PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yin Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Yin Tao enters the cage!

Machida
vs
Tao

170 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yin Tao!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tao misses with a low kick.
Machida on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Tao will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Yin Tao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tao throws a body kick that misses.
Tao lands a nice looking kick to the body. Machida takes a step back to recover.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tao lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Machida has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Machida and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Machida takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Lyoto Machida has been cut.
Tao looks to land a body kick but Machida moved away.
Tao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Machida.
Tao lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tao pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao tried to score with a low kick but Machida checks it.
Tao lands a front kick.
Tao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tao is looking to land body kicks.
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tao swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tao throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Tao tries to land a leg kick but Machida saw it coming and moves away.
Machida stalks Tao and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tao's face. Tao staggers backwards, shaken.
Machida looks to throw the jab but Tao is out of range.
Tao slips a jab and a cross from Machida.
Tao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Machida.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao misses with a low kick as Machida jumps back.
Machida throws a body punch but Tao moves out of range.
Machida checks a leg kick nicely.
Tao misses with a body kick.
Machida steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Tao. That one must have hurt.
Good work by Machida as he checks the leg kick.
Tao keeps Machida at a distance using the push kick.
Tao throws a sloppy head kick and Machida moves out of range easily.
Tao scoring well with a low kick there.
Tao throws a quick inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tao. That's going to slow Machida down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick from Tao lands but Machida takes it in his stride.
Tao feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Machida's calf.
Tao tries to land a front kick but Machida steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tao scoring well with a low kick there.
Tao is looking to slow Machida down with leg kicks.
Machida moves out of range of the body kick from Tao.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tao.
Machida is breathing heavily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tao.
Machida avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tao misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tao.
Tao misses with a body punch
and Machida counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tao looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tao attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Machida steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Tao. That one must have hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tao throws a sloppy head kick and Machida moves out of range easily.
Tao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tao walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Machida checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tao throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yin Tao dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Machida's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Machida fails to land with a series of punches.
Tao swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tao misses with a low kick.
Machida avoids the head kick by Tao.
Tao will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Yin Tao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tao throws a nice outside leg kick.
Machida throws a nice looking combination but Tao bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Machida blocks a head kick by Tao.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tao throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tao throws the kick towards the body but Machida avoids it.
Machida on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A good leg kick by Tao.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao throws a push kick but Machida slaps the foot to one side.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Machida might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Tao attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Machida doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tao throws a head kick that misses.
Tao does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Machida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tao moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Tao lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Both fighters circling a little - Tao finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Tao fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Machida has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida avoids a kick to the body.
Machida is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tao misses with a body kick.
Machida takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Machida stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tao.
Tao throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Machida looks to land a combination but Tao avoids it well.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tao, right into the meat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An inside leg kick lands from Tao.
Tao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tao scores with a nice body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tao, right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida checks a low kick from Tao.
Tao throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tao.
Machida takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A nice leg kick lands there from Tao.
A solid body kick from Tao.
Tao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tao lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tao scores with a kick to the body.
A good leg kick by Tao.
A good leg kick by Tao.
Tao is looking to slow Machida down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tao comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tao throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tao throws a low kick but Machida avoids it.
Tao scores with a leg kick.
Machida moves out of range of the body kick.
Tao explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Machida checks a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tao throws a predictable looking body shot
and Machida counters with a series of strikes. Tao will be more careful next time no doubt.
Machida will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Tao misses with a kick to the body.
Machida keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yin Tao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Machida's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tao explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Tao lands with a thumping leg kick.
Machida stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tao.
Tao lands a leg kick that knocks Machida off balance momentarily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tao.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tao.
Tao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tao misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tao throws a wild body kick that Machida sees coming a mile off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tao looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tao misses with a body punch
and Machida counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tao throws a nice outside leg kick.
Machida stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tao.
Tao throws a nice head kick!
Tao stuns Machida with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Machida on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Machida walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tao.
Tao fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Machida has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Machida takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tao with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tao lands a nice looking kick to the body. Machida takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Tao lands with a shot to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tao.
Tao moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tao is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Machida rather than just go for the knockout.
Tao throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tao lands with a slapping head kick.
That kick from Tao tenderised Machida's leg. Machida is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tao fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Machida has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tao buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Machida on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tao. Tao obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Tao.
Tao moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Machida takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tao delivers a nice body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tao cracks the inside of Machida's front leg.
Tao connects with a high kick.

Lyoto Machida's cut is getting worse.
Tao lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Tao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Machida tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tao just misses with a punch to the body.
Tao lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao misses with a body kick.
A clash of legs there as Machida blocks the low kick.
Machida tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tao throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tao thumps Machida with a low kick.
Tao throws the kick towards the body but Machida avoids it.
Machida takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Machida moves out of range of the body kick from Tao.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A good leg kick by Tao.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yin Tao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tao has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight for Yin Tao!
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight for Yin Tao!
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight for Yin Tao!

Yin Tao wins by unanimous decision!