PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Clarke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spider Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Clarke
vs
Machida

185 cm
27
223 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

188 cm
27
223 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Revolution Fatigues
Revolution Fatigues

Revolution Fatigues

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 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Leo Clarke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Spider Machida!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clarke slips under a jab from Machida.
Clarke tries to bum rush Machida with a series of wild strikes but Machida uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Clarke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Clarke misses the shot to the body.
Clarke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Machida.
Machida is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Clarke.
Clarke takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Clarke tests Machida's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Machida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Machida connects with a body shot.

Machida forces Clarke back against the cage and clinches.
Machida has a couple of punches blocked by Clarke.
Machida misses with a punch on the inside.
Clarke tries to throw a body punch but Machida avoids it by throwing Clarke back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Clarke - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Machida struggles to land a body shot inside as Clarke controls his hands.
Clarke is trying to break the clinch but Machida has him pressed against the cage.
Clarke blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Machida misses with a punch on the inside.
Clarke swings wildly with an uppercut but Machida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Clarke has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Machida after a bit of a struggle.
Clarke trying to land knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Machida.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarke keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Machida's efforts to push away.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Clarke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Machida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Machida shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nice uppercut there from Clarke.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Clarke.
Machida throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Machida, right into the meat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clarke lands a slapping body shot.
Clarke misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida misses with a straight right.
Machida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clarke moves away.

Clarke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Machida, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right from Machida.
Machida misses with a knee to the head.
Machida scores with a shot to the side of Clarke's head.
Machida tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Clarke's elbow.
Clarke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Clarke gets through Machida's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Clarke wants to get back to striking at distance but Machida won't allow it.
Clarke looking to throw knees to the head but Machida is blocking nicely.
Clarke prevents a body shot from Machida.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke blocks a body shot from Machida.
Machida has a couple of punches blocked by Clarke.
Machida has a couple of punches blocked by Clarke.
Machida misses with a body punch.
Clarke misses with a punch on the inside.
Machida scores with a nice hook to the head.
Machida blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but Clarke blocks with his arms.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clarke taking a breather.
Machida scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Spider Machida will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A big right from Machida misses.
Machida wants to slow Clarke down by chopping away at his legs.
Clarke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Machida.
Machida lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Machida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clarke moves away.
Clarke has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Machida.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Machida swings for the body but Clarke moves out of range.
Clarke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Clarke shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Clarke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Machida throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Machida thows a body shot but no joy.
Machida smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida misses with a body kick.
Machida thows a body shot but no joy.
Clarke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Clarke fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Clarke swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clarke wants to clinch.
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Clarke is just out of range.
Clarke swings for the body but Machida moves out of range.
Machida misses with a body shot
and Clarke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Clarke circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida tests Clarke's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Leo Clarke has been cut.
Machida blocks a jab.
Machida connects with a body shot that sends Clarke's belly button to the back.
Machida swings away with a body shot that misses
and Clarke counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Clarke fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Machida to the ground. Clarke is now in Machida's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Clarke tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Machida trying to keep a closed guard but Clarke is proving a slippery customer.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Clarke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Clarke throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Clarke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Machida seems keen to control Clarke's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clarke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Spider Machida wasn't active enough on the ground.
Machida misses with a shot to the body
and Clarke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Clarke connects with the punch.

Machida gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Clarke to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Clarke.
Clarke pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.
Clarke lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clarke advances position into side control!
Clarke taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Leo Clarke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Leo Clarke's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Clarke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.

Clarke shoots in and gets a takedown into Machida's guard.
Machida pulls Clarke in close to prevent any damage.
Machida keeping full guard, as Clarke tries to pass.
Clarke 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.
Machida manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Machida controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarke is looking to get to half guard.
Clarke wants to hold on but Machida pushes him away.
Clarke really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Machida tries to control but Clarke wriggling away.
Clarke tries to lock up and control but Machida gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Machida wants to control the pace but Clarke is squirming around nicely.
Clarke keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke is working hard here to advance position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Machida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Clarke is looking to escape.
Clarke is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Machida controlling from the full mount.
Clarke is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leo Clarke.
I think Clarke has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Clarke!