PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Falcone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes to the cage accompanied by For Whom The Bell Tolls. Falcone is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: BLACK HAWK DOWN. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Machida
vs
Falcone

185 cm
29
205 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

183 cm
29
218 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Falcone!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Falcone does it's job there.
Machida takes a body punch but keeps moving.
No luck for Falcone with that takedown attempt.
Falcone dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Falcone scores with a crisp jab that stopped Machida in his tracks.
Falcone works Machida's body with a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Falcone with a nice cross.
Falcone throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Machida takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Falcone throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Falcone looks to score with a jab to the body but Machida is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcone swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Falcone shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Machida eats them both and turns towards Falcone to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Falcone throws an off balance right hand
and Machida counters with a nice body shot.
Machida avoids the body shot from Falcone.
Machida misses with a kick to the body.
Falcone shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.
Machida throws a quick inside leg kick.
Machida keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falcone misses with a body shot.
Machida thows a body shot but no joy.
Falcone misses with a straight right.
Nice defenses there by Machida.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Falcone fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.
Falcone lands with an overhand left.
Falcone takes a swing at Machida's ribcage but misses.
Falcone lands a lovely overhand right.
Machida uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Falcone.
A looping hook to the body misses from Falcone. Machida does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a nice inside leg kick.
Falcone looks gassed!
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Falcone moves out of range easily.
Falcone is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Machida rather than just go for the knockout.
Machida gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Falcone.
Machida works the jab nicely.
Machida pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Falcone has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Machida.
Machida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Good shot there by Machida.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lyoto Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falcone works the jab nicely.
Machida throws a nice looking combination but Falcone bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Falcone misses with a wild body shot.
Falcone is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Machida.
Falcone lands with a nice body punch.
Machida takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Falcone is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Machida had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
The fight stays on the outside here - Falcone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Falcone swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Machida avoids the body shot from Falcone.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Falcone dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Machida slips under a jab from Falcone.
Falcone misses with a left hand
and Machida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Machida blocks a jab.
Falcone stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Machida.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Falcone moves out of range easily.
Machida misses with a series of wild punches.

Falcone drives through and clinches with Machida against the cage.
Machida is looking to break free of the clinch but Falcone has double underhooks.
Falcone misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcone fails to pull guard.
Machida blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Falcone jumps guard but Machida stands there with Falcone around his waist. Falcone gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Come on Falcone - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Machida tries to break free but Falcone pushes him back against the cage.
Falcone tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Falcone.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida tries to circle away but Falcone has him pinned against the cage.
Machida tries to stall but Falcone uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Machida tries to break free but Falcone pushes him back against the cage.
Falcone struggles to land a body shot inside as Machida controls his hands.
Falcone tries for a takedown. No joy.
Falcone misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Machida blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Machida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida working hard to break the clinch.
Falcone can't find room to land a body shot as Machida controls the action.
Machida can't break the clinch.
Falcone swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Falcone jumps guard but Machida stands there with Falcone around his waist. Falcone gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Falcone stalling the fight.
Falcone keeps control of Machida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Come on Falcone - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Falcone jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Machida walks away with a smile on his face. Falcone gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Falcone ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Falcone swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Falcone just misses with a punch to the body.
Falcone jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Machida misses with a series of wild punches.
Bruno Falcone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Falcone wants to clinch but Machida slips to the side
and Machida counters with a nice leg kick.
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bruno Falcone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big right from Falcone misses.
Machida checks a leg kick nicely.
Falcone throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A combination from Machida does no damage.
Falcone tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Machida was well out of range. Poor timing from Falcone.
Falcone moves forwards but Machida connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Machida.
Falcone misses with a body shot.
Falcone tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Machida was well out of range. Poor timing from Falcone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcone lands with an overhand left.
Machida lands a nice looking kick to the body. Falcone takes a step back to recover.
Falcone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Falcone tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Machida was well out of range. Poor timing from Falcone.
Falcone moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Falcone looks to throw the jab but Machida is out of range.
Machida throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida jabs Falcone to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Falcone misses the shot to the body.
Good shot there by Machida.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Machida finds it's target.
Falcone avoids the head kick by Machida.
Machida scores with a head kick.
Falcone has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Falcone there as he acknowledges the shot.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Falcone misses with a straight right.
Bruno Falcone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Falcone stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Machida.
Machida lands with a thumping leg kick.
Machida chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Machida misses.
Machida throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Machida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Falcone takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A punch combination from Machida misses.
Machida cracks Falcone with a right hand to the side of the head.
Machida looks to land a body kick but Falcone moved away.
Falcone rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Machida counters with a left to the body.
Falcone misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falcone slips under a jab from Machida.
Machida uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Falcone.
Machida avoids the body shot from Falcone.
Lyoto Machida is winning the standup battle so far.
Machida misses with a head kick.
Falcone's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Falcone throws a poor cross that misses
and Machida counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Falcone is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sloppy strikes from Machida. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Machida avoids the body shot from Falcone.
Machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Falcone has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bruno Falcone!