PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Machi Machiko (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.

Gomi
vs
Machiko

173 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Machi Machiko!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machiko throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Machiko.
Machiko misses with a right hand
and Gomi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Machiko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gomi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Machiko gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gomi misses the shot to the body.
Gomi lands a two punch combo.
Gomi connects with the punch.
Gomi looks to land a right hand but Machiko moved out of range.
Machiko throws an off balance right hand
and Gomi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Machiko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machiko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Machiko makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Machiko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gomi to score with a decent uppercut.
Machiko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Machiko throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
Machiko looks to land a right hand but Gomi moved out of range.
Machi Machiko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gomi misses with a right hand
and Machiko counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Jab from Gomi.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machiko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gomi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machiko's corner calls for a 1-2. Machiko obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gomi throws a hook to the side of Machiko's head but Machiko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Machiko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machiko misses with a right hand
and Gomi counters with a nice uppercut.
Machi Machiko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machiko wants to clinch.
Machiko falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Gomi to counter with a crisp jab.
Machiko misses with a head kick.
Machiko fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machiko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machiko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machiko looks gassed!
Gomi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Machiko counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Gomi slips under a jab from Machiko.

Gomi clinches with his opponent.
With the fighters up against the cage, Machiko throws an elbow but misses.
A hook to the body from Machiko.
A short right from Machiko.
A short left from Machiko.
Machiko stops a takedown attempt from Gomi.
Gomi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Machiko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Machiko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Machiko lands a nice shot to the body.
Machiko lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machiko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gomi.
Gomi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machiko pushes off an throws an elbow but Gomi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Machiko.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Machiko creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Machiko fails to land.
Machiko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A shot in the inside from Machiko.
Machiko controlling the action here for a moment.
Machiko works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Machiko lands with a short shot to the head.
Machiko lands an elbow just above Gomi 's eye.
Gomi goes for a takedown attempt but Machiko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomi throws a poor cross that misses
letting Machiko counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Machi Machiko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jab by Machiko.
Machiko throws a body punch but Gomi moves out of range.
Machiko misses the shot to the body.
Machiko with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The fight stays on the outside here - Machiko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Gomi has Machiko up against the cage in a clinch.
Gomi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Machiko fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gomi takes a swing at Machiko's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machiko throws an off balance right hand
letting Gomi counter with a right hand.
Gomi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Machiko.
Machiko misses with a double jab
and Gomi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gomi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Takanori Gomi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machiko looks to score with a jab to the body but Gomi is just out of range.
Gomi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Machiko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Machiko throws a lazy uppercut
and Gomi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gomi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gomi throws the left hand but Machiko avoids the punch easily.
Machiko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gomi throws a right hand that misses
and Machiko counters with a head kick.
Machiko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Machiko misses with a hook
and Gomi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Machiko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Machiko is breathing heavily.
Gomi fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Machiko.
Machiko throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
Machi Machiko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good exchange - Gomi coming out on top.
Gomi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Machiko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Donk. Gomi catches Machiko right on the button with a cross.
Machiko throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
Machiko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gomi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Machiko takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Machiko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gomi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Machiko counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Gomi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Machiko misses with a looping right.
Machiko misses the shot to the body.

Gomi moves into the clinch.
Gomi goes for a takedown attempt but Machiko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machiko misses with a jab to the body
and Gomi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Machiko.
Machiko misses with an uppercut
and Gomi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gomi misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Machi Machiko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gomi throws a lazy uppercut
and Machiko counters with a right hand to the body.
Gomi lands with a nice combination. Machiko backs away looking to recover.
Gomi lands with a hook. Machiko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Machiko misses with a wild body shot.
Machiko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gomi moves away.
Gomi misses with the combination.
Machiko misses with a combination
and Gomi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machiko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gomi.
Gomi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machiko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machiko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Machiko misses with an uppercut. Gomi saw that one coming.
Gomi looks to land a combination. Machiko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Machiko misses with a wild combination.
Machiko cracks Gomi with a good jab.
Machiko misses with a jab to the body
and Gomi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Machiko misses with a hook to the body
and Gomi counters with a nice uppercut.
Machiko misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gomi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machiko thows a left - swing and a miss!

Gomi has Machiko up against the cage in a clinch.
Machiko lands a body punch in the clinch.
Machiko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gomi being controlled against the cage.
Machiko trying to land knees to the body.
A short left from Machiko.
Machiko tries to land knees in the clinch but Gomi avoids the damage to the body.
Machiko lands with a left to the head.
Machiko tries a knee to the head but Gomi blocks it.
Machiko swings wildly with an uppercut but Gomi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Machiko lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machiko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Machiko is working Gomi over against the cage.
Gomi is working for takedown but Machiko is calmly controlling the position for now.
Machiko throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gomi has Machiko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Machiko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Machiko has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Gomi prevents a body shot from Machiko.
Machiko throws an elbow but it misses.
Gomi looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machiko throws a punch but it's blocked by Gomi.
Machiko lands a hook that snaps the head of Gomi backwards.
Machiko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Machiko lands a body punch in the clinch.
Machiko looking to throw knees to the head but Gomi is blocking nicely.
Machiko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gomi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gomi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Machiko has him pressed against the cage.
Takanori Gomi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gomi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gomi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Machiko pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gomi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Machiko fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Machiko rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gomi counters with a nice uppercut.
Machiko throws a head kick that misses.
Machiko slips a straight right by Gomi.
Gomi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Machiko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gomi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machiko slips under a jab.
Machi Machiko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Machiko misses with a double jab
and Gomi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Machiko thinking.

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 Takanori Gomi.
Well Machiko 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Machi Machiko!