PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hawaiian Assassin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and marucio machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Assassin
vs
machida

175 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
160 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hawaiian Assassin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, marucio machida!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assassin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Assassin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but machida avoids it really well and circles away.

machida closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Assassin to the mat! Assassin manages to get full guard.
machida is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by marucio machida.

machida pushes Assassin up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Assassin backwards.
Assassin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
machida fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
machida fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
machida makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
machida lands with a short shot to the head.
Assassin is trying to drag machida to the mat but machida just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hawaiian Assassin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Assassin.
Assassin wants a takedown but no success here.
Assassin can't get the takedown.
machida softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
machida misses with a short punch on the inside.
machida throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Assassins head.
machida gets through Assassin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
machida throws a head punch that misses.
machida lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
machida prevents a takedown attempt there.
A nice right hand lands inside from machida.
machida lands a nice uppercut.
machida scores with a shot to the side of Assassin's head.
machida lands with a short head shot on the inside.
machida throws a punch but it's blocked by Assassin.
machida lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
machida gets underhooks to prevent Assassin's takedown attempt.
machida lands with a right to the head.
machida scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
machida scores with a nice hook to the head.
machida lands with a light punch inside.

Assassin is rocked!
machida lands with a short shot to the head.
Oh Assassin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Assassin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. machida gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
machida lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Assassin backwards.
machida misses with the head strike.
Assassin has machida pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. machida manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Assassin is breathing heavily.
Assassin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but machida gets the underhooks and prevents it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, machida creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
machida lands a shoulder strike.
machida scores with an uppercut up the middle.
machida lands a nice uppercut.
machida is pressed up against the cage. Assassin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag machida down to the mat. machida avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
machida defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Assassin.
Assassin seems to have got his legs back now.
marucio machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

machida shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Assassin's guard.
machida slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
machida wants to pass the guard but Assassin is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
machida sitting in guard, not really doing much.
machida must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. marucio machida was stalling too much, according to the referee.
machida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Assassin counters with a single leg into guard. machida didn't expect that.
machida managing to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Assassin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assassin stopping the sweep attempt from machida.
Assassin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
machida looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. marucio machida wasn't active enough on the ground.
machida tries for a takedown but Assassin circles away easily

and Assassin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
Assassin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Assassin.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Assassin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Assassin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Assassin throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

marucio machida dominated that round.
That's time! Assassin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Assassin gets caught flat footed, as machida shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
machida 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 ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Assassin 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. marucio machida was stalling too much, according to the referee.
machida misses with a takedown attempt

and Assassin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
machida is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Assassin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
machida preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Assassin lands strikes from half guard.
Assassin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. machida defending well though.
Assassin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
machida is controlling Assassin's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Assassin is nestled in close to machida, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
machida is concentrating on defense, preventing Assassin from advancing position.
Assassin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
machida is controlling Assassin's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. marucio machida hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

machida shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Assassin is trying to defend but machida finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Assassin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Assassin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
machida controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assassin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
machida controlling from the top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Assassin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

marucio machida has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Assassin drives through with a takedown into guard.
machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Assassin throwing strikes but missing.
machida has his hands on Assassin's head, controlling the position.
machida manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Assassin manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assassin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as machida controls the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. marucio machida wasn't active enough on the ground.
machida fails with the takedown

and Assassin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Assassin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Assassin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Assassin is fighting to break machida's control of his arms but machida is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

machida scrambles and gets back to his feet.
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 Hawaiian Assassin will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

machida tries for a takedown but Assassin circles away easily

and Assassin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Assassin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. machida defending well though.
Assassin frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Assassin throws some wild stikes that machida manages to avoid easily.
Assassin unloading with bombs!
machida wants to control but Assassin is having none of it.
Assassin throws some wild stikes that machida manages to avoid easily.

Assassin is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but machida is surviving well by controlling Assassin's body position as best he can.
Assassin with good strikes from the mount here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
machida holds on, trying desperately to control.
machida wants to control but Assassin is having none of it.
Assassin lands with some strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida wants to control but Assassin is having none of it.
Assassin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Assassin wants to finish this one by submission but machida is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Assassin.
Hawaiian Assassin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
machida is looking to get to half guard.
machida wants to control but Assassin is having none of it.
Assassin unloading with bombs!
machida is bucking up trying to escape but Assassin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
machida tries to lock up and control but Assassin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
machida is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Assassin is landing with some decent strikes but machida is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
machida tries to hold on but Assassin postures up.
machida holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Assassin tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assassin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for machida because Assassin loaded up on that one.
machida holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Assassin tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
machida controls the position.
Assassin thowing shots but they're missing.
Assassin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
machida tries to lock up and control but Assassin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Assassin lands a big elbow.
A nice elbow there by Assassin.
machida tries to hold on but Assassin pushes him away.

machida defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Assassin.

Assassin 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.
Assassin avoids the attempt from machida to control.
Assassin with the ground and pound from mount.
machida is looking to improve his position but Assassin isn't that keen on the idea.
machida wants to hold on but Assassin pushes him away.
machida tries to reverse the position but Assassin maintains control.
Assassin avoids the attempt from machida to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Assassin working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Assassin postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. machida looks a forlorn figure.
machida doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assassin with a couple of short strikes.
machida tries to hold on but Assassin pushes him away.
machida manages to control the position for a moment.
Assassin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for machida because Assassin loaded up on that one.
machida is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Assassin unloads with some shots from mount but machida bucks and avoids them well.
machida is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Assassin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Assassin thowing shots but they're missing.
Assassin throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Assassin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish machida?
Assassin won't let machida get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Assassin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish machida?
machida tries to lock up and control but Assassin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hawaiian Assassin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Assassin 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hawaiian Assassin!