PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ren Eto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akao Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Eto
vs
Machida

187 cm
24
213 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

186 cm
21
205 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ren Eto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Akao Machida!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eto throws a head kick that misses.
Machida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Eto swivels and escapes.
Machida tries to score a power double leg takedown but Eto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Machida somewhat.
Machida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ren Eto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akao Machida.
Machida tries for a takedown but Eto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Eto throws a head kick but Machida moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Eto.
The fight stays on the outside here - Machida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Eto as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eto lands a nice looking kick to the body. Machida takes a step back to recover.
Machida misses with a low kick as Eto jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida fails with the takedown
and Eto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A head kick misses from Eto.
Machida tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Eto counters with a head kick.
Eto throws a right hand that Machida ducks under and follows up with a left that Machida also avoids with ease.
Machida will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Machida wants to clinch but Eto slips to the side
and Eto counters with a nice leg kick.
Machida tries to clinch up but Eto circles away and keeps his distance.
Eto scores with a head kick.
Machida takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Eto throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Eto.
Eto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Machida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Eto pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida shoots in and bounces Eto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Machida gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Machida looks gassed!
Nice sprawl there from Eto as Machida shoots in.
Machida tries to clinch up

and Eto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Eto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machida does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Eto prevents Machida from standing back up.
Eto wants to stand up but Machida is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eto postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Machida to stand up.

Eto gets a takedown into half guard.
Eto tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Eto trying to mount his opponent but Machida defends it.

Machida makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Machida clinches but Eto breaks the clinch
and Eto counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida shoots and misses
and Eto counters with a nice uppercut.
Machida avoids the head kick by Eto.
Machida tries to clinch up
and Machida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Akao Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Eto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Machida was covering up waiting for the punch and Eto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Eto prevents Machida from getting back to his feet.
Eto trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eto wants to stand but Machida is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ren Eto dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Machida moves out of range of the body kick from Eto.
Machida tries to clinch but Eto moves away

and Eto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Machida looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Machida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Eto counters with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Machida.
Eto misses with a body kick.
Ren Eto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eto is looking to chop away at Machida's legs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida is looking to clinch.
Machida wants to clinch but Eto slips to the side
and Eto counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Eto as he jumps to the side.
Ren Eto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akao Machida.
Machida takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Machida tries to clinch but Eto moves out of range.
Machida clinches but Eto breaks the clinch
and Eto counters with a three punch combo that has Machida backing up. Machida nods at Eto to acknowledge the strikes.
Machida has a takedown stuffed.
Eto throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Machida's head.
Nice takedown defense from Machida. No joy for Eto on that attempt.
Eto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Eto scores with a three punch combo!

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 shoots in but Eto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Eto scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Machida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machida looks to clinch
and Eto counters with a series of strikes. Machida will be more careful next time no doubt.
Machida shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Eto counters with a straight right hand.
Machida fails in his attempt to clinch.
Eto throws a one two combo.
Eto throws a head kick but Machida moves out of range.
Machida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Eto counters with a three punch combo that has Machida backing up. Machida nods at Eto to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida shoots in but no luck this time.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but Eto shows good takedown defense.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Machida is looking to clinch.
Eto throws a lazy head kick

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch.

Machida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machida tries to clinch up but Eto circles away and keeps his distance.
Eto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Eto swats away the attempt to clinch by Machida.
Machida moves in looking to clinch but Eto pushes him off.
Machida tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Eto counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Eto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but Eto shows good takedown defense.

Machida shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Machida decides to return to a standing position.
Machida throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Machida dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Eto. That did some damage!
Machida closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Eto counter with a right hand.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Eto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
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 Ren Eto will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Eto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Machida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Machida throws a right and a left that Eto avoids nicely.
Eto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Eto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Eto but Eto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Machida tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Eto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Eto closes the distance and pushes Machida back into the cage.
Machida throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Eto blocks it with crossed arms.
Eto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Machida is keeping busy.

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

Eto closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Machida is trying to stand up here but Eto is controlling him well.

Eto stands up and beckons Machida to join him on the feet.
Machida misses with a takedown
and Eto counters with a head kick. That will keep Machida thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ren Eto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akao Machida.
Machida fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eto misses with an attempted mid kick.
Machida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Eto but Eto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Machida has his takedown stuffed
and Eto counters with a head kick. That will keep Machida thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Machida tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Eto counters with a right hand to the body.
Machida changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Eto tries to avoid it but Machida manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Eto to the ground. Eto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Machida clinches with his opponent.

Machida is trying to trip Eto. He has hold of a leg but Eto is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Machida persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Machida gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Eto.

Eto gets caught flat footed, as Machida shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Eto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Machida decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Eto, up you get!
Eto keeps the fight on the outside.
Machida closes the distance looking to clinch
and Eto counters with a series of strikes. Machida will be more careful next time no doubt.
Eto throws the kick towards the body but Machida avoids it.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch but Eto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Machida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Eto counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida blocks a head kick by Eto.
Eto misses with a wild body shot.

Machida gets a takedown into half guard.

Machida decides to return to a standing position.
Machida with a poor takedown
and Eto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Eto.
Machida doesn't manage to clinch there - Eto circles away.
Machida wants to clinch but Eto slips to the side
and Eto counters with a head kick.
Machida moves out of range of the body kick from Eto.
Akao Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ren Eto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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 Eto has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Eto and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akao Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Eto has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ren Eto!