posture but Hart avoids it.
Hart postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hart in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sloppy strikes there by Hart.
Hart controlling the position.
Hart wants to control but Machida is keeping him busy.
Machida looking for a sweep but Hart has passed into full mount! Oh no!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lyoto Machida will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Machida looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hart misses with a jab to the body
and Machida counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hart connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hart clobbers Machida with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The fighters circling - Hart throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A nice leg kick lands there from Machida.
Machida blocks a jab.
Hart takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hart gets a takedown into half guard.
Hart wants to pass to mount but Machida is defending the position.
Machida controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hart throwing shots but Machida is blocking nicely.
Machida controlling the position well.
Hart throwing shots but Machida is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart is trying to control. Machida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Machida desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.
Hart thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hart tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is looking to chop away at Hart's legs.
A big right from Hart misses.
A head kick by Hart misses
letting Machida counter with a right hand.
Hart lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hart misses with a hook to the body
and Machida counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hart thinking.
Hart keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hart lands a two punch combo.
Hart lands with an overhand left.
Lyoto Machida seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Hart misses
and Machida counters with a nice kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hart throws a lazy right hand but Machida sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Machida slips under a jab from Hart.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hart blocks a head kick by Machida.
Machida throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Machida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bret Hart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hart takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A shot to the body from Machida misses
and Hart counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Machida misses with a body kick.
Hart tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.
Hart misses with a body punch
and Machida counters with a good low kick that Hart was not able to check.
Machida staying out of range there.
Hart is looking to clinch.
Hart shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Machida as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hart sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hart misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Machida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hart.
Hart lands with a nice body punch.

Hart scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Machida can't do much from the bottom here.
Machida sneaks back into half guard.
Machida trying to hold on to Hart's head to control him but Hart postures up.
Hart not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hart stalling away here and it's allowed Machida to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Hart looking to pass the guard.
Hart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hart wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hart.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart won't allow Machida to sweep him here.
Hart is stalling in the full guard.
Machida is looking to sweep but instead, Hart has passed into half guard.
Machida trying to hold on to Hart's head to control him but Hart postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hart throws a sloppy body shot
and Machida makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lyoto Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hart looks to land a combination. Machida sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hart tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Machida swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Machida.
Hart throws a head kick that misses.
Machida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hart misses with a combination
and Machida counters with a straight right hand.
Machida scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Machida ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hart dodges the punch combination from Machida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hart decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Machida trying to control here.
Hart looks to land a strike but Machida avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Machida working a defensive guard here.
Hart trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hart thows a big elbow that misses.
Hart is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Machida has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hart is working away from the top position though.
Hart is trying to control. Machida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hart is taking a breather. Machida says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

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 keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hart seems to be working for a kimura but Machida defends the submission attempt.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Hart sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Machida defending well though.
Hart scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Machida avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hart.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hart falls off balance throwing a combination
and Machida counters with a low kick, right behind Hart 's knee.
Hart misses with a body punch
and Machida counters with a head kick. That will keep Hart thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart slips a straight right by Machida.
Machida throws a right hand that Hart ducks under and follows up with a left that Hart also avoids with ease.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hart showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Machida.
Machida misses with a looping left.
Machida throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hart counters with a nice double leg into side control. Machida won't be happy with that.
Hart in side control, throwing shots but Machida defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida can't do much from the bottom here.
Hart misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Bret Hart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida struggling a bit here.
Machida is looking for a sweep.
Machida defending against the ground and pound.
Lyoto Machida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hart working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bret Hart showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Machida has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 46:49
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 47:49
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 46:49

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