PBP Commentary

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

Belfort
vs
Machida

182 cm
22
202 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Berserker Nutrition
Liberty Fight Gear

Syndicate Drugs

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Veetor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida misses with a low kick.
Machida closes the distance and clinches up with Belfort, looking for a takedown. Machida pushes Belfort against the cage but Belfort circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Belfort changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Machida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Machida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Belfort. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Machida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Machida should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Belfort working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Belfort in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Machida tries to bench press Belfort off him but Belfort keeps the position.
Belfort misses with the ground and pound.
Machida dodges the ground and pound from Belfort.
Belfort wants to control but Machida is keeping him busy.
Machida tries to buck Belfort off but Belfort is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Machida fails in his attempt to clinch.
Machida pivots, looking for a leg kick but Belfort is out of range and Machida settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Machida's hands.
Machida slips a jab and a cross from Belfort.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.
Belfort connects with a looping right hand.
Belfort fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Belfort doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Belfort takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Belfort shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machida counters with a left and a right that hurts Belfort! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Machida jumps into full mount!

Belfort is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Veetor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Oh Belfort is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Machida throws some wild stikes that Belfort manages to avoid easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Machida looking to control and managing it successfully.
Belfort seems to have got his legs back now.
Machida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Belfort is looking to escape.
Belfort holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Machida tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Machida takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida prevents Belfort from getting the reversal.
Belfort tries to hold on but Machida pushes him away.
Belfort regains half guard.
Belfort is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Machida's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Machida's back!
Machida looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Even with his hooks in, Belfort manages to miss with strikes from the back.

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.
Belfort keeps control of the position as Machida tries to break free.
Machida is keeping busy.
Machida breaks Belfort's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Belfort pulls Machida in close to prevent any damage.
Belfort trying to keep a closed guard but Machida is proving a slippery customer.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machida with a lazy takedown attempt
and Belfort counters with a good low kick that Machida was not able to check.
Machida looks gassed!
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Veetor Belfort will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Belfort scores with a one two! Machida had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Belfort connects with a crisp jab.
Belfort scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Belfort lands with a cross.

Machida is rocked!
Horrible takedown by Belfort or perhaps it was just good defense by Machida which made him look bad.
Belfort jabs at Machida's body.
A head kick misses from Machida.
Machida takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Machida is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machida slips a jab and a cross from Belfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Machida gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Machida is still on wobbly legs! Can Belfort finish him?
Machida fails with the takedown

and Belfort counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Machida seems to have recovered his senses.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Belfort from controlling successfully.
Machida is trying to control the position but Belfort postures up.
Belfort trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Belfort throwing strikes from guard but Machida blocks nicely.
Belfort throwing strikes but missing.
Machida doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Belfort shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Machida slips under a jab.
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Veetor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Machida as he avoids it easily.
Belfort will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Machida counters with a head kick.
Veetor Belfort is winning the standup battle so far.
Machida shoots in looking for a takedown. Belfort tries to sprawl out of it but Machida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belfort manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Machida.
Belfort showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Machida.
Belfort misses with a right hand
and Machida counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Machida closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Belfort to the mat! Belfort manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Belfort looking to hit a scissor sweep but Machida is one step ahead there.
Machida postures up.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Belfort is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Belfort shoots in but Machida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veetor Belfort dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Belfort keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt
and Belfort counters with a three punch combo that has Machida backing up. Machida nods at Belfort to acknowledge the strikes.
Belfort slips a jab and a cross from Machida.
Belfort shoots and misses
and Machida counters with a head kick. That will keep Belfort thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A leg kick checked by Machida.

Belfort scores with a takedown into Machida's guard.
Belfort advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort works his way into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida wants to try and get back to his feet.
Machida keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Belfort dominating with strikes here.
Machida tries to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Belfort content just to control the position here.
Belfort is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Machida can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Machida wants to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Belfort 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.
Machida holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Belfort tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Machida controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida is squirming around, avoiding Belfort's attempts to control the action.
Machida wants to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Belfort tries to control but Machida wriggling away.
Machida keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Machida is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Belfort is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Machida is surviving well by controlling Belfort's body position as best he can.
Poor strikes thrown by Belfort there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Belfort throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Machida avoids a series of strikes thrown by Belfort.
Machida tries to reverse the position but Belfort maintains control.
Machida tries to lock up and control but Belfort gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Belfort has control of Machida's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Machida regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Belfort throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Machida because Belfort loaded up on that one.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Belfort postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Machida looks a forlorn figure.
Belfort can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Machida is looking to escape.
Belfort controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Belfort breaks from Machida's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Belfort looking to ground and pound but Machida is blocking nicely.
Belfort connects with a bit shot that sees Machida covering up! More strikes from Machida and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Belfort is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Veetor Belfort!