PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machdoor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zenko Sudo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machdoor
vs
Sudo

180 cm
25
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
189 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Canuck Beavermeat Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lyoto Machdoor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zenko Sudo!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Machdoor manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sudo on his heels. He'll look to pass Sudo's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sudo keeping full guard, as Machdoor tries to pass.
Sudo being controlled here, momentarily.
Machdoor pushes down on Sudo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Machdoor is keen to just control but Sudo is a slippery customer.

Machdoor seems to be looking for submissions.

Machdoor is looking for a kimura but Sudo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Machdoor to get the leverage.
Sudo trying to control here.
Machdoor trying to mount his opponent but Sudo defends it.

Machdoor is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sudo is just riding it out for now. Machdoor eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machdoor wants to pass the guard but Sudo is defending well.
Machdoor is controlling the pace.
Sudo is looking for a sweep. Machdoor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sudo looks gassed!
Machdoor wants to pass to mount but Sudo is defending the position.

Machdoor looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Machdoor is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machdoor moves nicely into side control.
Machdoor is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sudo's shoulder. That is not cool.
Machdoor is looking to take a break and control but Sudo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Sudo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Sudo's face as Machdoor controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machdoor has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Sudo!
Machdoor is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Sudo is in real trouble.
Good control from Machdoor.
Machdoor seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sudo for as long as he can get away with.
Machdoor has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Machdoor looking for the choke but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Machdoor has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Sudo! Can he survive? No! He's out! Machdoor gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Lyoto Machdoor!
Lyoto Machdoor is the new middleweight champion!
After the fight, Lyoto Machdoor was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.