PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Machida The Coward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Mangabeira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Coward comes to the cage accompanied by machida the best. Rodrigo Mangabeira has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Machida The Coward's chin.

The Coward
vs
Mangabeira

170 cm
28
192 lbs
18 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
193 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Machida The Coward!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Mangabeira!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mangabeira shoots in looking for a takedown but The Coward manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mangabeira's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The Coward throws a sloppy head kick

and Mangabeira counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mangabeira.
The Coward controlling the action here for a moment.
Mangabeira stalling against the cage.
The Coward is stalling here.
Mangabeira has The Coward pressed against the cage, preventing The Coward from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mangabeira stalling the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Coward misses with a punch on the inside.
The Coward stalling the fight.
The Coward misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The Coward is trying to break the clinch but Mangabeira is controlling him.
A short right from The Coward.
The Coward lands a body punch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mangabeira - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangabeira is struggling to control the position.
The Coward displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mangabeira up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Coward lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Mangabeira or not.
The Coward lands a shoulder strike.
Mangabeira's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The Coward stalls.
Mangabeira stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Coward tries a body shot but Mangabeira blocks it.
The Coward leaning his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Machida The Coward dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The Coward misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Mangabeira connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The Coward misses with a kick to the body.
The Coward misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mangabeira tries to clinch but fails miserably
and The Coward cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The Coward attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

The Coward tries to keep at a distance but Mangabeira has taken the fight into the clinch.
The Coward manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Mangabeira jumps guard but The Coward stands there with Mangabeira around his waist. Mangabeira gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Coward will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mangabeira up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Machida The Coward.
The Coward ducks under a wild hook from Mangabeira.
Mangabeira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but The Coward paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Coward pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The Coward bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mangabeira's head.
The Coward scores with a nice head shot.
The Coward looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The Coward swings for the body but Mangabeira moves out of range.
The Coward throws a leg kick which misses Mangabeira's front leg but catches the back leg as Mangabeira tries to avoid it.
The Coward throws a chopping leg kick but Mangabeira manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The Coward pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mangabeira showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from The Coward.
A jab from The Coward misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangabeira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but The Coward paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Coward circles away from the clinch attempt.
The Coward throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mangabeira wants to clinch but The Coward slips to the side
and The Coward counters with a thumping low kick.
Mangabeira doesn't manage to clinch there - The Coward circles away.
The Coward with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mangabeira slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Coward has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mangabeira finds it's way round the side to connect with The Coward's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from The Coward. Mangabeira does a little dance to reset his feet.
The Coward wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The Coward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The Coward misses with a low kick.
The Coward just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mangabeira wants to clinch but The Coward slips to the side
and The Coward counters with an outside leg kick.
The Coward misses the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The Coward throws a head kick but Mangabeira moves out of range.
Mangabeira tries to clinch but The Coward is having none of it.
The Coward lands a jab to Mangabeira's midsection.
Mangabeira moves out of range as The Coward throws a body kick.
The Coward throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Machida The Coward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Coward tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from The Coward, right into the meat.
Mangabeira tries to clinch but The Coward moves away
and The Coward counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The Coward is looking to wear down Mangabeira with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Mangabeira tries to clinch
and The Coward counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Coward scores with a head kick. Mangabeira tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The Coward is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mangabeira.
The Coward lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mangabeira's sensitive parts.
The Coward swings widly with a right hand
and Mangabeira cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Machida The Coward is winning the standup battle so far.
The Coward lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mangabeira's sensitive parts.
The Coward rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Mangabeira counters by clinching up.

The Coward lands a takedown into guard.
The Coward might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The Coward engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mangabeira tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mangabeira is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The Coward has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mangabeira wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Let's hope that Mangabeira has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The Coward takes a swing at Mangabeira's ribcage but misses.
Mangabeira moves to clinch but The Coward breaks away
and The Coward counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Coward with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The Coward scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The Coward lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The Coward scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The Coward throws a series of punches but Mangabeira avoids them all with ease.
Mangabeira uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by The Coward.
The Coward throws a body punch but Mangabeira moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Coward throws a jab but it's blocked by Mangabeira.
The Coward scores with a leg kick.
The Coward throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mangabeira.
Mangabeira slips a straight right by The Coward.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The Coward throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The Coward feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mangabeira's calf.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The Coward just misses with a punch to the body.
The Coward waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mangabeira.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Machida The Coward clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The Coward walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mangabeira checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The Coward throws a leg kick that is checked
and Mangabeira cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mangabeira moves away from the strike by The Coward.
The Coward keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The Coward lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mangabeira's sensitive parts.
Mangabeira tries to close the distance and clinch but The Coward swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The Coward connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Coward fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mangabeira keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The Coward fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mangabeira manages to avoid it.
The Coward misses with a body shot.
The Coward throws a poor cross that misses

so Mangabeira counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The Coward is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mangabeira throws a strike but The Coward rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mangabeira isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. The Coward stacks Mangabeira on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by The Coward!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Coward content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Mangabeira is trying to get back to half 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!
The Coward controls the position.
Mangabeira tries to bench press The Coward off him but The Coward keeps the position.

The Coward stands up and beckons Mangabeira to his feet.
The Coward does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Coward looks to land a body kick but Mangabeira moved away.
Mangabeira's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The Coward misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mangabeira.
The Coward connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mangabeira's hands.
Mangabeira closes the distance looking to clinch
and The Coward counters with a straight right hand.
The Coward lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mangabeira tries to move into range but The Coward moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mangabeira darts in trying to clinch
and The Coward counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The Coward turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The Coward fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mangabeira manages to avoid it.
The Coward lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Machida The Coward had his way with Rodrigo Mangabeira in that round.
That's time! The Coward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Mangabeira showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from The Coward.
Mangabeira doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mangabeira moves out of range as The Coward throws a body kick.
The Coward throws a quick inside leg kick.
The Coward throws a leg kick

and Mangabeira counters with a single leg into guard. The Coward didn't expect that.

The Coward pushes Mangabeira off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Mangabeira darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangabeira tries to close the distance and clinch but The Coward swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The Coward connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The Coward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mangabeira moves away.
The Coward throws an overhand right that lands on Mangabeira's shoulder, as Mangabeira tries to avoid the shot.
Machida The Coward is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mangabeira slips under a jab from The Coward.
The Coward pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangabeira blocks the body kick.
A big left from The Coward misses.
Mangabeira with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling The Coward to score with a decent uppercut.
The Coward just misses with a punch to the body.
The Coward throws a head kick that misses.
Mangabeira takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mangabeira wants to clinch up but The Coward keeps it at a distance.
Mangabeira bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Coward misses with a wild body shot.
The Coward misses with a body punch
and Mangabeira counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The Coward is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mangabeira can do to turn this around?
The Coward misses with a wild combination.
The Coward looks to score with a jab to the body but Mangabeira is just out of range.
The Coward misses with a hook

and Mangabeira counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mangabeira.
Machida The Coward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The Coward is trying to break the clinch but Mangabeira has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Coward stalls.
Mangabeira is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rodrigo Mangabeira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Coward looking to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mangabeira stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Machida The Coward showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for The Coward, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 50:45
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 50:45
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Machida The Coward!
Machida The Coward retains his middleweight title!