PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes to the cage accompanied by the dragon. Lucas Santos will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Machida
vs
Santos

168 cm
20
169 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

183 cm
19
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Santos!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Machida moves into the clinch successfully.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Machida scores with a nice short uppercut.
Santos can't get the takedown.
Santos tries to pull guard but Machida won't allow it.
Santos tries for a takedown but Machida manages to get underhooks.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Santos.

Machida tightens his grip and picks Santos up, before dumping him to the ground. Santos manages to land in guard.
Santos looking to control.
Santos doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Machida wants to pass the guard but Santos is keeping the position.

Machida decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Machida closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Machida lands in his opponent's guard.
Machida could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Machida is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Machida won't allow Santos to sweep him here.

Santos pushes Machida off and scrambles back to his feet.
Santos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Santos won't be happy with that.
Machida in side control lands a decent elbow.
Machida is working Santos over with some ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Santos is trying to get back to half guard.
Santos throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

Machida stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Machida throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santos looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Santos is trying to improve his position.
Machida 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.

Machida wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santos, who protects the arm well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santos is trying to improve his position.
Santos looks gassed!
Machida works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Machida decides to stand back up.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt
and Machida counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos closes the distance looking to clinch

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Santos punching from the bottom.
Santos slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Santos trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Machida is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Machida postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Machida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Machida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santos is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Machida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machida is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Santos is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Santos has escaped and now he's on top!
Machida keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.
Machida wants to sweep here but Santos controlling him for the moment.
Machida throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Machida striking off his back.
Santos stopping the sweep attempt from Machida.
Machida might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Santos stands up from Machida's guard - Santos perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Machida has closed the distance and engaged Santos in a clinch.
Santos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Machida is trying to break free.
Santos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Machida gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Machida prevents a body shot from Santos.

Santos manages to break the clinch.
Santos has his takedown stuffed

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Santos.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Machida drops an elbow to the side of Santos's head.
Santos tries to roll over but Machida keeps him under control.
Machida works his way into full mount!
Machida with a couple of short strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida lands with some strikes.
Machida breaks from Santos's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Machida landing strikes, looking to finish!

Santos is rocked!
Machida unloading with bombs!
Santos is still in real trouble! Can Machida finish him?
Santos is in a horrible position here. Machida smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Machida with shots to the head and body - Santos looks very uncomfortable down there.
Santos tries to hold on but Machida postures up.
Santos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Santos regains half guard.
Santos seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida decides to return to a standing position.
Santos with a lazy takedown attempt

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch.
Machida softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Santos keeps control of Machida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Santos drags the fight down to the ground.
Santos trying to control the position.
Machida wants to stand and escape but instead Santos has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos is working Machida over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Machida looking for a sweep. Not yet Machida, not yet.
Santos stands and throws Machida's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Machida is looking to regain half guard here but Santos keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is working hard here to advance position.
Santos moves into full mount!
Santos looking to control but Machida is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Machida is in all sorts of trouble here.
Machida is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Machida slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Machida manages to get to full guard.
Machida wants to stand but Santos is controlling the position.

Machida wriggles free and stands up.
Santos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Machida counters with a single leg into guard. Santos didn't expect that.
Machida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santos is keeping the position for now.

Machida gets to his feet. Santos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Santos throws a push kick but Machida slaps the foot to one side.
Santos has his takedown stuffed

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida passes Santos's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Santos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Santos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Santos tries to clinch up

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Santos is trying to stand up here but Machida is controlling him well.
Santos is looking to improve his position.

Santos pushes Machida off and gets back to his feet.
Santos tries to clinch but Machida moves away
and Machida counters with a one-two to the body.

Machida instigates a clinch.
Santos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Machida prevents it.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santos jumps guard but Machida stands there with Santos around his waist. Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos fails to pull guard.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Santos.

Machida breaks from the clinch.
Santos tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Machida is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Machida trying to stand up but can't free himself from Santos's guard.
Machida missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santos wants to sweep but no luck.
Santos is looking to stand up but Machida isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida thows a big elbow that misses.
Machida tries to free his leg and advance position but Santos is retaining full guard.
Santos looking to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Santos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Santos has momentary wrist control but Machida slips an elbow through the middle.
Santos is trying to control the position but Machida postures up.
Machida missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Machida stands and steps away. Santos gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Santos misses with a takedown attempt

and Machida counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida looking to pass the guard.

Machida gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Lucas Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida throws a nice looking combination but Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a nice looking combination but Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida blocks the body kick.
Santos has his takedown stuffed

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Machida.
Machida slows down the pace here.
Santos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Santos lands a shot to the body.
Machida is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?

Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Machida shoots in and bounces Santos off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Santos is on top in guard.
Santos lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Machida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Santos doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Santos manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Santos wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Santos controlling from the top position.

Santos postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Machida is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Santos, into his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santos is trying to control the position but Machida postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Machida!