PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ginchin Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenpachi Zaraki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes to the cage accompanied by in bloom. The key to victory for Ginchin Machida has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Machida
vs
Zaraki

185 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

199 cm
23
210 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ginchin Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenpachi Zaraki!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaraki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Still in half guard, Zaraki seems content to control.

Zaraki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Machida on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Machida wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida is staying active underneath Zaraki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Zaraki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Machida defends it well.
Zaraki is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Machida slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zaraki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zaraki wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.
Machida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zaraki's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is fighting to break Zaraki's control of his arms but Zaraki is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Machida throws and elbow that misses. Zaraki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Machida's guard. Nice move by Zaraki!
Machida wants to sweep here but Zaraki controlling him for the moment.
Zaraki looking to pass the guard.
Zaraki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Machida looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Machida looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zaraki tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Zaraki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zaraki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zaraki is working Machida over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Machida has momentary wrist control but Zaraki slips an elbow through the middle.
Zaraki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zaraki wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Machida tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zaraki distracts Machida with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zaraki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zaraki trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Machida trying to advance position but Zaraki counters by regaining guard.
Machida with a flurry of punches that miss.
Machida postures up in Zaraki's guard and throws a big left but Zaraki blocks it.
Machida is fighting to break Zaraki's control of his arms but Zaraki is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

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.
Zaraki looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaraki, not yet.
Machida throwing strikes from guard but Zaraki blocks nicely.
Zaraki has his hands on Machida's head, controlling the position.
Zaraki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenpachi Zaraki 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.

Zaraki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida scores with a hook.

Zaraki gets the takedown into side control.
Machida manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Machida on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zaraki stalling.
Zaraki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Machida is staying active underneath Zaraki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Machida looking for submissions off his back.
Machida wants to get back to full guard.
Zaraki is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zaraki working over Machida with some ground and pound. Machida looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida tries to get to full guard but Zaraki has control of the leg.
Zaraki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zaraki lands a nice short elbow.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.
Zaraki is looking to take a break and control but Machida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zaraki scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Machida looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Machida tries to roll over but Zaraki keeps him under control.
Machida taking some punishment here, with Zaraki in his half guard.
Zaraki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Zaraki.
Zaraki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Zaraki there.
Machida manages to get to full guard.

Machida looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zaraki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zaraki scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zaraki is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
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 three minutes gone in the round.
Machida has momentary wrist control but Zaraki slips an elbow through the middle.
Zaraki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zaraki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Machida throws his legs up looking for a submission but Zaraki uses it to pass to side control.
Zaraki looks up at the clock and then as Machida takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Zaraki smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Check out the look on Zaraki's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Machida taking a bit of punishment here - Zaraki scoring with strikes.
Zaraki moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaraki looks up at the clock and then as Machida takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Zaraki smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Kenpachi Zaraki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machida manages to get back to half guard.
Zaraki not doing much here.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Zaraki there.
Zaraki is nestled in close to Machida, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Well, if Zaraki is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenpachi Zaraki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zaraki looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Machida might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zaraki is controlling the pace.
Zaraki trying to control the action but Machida is working from the bottom.
Zaraki passes to side control.
Zaraki lands some shots froms side control.
Zaraki lands a few punches from side control.
Machida sneaks back into half guard.

Machida looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaraki lands with a punch from half guard.
Machida is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Machida moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zaraki trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
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.
Zaraki seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Zaraki preventing the sweep.
Kenpachi Zaraki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zaraki slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back 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.
Zaraki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Zaraki with a nice head shot there.
Zaraki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Machida being controlled here, momentarily.
Machida is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zaraki manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zaraki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Machida preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zaraki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Machida postures up.
Ginchin Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zaraki has control of Machida's left arm, preventing Machida from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenpachi Zaraki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zaraki 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenpachi Zaraki!