PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Benos machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bro Ham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

machida
vs
Ham

175 cm
25
154 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

165 cm
23
159 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Benos machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bro Ham!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
machida throws a right and a left that both miss.
machida tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ham lands with an overhand left.
machida scores with a hook to the body. Ham takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ham avoids the head kick by machida.
Ham swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bro Ham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
machida misses with a double jab.
Ham throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
machida lands a high kick!

It looks like Bro Ham has been cut.
Ham misses with a hook. machida ducked under it nicely.
machida steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ham.
Ham lands with a cross.
machida throws a front kick aimed at Ham's knee but Ham avoids it well.
Ham waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract machida.
Ham scores with a body shot.
machida with a jab.
Ham misses with a hook. machida ducked under it nicely.
machida fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Ham counter with a right hand.
Ham with a hook.
Ham lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
machida walks into a jab.
Ham chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before machida can pounce on him.
Ham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but machida manages to avoid it.
machida throws a head kick that misses.
A low kick from machida is predictable there

and Ham counters with a shoot takedown. machida fights it but they end up in guard.

machida looking for subs off his back but Ham has passed one foot through into half guard.
machida is not content to let Ham control the position.
Ham tries to pass the half guard into mount. machida knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
machida is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ham working machida over with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

machida is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ham pulls his head out easily.
machida tries to get to full guard but Ham has control of the leg.
Ham scoring with strikes to the body and head.
machida moves into full guard.
machida is controlling Ham's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ham trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ham pushes down on machida's leg and manages to get into half guard.
machida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ham is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ham drops an elbow to the side of machida's head.
Ham tries to pass the half guard into mount. machida knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ham missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ham looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ham wants to take a breather but machida is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ham drops an elbow to the side of machida's head.
Ham prevents machida from improving his position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ham seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
machida trying to hold on to Ham's head to control him but Ham postures up.
Ham working over machida with some ground and pound. machida looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
machida is pressing down on Ham's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ham preventing the sweep.
Ham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.

machida throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
machida controls Ham momentarily but Ham frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
machida wants to sweep but no luck.

machida has his foot on Ham's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ham works his way back into a safe position though.
machida is breathing heavily.
Ham looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ham dips to his left and cracks machida with an uppercut!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from machida lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ham has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ham and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ham lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but machida circles away quickly and effectively.
Ham keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ham misses with a wild combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
machida on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ham throws a combination that misses

and machida counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bro Ham dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bro Ham's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ham throws a hook to the side of machida's head but machida sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
machida throws a sloppy head kick and Ham moves out of range easily.
machida throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ham's head.
machida uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ham.
machida takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jab, jab by Ham - just one landing.
Ham slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ham throws a combination that misses
and machida counters with an inside leg kick.
machida is looking to clinch but Ham is avoiding it.
Ham lands an overhand right.
Ham scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ham ducks down and throws a hook to the body but machida moves away.
Ham scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

machida is rocked!
Ham blocks a head kick by machida.
Ham looks to score with a jab to the body but machida is just out of range.
A cross from Ham lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by machida.
machida on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
machida looks to land a combination but Ham avoids it well.
Ham misses with a combination
and Ham takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ham throws a nice looking combination but machida bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ham throws a series of punches but machida moves out of range.
Ham throws a jab when machida was well out of range.
machida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ham.
machida takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ham swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and machida counters by clinching up.
machida throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ham blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters up against the cage, machida throws an elbow but misses.
machida looking to throw knees to the head but Ham is blocking nicely.
machida misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
machida using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ham has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
machida connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
machida creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
machida prevents a takedown attempt there.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ham.
Ham avoiding damage as machida throws knees to the body.
Ham has machida pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. machida manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, machida just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ham's brow.
machida using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ham has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ham digs a right hand underneath machida's ribcage. machida let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ham slowing the pace effectively.

Ham manages to break the clinch.
Jab from Ham.
Ham scores with the left hand. machida knows he should have avoided that one.
Ham cracks machida with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A punch combination from Ham misses.
Ham shoots in and drives through. machida sprawls well.
Benos machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bro Ham.
Ham misses with a body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ham misses the body punch
and machida counters with a good, hard body kick but Ham shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
machida misses with a head kick.
Benos machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice combination there by Ham.
Ham lands with a nice combination. machida backs away looking to recover.
machida on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Benos machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
machida moves away from the strike by Ham.
Ham checks a leg kick.
machida takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ham throws a big shot that misses.
machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ham scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
machida takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
machida throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
machida needs to keep his hands up - Ham had a free shot at his head there.
machida slips a jab and a cross from Ham.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ham scores with a sloppy right hand. machida should have avoided that one.
A right-left combo lands from Ham.
machida walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Oh machida is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ham darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ham misses with a hook. machida ducked under it nicely.
machida looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Jab by Ham.
Nice uppercut there from Ham.
Ham lands a head shot.
machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
machida seems to have got his legs back now.
machida walks into a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ham throws a nice looking combination but machida bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ham looks to land a left hand but machida moved out of range nicely.
A left lands for Ham.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bro Ham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bro Ham's cut.
That's time! machida's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ham throws a big shot that misses.
Ham lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ham tries to bum rush machida with a series of wild strikes but machida uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A bone on bone clash there as Ham blocks the leg kick.
Ham throws a right hand that machida ducks under and follows up with a left that machida also avoids with ease.
machida misses with a head kick.
Ham misses with a two punch combination.
machida swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ham counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ham.
Ham throws a good cross that connects.

Ham feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
machida keeping moving, preventing Ham from controlling successfully.
machida trying to control the position.
machida trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida wants to sweep but no luck.
machida keeping moving, preventing Ham from controlling successfully.
Ham postures up in machida's guard and throws a big left but machida blocks it.
Ham with a nice head shot there.
Ham trying to control but machida is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
machida scores with a jab.
machida throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ham misses with a looping right.
machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
machida ducks under a wild hook from Ham.
machida throws a nice looking combination but Ham bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ham falls off balance throwing a combination

and machida moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
machida with an attempt at a knee that misses.
machida tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
machida lands an elbow that stopped Ham in his tracks for a moment.
Ham lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ham avoiding damage as machida throws knees to the body.
machida throws an elbow but it misses.
Ham is struggling to control the position.
Ham receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
machida misses with a knee strike.
Ham is trying to break the clinch but machida is controlling him.
Ham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
machida misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ham.
Nice body punch from Ham - that landed with a thud.
machida tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ham tries to stall but machida uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
machida with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ham lands with a short shot to the head.
Ham blocks the elbow strike.
machida pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Ham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ham scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice body punch from Ham.
Ham scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bro Ham seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ham is defended easily by machida.
machida throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ham.
Nice body punch from Ham.
Ham tests machida's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice cross by Ham.
machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ham lands a glancing blow to the side of machida's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Ham.
machida misses with a wild combination.
Ham throws a jab when machida was well out of range.
machida walks into a left hand.
machida gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ham.
Ham swinging wilding here.
Benos machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ham closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ham is trying to control. machida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ham 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.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ham content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ham throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bro Ham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ham winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bro Ham!