PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Spider Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rourke has chosen Rolling Stones - Paint it black as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machida
vs
Rourke

188 cm
24
197 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

182 cm
23
196 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Spider Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mikko Rourke!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Summer Carpenter and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida throws a series of punches but Rourke moves out of range.
Machida looks to throw the jab but Rourke is out of range.
Donk. Rourke catches Machida right on the button with a cross.
Rourke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Machida.

Rourke throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Machida was covering up waiting for the punch and Rourke finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rourke controlling from the top position.
Rourke with a flurry of punches that miss.

Machida has his foot on Rourke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rourke works his way back into a safe position though.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Rourke from controlling successfully.
Rourke wanted to stand there but Machida had control of the position.
Rourke is in close to Machida's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Machida tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rourke pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rourke controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Machida looking for a sweep. Not yet Machida, not yet.
Rourke is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rourke seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rourke wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Rourke looking to pass the guard.

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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mikko Rourke hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Machida misses the body punch
and Rourke counters with a three punch combo that has Machida backing up. Machida nods at Rourke to acknowledge the strikes.
Rourke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Machida circles away quickly and effectively.
Rourke ducks under a wild hook from Machida.
Machida tries to land a front kick but Rourke steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rourke connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Machida chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rourke misses with the combination.
Rourke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Machida takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rourke lands a lovely overhand right.
Nice straight punches there by Machida. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Machida.
Rourke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rourke lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rourke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Rourke takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rourke avoids the head kick by Machida.
Rourke comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Spider Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rourke with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Rourke dominated that round.
That's time! Machida's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rourke getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Danga de danga de dang - Rourke scores with a four punch combination!

Rourke scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rourke missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rourke working Machida over with strikes.
Rourke has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machida is looking for a sweep. Rourke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rourke wants to pass the guard but Machida is defending well.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.
Rourke winds up and cracks Machida with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rourke controlling the action here.
Rourke is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rourke slips a nice elbow through Machida's hands, connecting with Machida's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida trying to hold on to Rourke's head to control him but Rourke postures up.
Machida taking some punishment here, with Rourke in his half guard.
Machida on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.
Rourke not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rourke working over Machida with some ground and pound. Machida looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rourke landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rourke is stalling here. Machida is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rourke seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Machida has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rourke prevents Machida from moving into mount.
Machida misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to stand but Rourke is controlling his arm.
Rourke is looking for a sweep.
Rourke is not content to let Machida control the position.
Rourke tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rourke manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Rourke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Machida throws an off balance right hand
letting Rourke counter with a right hand.
Spider Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rourke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rourke throws a body punch but Machida moves out of range.
Machida throws a good cross that connects.
Machida tries to land a body kick
and Rourke counters with a slapping leg kick.
Machida misses with a double jab.
Machida swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Machida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Spider Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice cross by Rourke.
Rourke throws a head kick but Machida moves out of range.
Rourke connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rourke lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rourke closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rourke throws a series of strikes that have Machida backpedaling.
Rourke throws out a powerful jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rourke.

Machida is rocked!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida looks up at the clock. Bad move! Rourke lands a right hand from hell, dropping Machida. Rourke pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mikko Rourke!