PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yushinori Tanagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes into the arena with RockStarr blaring out of the sound system. Lyoto Machida could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Yushinori Tanagawa's chin.

Machida
vs
Tanagawa

185 cm
24
206 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yushinori Tanagawa!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Bruno Lombardi and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanagawa circles away.
Machida misses with a two punch combination.

Machida throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tanagawa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Machida is in Tanagawa's guard.
Machida stays in close to Tanagawa's body and controls the position.
Tanagawa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Machida won't allow Tanagawa to sweep him here.
Machida prevents Tanagawa from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanagawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Machida loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Machida won't allow Tanagawa to sweep him here.
Machida slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Machida knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tanagawa on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Lyoto Machida wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Machida looks for a takedown but Tanagawa sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tanagawa slaps away a takedown attempt from Machida, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Machida closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tanagawa is being controlled here.
Tanagawa tries to buck Machida off but Machida is having none of it.
Tanagawa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Tanagawa tries to buck Machida off but Machida is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida happy to just control the position for now.
Tanagawa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Machida off and has taken his back!
Tanagawa not allowing Machida to control his hands.
Machida can't escape the position.

Tanagawa is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Machida has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Machida trying to control the hands but Tanagawa won't let him.
Tanagawa controlling well, preventing Machida from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida fending off the submission attempt from Tanagawa.

Machida fending off the submission attempt from Tanagawa.
Tanagawa throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Machida!
Tanagawa missing with strikes.

Machida defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Machida can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tanagawa looking for the RNC.
Machida tries to roll but Tanagawa sticks to his back.

Tanagawa looking for the RNC.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida holding both Tanagawa 's hands and preventing any damage.

Tanagawa patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Machida finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yushinori Tanagawa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Machida's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tanagawa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Machida counters with a takedown into side control.
Tanagawa is trying to get back to half guard.
Tanagawa sneaks back into half guard.
Tanagawa tries to get to full guard but Machida has control of the leg.
Tanagawa moves into full guard.
Machida won't allow Tanagawa to sweep him here.

Tanagawa working for a triangle but Machida defends it easily.
Tanagawa looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Machida puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Tanagawa is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Tanagawa is defending against the submission attempts here by Machida.
Machida is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Machida tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tanagawa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tanagawa wants to improve his position but Machida is controlling well.

That's two 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 decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Tanagawa fails with the takedown

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tanagawa won't be happy with that.
Tanagawa is looking to regain half guard here but Machida keeps moving and retains side control.

Machida stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Yushinori Tanagawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanagawa has his takedown stuffed
and Machida makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Tanagawa really felt that one!
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yushinori Tanagawa.
Machida throws a head kick that half lands.
Tanagawa wants to clinch

and Machida counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanagawa missing with knees to the body.

Machida pulls guard effortlessly.
Tanagawa trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Tanagawa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Machida throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Tanagawa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Tanagawa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Machida manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tanagawa has Machida in his guard.
Machida trying to control but Tanagawa is working from the bottom.
Tanagawa thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

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.
Machida wants to control from the top but Tanagawa keeps moving.
Tanagawa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Machida trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tanagawa's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lyoto Machida.
Machida lands a high kick!
Tanagawa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machida counters by clinching up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanagawa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Machida fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tanagawa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Tanagawa enables Machida to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Tanagawa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Tanagawa wants to stand but Machida is controlling the position.
Machida slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tanagawa is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Machida trying to control from half guard but Tanagawa is working away.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tanagawa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tanagawa looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Machida puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Tanagawa tries to roll over but Machida keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida prevents Tanagawa from improving his position.
Tanagawa taking some punishment here, with Machida in his half guard.
Tanagawa moves into full guard.
Tanagawa is striking from the bottom but Machida uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Machida content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nice strikes from Machida there.
Machida trying to pass the guard but Tanagawa defending well.
Tanagawa is looking to control Machida's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tanagawa avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanagawa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tanagawa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tanagawa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lyoto Machida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tanagawa prevents Machida from standing back up.
Machida trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanagawa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Machida has managed to free his arm - good work.
Machida is pressing down on Tanagawa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tanagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanagawa passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Tanagawa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Machida parries the strikes from Tanagawa easily there. Tanagawa is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Machida to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanagawa tries to advance to mount but can't.

Tanagawa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Tanagawa tries for a kimura but Machida is defending well.
Machida wants to control but Tanagawa postures up.
Machida is looking for a sweep.

Tanagawa working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lyoto Machida.
Well Machida 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!