PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jean Jacques Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ville Ellimaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machado comes to the ring accompanied by Sound Of Madness - Shinedown. Ellimaki has chosen Somos de calle as his entrance music. 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.

Jacques Machado
vs
Ellimaki

183 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
169 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jean Jacques Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ville Ellimaki!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ellimaki drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ellimaki thows a big elbow that misses.
Ellimaki looking to pass the guard.
Ellimaki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Machado escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ellimaki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ellimaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ellimaki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ellimaki is working Machado over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Machado looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ellimaki is one step ahead there.
Ellimaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Machado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellimaki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Machado kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Machado bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ellimaki's guard.

Machado drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ellimaki manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Machado has Ellimaki in his guard.
Machado can't keep his opponent in guard - Ellimaki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Ellimaki is looking for a kimura here.
Machado trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellimaki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machado does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ellimaki misses with a head shot. Machado uses the momentum to regain guard.

Machado is looking for a triangle but Ellimaki pushes his legs off easily.
Machado is breathing heavily.
Ellimaki scoring with punches to the head and body.

Machado escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ellimaki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ellimaki throws a strike but Machado rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Machado looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ellimaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ellimaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ellimaki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Machado gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ellimaki wants to sweep here but Machado controlling him for the moment.
Machado is looking to advance position but Ellimaki has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Ellimaki working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado regains half guard.
Ellimaki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ellimaki lands a nice short elbow.
Ellimaki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Machado is looking for a sweep. Ellimaki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ellimaki moves nicely into side control.
Machado is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ellimaki lands some shots froms side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Ellimaki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Machado misses with a takedown

and Ellimaki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machado's guard now.
Ellimaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Machado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Machado escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ellimaki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ellimaki lands a couple of elbows.
Machado keeping moving, preventing Ellimaki from controlling successfully.
Machado tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ellimaki cracks Machado with a solid left hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ellimaki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Machado's guard.
Ellimaki lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Ellimaki is trying to work for a kimura but Machado is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Machado manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ellimaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machado swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ellimaki won't allow Machado to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Machado is on top in guard.
Ville Ellimaki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machado slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Machado trying to control the action but Ellimaki is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machado tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Machado decides to stand back up. Machado steps back and let's Ellimaki get back to his feet.

Ellimaki looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ellimaki throwing shots but Machado is blocking nicely.
Ellimaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machado keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellimaki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ellimaki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machado does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Machado is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ellimaki scores with a couple of nice shots.
Machado is trying to get back to full guard.
Ellimaki trying to pass the guard but Machado defending well.
Ellimaki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Machado is defending against the submission attempts here by Ellimaki.
Machado trying to control from the bottom.
Ellimaki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Machado decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ellimaki is pressing down on Machado's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ellimaki trying to control the position.

Machado drops back looking for a leg! Ellimaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ellimaki manages to kick Machado off! Machado jumps back into Ellimaki's guard.
Ellimaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Machado wants to control from the top but Ellimaki keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Ellimaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ellimaki scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Ellimaki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Machado wants to sweep but no luck.
Machado trying to keep a closed guard but Ellimaki is proving a slippery customer.

Machado looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ellimaki passes into side control.
Machado is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ellimaki wants to control but Machado is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machado manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ellimaki's best efforts.
Machado taking some punishment here, with Ellimaki in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellimaki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Ellimaki is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Machado still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Machado has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Ellimaki prevents Machado from improving position.

Machado wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ellimaki, who protects the arm well.
Ellimaki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Machado trying to hold on to Ellimaki's head to control him but Ellimaki postures up.
Ellimaki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Machado looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Machado regains full guard. Nicely done.

Machado looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Machado looking for a sweep. Not yet Machado, not yet.

Ellimaki stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Ellimaki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
An elbow from Ellimaki crashes against the mat.
Ellimaki lands some shots froms side control.
You can see the frustration on Machado's face as Ellimaki controls the position.
Ellimaki trying to control the position but Machado is working away.
Ellimaki lands a nice forearm strike.
Machado is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ellimaki tries to get to full guard but Machado has control of the leg.
Machado trying to control from half guard but Ellimaki is working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Machado has taken the fight to the clinch.

Machado is trying to trip Ellimaki. He has hold of a leg but Ellimaki is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Machado persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Ellimaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Machado drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Machado jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Machado postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ellimaki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Machado, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellimaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ellimaki won't allow Machado to sweep him here.
Machado trying to keep a closed guard but Ellimaki is proving a slippery customer.
Ellimaki throwing strikes from guard but Machado blocks nicely.
Jean Jacques Machado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Machado is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Machado looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ellimaki is one step ahead there.
Machado keeping moving, preventing Ellimaki from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ville Ellimaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ellimaki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ville Ellimaki!