PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ed Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson comes to the cage accompanied by Stephen Lynch - Special Ed. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nelson
vs
Machida

175 cm
27
152 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 !

RMC - Rio Mma Clothing
RMC - Rio Mma Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ed Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Machida sprawls well. Machida wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nelson gets slowly back to his feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nelson checks a leg kick.
Nelson checks a low kick from Machida.
Machida throws a hook but Nelson blocks it.
Machida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nelson moves away.
Machida throws a body kick the misses

and Nelson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machida's guard now.
Machida keeping full guard, as Nelson tries to pass.
Nelson throwing strikes but missing.
Nelson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.
Nelson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nelson won't allow Machida to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.
Nelson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nelson works over Machida with some ground and pound from guard.
Machida looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nelson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nelson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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

Nelson working for a triangle but Machida defends it easily.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida preventing the sweep.
Machida wants to stand but Nelson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nelson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Machida!
Machida wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Nelson.
Nelson prevents Machida from getting the reversal.
Nelson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Machida taking shots to the head.
Machida really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Machida tries to lock up and control but Nelson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nelson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machida holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nelson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Nelson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Machida wants to hold on but Nelson pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Nelson 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.

Nelson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Machida defending well as Nelson loads up on a big left hand.
Nelson throws an off balance right hand
and Nelson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Machida looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Machida tries to land a front kick but Nelson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Machida misses with a kick to the body.

Nelson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Machida's guard.
Machida keeping full guard, as Nelson tries to pass.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nelson controls the pace.
Machida has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Nelson has passed into side control.
Machida tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Machida tries to hold on but Nelson pushes him away.
Nelson working the ground and pound effectively.
Machida wants to control but Nelson is having none of it.
Nelson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson landing strikes from the mount.
Machida is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Nelson goes for an armbar but Machida turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Machida.
Nelson 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.

Nelson working for a triangle but Machida defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is working hard here to advance position.
Ed Nelson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Machida controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Nelson is looking for a triangle but Machida pushes his legs off easily.

Nelson looking for a guillotine here but Machida defends easily.

Nelson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Machida is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Nelson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Machida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Nelson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nelson avoids the attempt from Machida to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Nelson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Good exchange - Nelson coming out on top.
Machida throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nelson's head.

It looks like Ed Nelson has been cut.

Nelson feints and as Machida raises his hands in defense, Nelson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nelson connects with a couple of short punches.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nelson stops Machida from standing up.
Nelson wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson preventing the sweep.
Machida wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nelson is now in half guard.
Machida trying to hold on to Nelson's head to control him but Nelson postures up.
Nelson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Nelson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Machida is just riding it out for now. Nelson eventually gives up the hold.
Nelson passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson working the head with strikes.
Nelson is looking to take a break and control but Machida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machida can't do much from the bottom here.
Nelson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.
Nelson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Nelson grinds an elbow into Machida's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.

Nelson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Machida is trying to get back to half guard.
Nelson working the body and head with strikes.
Nelson working the ground and pound but Machida is defending the strikes.
Machida tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Nelson throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson misses with punches from the back.
Nelson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Machida.
Machida trying to control the position but Nelson manages to sink in the hooks.
Machida covering up well and avoiding damage.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida prevents Nelson from getting a body triangle.
Ed Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Machida wants to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ed Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nelson, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ed Nelson!
A relieved looking Ed Nelson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.