PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ginchin Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Clint Eastwood . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Machida
vs
Gracie

185 cm
26
205 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

185 cm
21
205 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 8 - 9 - 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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Helio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida misses with a head kick.
Machida looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Machida's guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Machida gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.
Gracie stops Machida from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Gracie pushing down on Machida's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.
Gracie advances nicely into full mount.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Machida is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Machida has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Gracie is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Machida to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Machida shrugs it off.

Machida defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Machida manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Machida, who protects the arm well.
Machida wants to get back to his feet but Gracie drags him back down.
Machida prevents Gracie from moving into mount.
Machida is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie prevents Machida from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie advances nicely into full mount.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Machida is in no mood to give up.

Gracie 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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

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

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Machida manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Machida is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Machida has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Machida prevents Gracie from moving into mount.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Machida!

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Machida is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Machida is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie 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 lands a body shot.

Machida gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Machida keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

Gracie 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.
Gracie 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 stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie 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.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida pushes Gracie off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Machida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Machida wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Machida has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Machida is defending well.
Helio Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machida is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Machida is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida is trying to buck Gracie off.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Machida blocks the move with his legs.
Machida is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Machida!

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Machida is trying to stand.

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Machida defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Machida defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gracie.
Machida is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Machida is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Machida is in no mood to give up.

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Machida is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Machida is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machida defends it nicely.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Machida as he avoids it easily.
Gracie checks the leg kick nicely there.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Machida is defending well.
Machida is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Machida's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Gracie tries to advance to mount but Machida denies him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machida defends it nicely.
Ginchin Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Gracie.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie shoots in but Machida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ginchin Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Machida wants to clinch.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie works to advance to full mount. Machida defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Gracie has hold of Machida's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Machida manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Machida wants to try and get back to his feet.

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Machida can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Gracie 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Machida to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Machida shrugs it off.
Machida is trying to stand up.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Machida has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Machida is trying to stand up.

Gracie 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.
Machida tries to buck Gracie off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Gracie 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.
Machida really wants to buck Gracie off and get back to his feet.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

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

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Machida is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.

Gracie is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Machida to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Machida shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Helio Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gracie 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helio Gracie!