PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Prince Symbol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyoto Machida will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Symbol
vs
Machida

150 cm
27
196 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

190 cm
25
199 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition $50 -159's
Milwaukee's Best Nutrition $50 -159's

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Prince Symbol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Symbol is defended easily by Machida.
Symbol avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Symbol shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Symbol slips under a jab from Machida.
Machida looks to throw the jab but Symbol is out of range.
Machida goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Machida lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Symbol backs up against the cage.

Symbol closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Symbol throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Symbol with the ground and pound but Machida uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symbol throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Machida controlling the position.
Symbol throws and elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Symbol's guard. Nice move by Machida!
Machida wants to control from the top but Symbol keeps moving.
Machida content to stall in guard here.
Machida wants to control from the top but Symbol keeps moving.
Symbol seems keen to control Machida's posture.

That's two 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.
Machida slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Lyoto Machida wasn't active enough on the ground.
Symbol closes this distance looking for a takedown but Machida circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Prince Symbol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nice shot lands for Machida.
Machida comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Machida lands an overhand right.

Symbol changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Machida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Symbol throws an elbow but Machida slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Symbol trying to control the position but Machida is working away.
Machida wants to control but Symbol postures up.
Machida sneaks back into half guard.
Symbol throws a strike but Machida avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Symbol loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Symbol postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Symbol throws and elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Symbol's guard. Nice move by Machida!

That's four 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Symbol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida preventing the sweep.
Symbol controlling the position.
Symbol is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Machida controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Lyoto Machida wasn't active enough on the ground.

Symbol looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Symbol gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nice takedown defense from Machida. No joy for Symbol on that attempt.
Symbol shoots in and drives through. Machida sprawls well.
Machida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice sprawl there from Machida as Symbol shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Prince Symbol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Symbol changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Machida tries to avoid it but Symbol manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Machida to the ground. Machida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Symbol misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Symbol shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Machida manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Symbol might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Symbol landing some decent shots from guard.
Symbol postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symbol is looking to work some ground and pound but Machida has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Symbol accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Machida is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Symbol working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Symbol postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Symbol trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Machida manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Machida trying to control but Symbol is working from the bottom.

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.
Machida is looking to work some ground and pound but Symbol has wrist control.
Machida tries to free his leg and advance position but Symbol is retaining full guard.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Symbol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida throwing strikes from guard but Symbol blocks nicely.
Machida showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Symbol is trying to keep Machida in close.
Machida looking to sit in guard and control but Symbol gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Symbol 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.
Symbol throws and elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Symbol's guard. Nice move by Machida!
Machida looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Symbol is trying to control the position but Machida postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Machida postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Machida throws a big right hand that misses.
Symbol lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Machida!
Symbol throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Symbol throwing strikes here but Machida is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Machida holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Symbol tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Machida blocking the ground and pound.
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 Prince Symbol will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Machida just misses with a punch to the body.
Symbol ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Symbol shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Machida manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Symbol throwing strikes from guard but Machida blocks nicely.
Machida is controlling Symbol's posture.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Symbol throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Symbol looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Symbol working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Symbol throws a big right hand that misses.
Machida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Machida pulls Symbol in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Symbol postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Symbol looking to pass the guard.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Symbol with a flurry of punches that miss.
Symbol postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Symbol is looking to work some ground and pound but Machida has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Symbol lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Symbol accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Symbol is working Machida over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Symbol working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Symbol content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Symbol throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Symbol is looking to work some ground and pound but Machida has wrist control.
Symbol postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Symbol throws a strike but Machida rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Symbol looking to hit a scissor sweep but Machida is one step ahead there.
Machida pushing down on Symbol's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Symbol moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Machida preventing the sweep.
Machida must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Symbol keeping full guard, as Machida tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Prince Symbol showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Symbol 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Prince Symbol!