PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lexandro Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Lyoto Machida struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lopez
vs
Machida

185 cm
24
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

186 cm
26
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lexandro Lopez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida throws a right and a left that Lopez avoids nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Machida. No joy for Lopez on that attempt.
Lopez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Machida is looking to clinch.
Machida slaps away a takedown attempt from Lopez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lexandro Lopez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Machida rushes Lopez and presses him up against the cage.
Machida gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lopez.
Lopez wants a takedown but no success here.
Lopez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machida wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lopez tries for a takedown but Machida manages to get underhooks.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Machida throws a series of punches but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Machida looks to land a combination. Lopez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Machida looks gassed!
Lopez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Machida stalks Lopez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lopez's face. Lopez staggers backwards, shaken.
Machida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Machida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Machida wants it to stay on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lopez.
Lyoto Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Machida stuffs the takedown.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.
Machida misses with a double jab.
Lopez shoots in but no luck this time.
Machida lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
No luck for Lopez with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Machida slaps away a takedown attempt from Lopez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Machida throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lopez.
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!

Lopez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Machida has escaped the position, nice work there.

Lopez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Machida has escaped the position, nice work there.
Machida wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Machida, who protects the arm well.

Lopez is working to tighten is grip on Machida's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Machida has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Lopez is really squeezing tight and eventually Machida passes out! Lopez breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Lexandro Lopez!
Lexandro Lopez is the new light heavyweight champion!