PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henry Cretti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida has chosen Playing with fire - SOB and Celph titled as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cretti
vs
Machida

190 cm
22
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henry Cretti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Franklyn Lucas and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cretti shoots for a double leg takedown but Machida sprawls well. He's pushed Cretti's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cretti closes the distance and clinches up with Machida, looking for a takedown. Cretti pushes Machida against the cage but Machida circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cretti shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Cretti keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henry Cretti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cretti will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cretti closes this distance looking for a takedown but Machida circles away.
Cretti blocks a head kick by Machida.
Machida throws a head kick that half lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Machida lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Henry Cretti has been cut.
Machida connects with a knee to the head.
Machida throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cretti blocks it with crossed arms.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cretti shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cretti shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cretti is breathing heavily.

Machida pushes Cretti up against the cage in a clinch.
Machida landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machida landing knees to the head.
Cretti wants to stall.
Cretti tries to pull guard but Machida holds him up against the cage and eventually Cretti drops back down to his feet.
Machida with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cretti goes for a takedown attempt but Machida pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cretti shoots for a double leg takedown but Machida sprawls well. He's pushed Cretti's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cretti fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Machida scores with a head kick.

Cretti is rocked!

Machida rushes Cretti and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cretti goes for a takedown in the clinch but Machida prevents it.

Cretti pulls Machida into guard.
Machida trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cretti's guard.
Cretti working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cretti is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cretti looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Machida passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cretti shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.
Cretti looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Machida is fending him off so far but Cretti persists. Nope, Machida circles away and we're back to standing.

Machida instigates a clinch.
Cretti takes a knee right on the jaw!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida scores a nice knee to the body.
Machida landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Machida.
Cretti jumps guard but Machida stands there with Cretti around his waist. Cretti gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Machida lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Oh Cretti is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Machida tries a knee to the head but Cretti blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Henry Cretti's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cretti changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Machida tries to avoid it but Cretti manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Machida to the ground. Machida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cretti seems to have got his legs back now.
Cretti will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cretti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cretti is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.

Machida gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Cretti jumps guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Machida is looking to stand up but Cretti won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cretti is working an open guard so Machida takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cretti tries for a takedown but Machida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henry Cretti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cretti keeps the fight on the outside.
Cretti shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Cretti keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Machida has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cretti tries to pull guard but Machida holds him up against the cage and eventually Cretti drops back down to his feet.
Knees in the clinch landing for Machida.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A knee to the head by Machida.
Machida scores with a knee to the head.
Machida tries a knee to the head but Cretti blocks it.
Cretti fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Machida landing knees to the head.
Machida lands a big knee! That's hurt Cretti! Oh, he's all over the place! Machida lands another knee that sends Cretti to the floor and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lyoto Machida!