PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Henrique (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stenio Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stenio Machida is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Henrique
vs
Machida

184 cm
19
168 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Henrique!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stenio Machida!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henrique tries a head kick but it misses.

Henrique closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Henrique seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Machida is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Henrique pulls his head out easily.

Machida looking for submissions off his back.

Machida looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Henrique wants to take a breather but Machida is having none of it.
Henrique working Machida over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is pressing down on Henrique's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Henrique looking to sit in guard and control but Machida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Henrique wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.
Henrique on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Henrique tries to get out of the position.

Machida has gone for a leg lock! Henrique slips out almost immediately though and dives into Machida's guard.
Henrique stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Machida is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Machida looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henrique working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Machida's head.
Henrique landing some decent shots from guard.
Henrique throws and elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Henrique's guard. Nice move by Machida!

Machida got a little sloppy there for a moment and Henrique has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Machida has managed to get both his arms back between Henrique's legs - danger averted.
Machida won't allow Henrique to sweep him here.
Henrique will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Henrique controls Machida momentarily but Machida frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henrique tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henrique is on top in guard.
Henrique content to stall in guard here.

Machida is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Henrique is aware though and is defending well.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Henrique from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Henrique has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Machida is proving hard to escape from.
Henrique is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Henrique wants to stand but Machida is controlling his posture from full guard.
Henrique trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.

Machida is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Henrique dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Henrique scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Henrique looks for a takedown but Machida sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Henrique.

Henrique shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida won't allow Henrique to pass to mount.

Machida actively working from the bottom here.

Machida actively working from the bottom here.
Henrique looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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.
Henrique wants to stand up but Machida is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Henrique is keen to just control but Machida is a slippery customer.
Henrique wants to stand up but Machida is controlling the position.
Henrique is keen to just control but Machida is a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Machida tries to keep at a distance but Henrique has taken the fight into the clinch.
Henrique slowing the pace effectively.

Henrique jumps guard and drags Machida to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Henrique striking from his own guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Henrique throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Henrique controlling Machida's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henrique is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Henrique is looking to stand up but Machida isn't so interested in that idea.

Machida is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Henrique wants to stand but Machida is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Henrique shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Henrique dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Henrique looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Henrique trying to pass the guard but Machida defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henrique stalling.
Henrique is looking to stall here but Machida recovers full guard.
Machida manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henrique tries to hold on but Machida pushes him away.
Henrique gets back to half guard.

Henrique is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Machida pulls his head out easily.
Henrique is trying to stand back up but Machida is controlling him

Machida is working for a submission of some sort.

Machida is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henrique is trying to stand.
Henrique trying to hold on to Machida's head to control him but Machida postures up.

Machida is working for a kimura but Henrique is defending it quite comfortably.
Henrique knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Machida on the ground.
Henrique tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Machida has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henrique is wriggling around trying to escape.

Machida working for a submission but Henrique is keeping him at bay.

Machida with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Henrique is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Machida is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Henrique to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Henrique shrugs it off.
Henrique is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henrique wants to hold on but Machida pushes him away.
Luiz Henrique overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Machida swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Henrique is now in Machida's guard. A big mistake from Machida there, giving up the dominant position!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stenio Machida.
Well Henrique has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luiz Henrique!