PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuki Yasuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes into the arena with Concrete Schoolyard blaring out of the sound system. Kazuki Yasuda has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Machida
vs
Yasuda

185 cm
26
184 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

178 cm
24
180 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Fight Club Clothing est. 09™
Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wanderlei Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kazuki Yasuda!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yasuda lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Yasuda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Machida.
Yasuda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Machida manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yasuda connects with a crisp jab.
Yasuda throws a leg kick which misses Machida's front leg but catches the back leg as Machida tries to avoid it.
Yasuda misses with a double jab

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Yasuda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Yasuda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yasuda keeping full guard, as Machida tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida trying to control but Yasuda is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Wanderlei Machida wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Yasuda looks to score with a jab to the body but Machida is just out of range.
Machida misses with the combination.
Machida swings for the body but Yasuda moves out of range.
Machida lands with a nice body punch.
Yasuda takes a swing at Machida's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yasuda.
Yasuda buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kazuki Yasuda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A thudding body kick lands there by Yasuda!
Yasuda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Machida.
Yasuda with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yasuda. Machida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Horrible takedown by Machida or perhaps it was just good defense by Yasuda which made him look bad.
Machida changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yasuda tries to avoid it but Machida manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yasuda to the ground. Yasuda escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yasuda. That's going to slow Machida down.
Yasuda throws a hook to the side of Machida's head but Machida sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda clobbers Machida with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Machida throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Machida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Machida sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
No joy there for Machida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Yasuda is just out of range.
Yasuda leaves Machida with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida defending well as Yasuda loads up on a big left hand.
Yasuda throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Machida sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yasuda swings for the body but Machida moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yasuda stuffs the takedown attempt from Machida. Machida gets slowly back to his feet.
Yasuda throws a shot to the body.
Yasuda smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Machida throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yasuda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Machida.
Machida scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yasuda jabs Machida to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kazuki Yasuda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yasuda darts in and clinches Machida up against the cage.
Yasuda tries to work over Machida's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuki Yasuda dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Machida slips a jab from Yasuda.
Machida is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yasuda sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Wanderlei Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida punishes Yasuda's body with a nice straight punch.
Yasuda lands the left hand.
That kick from Yasuda tenderised Machida's leg. Machida is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nice body kick from Yasuda.
No joy there for Machida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Yasuda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Machida was well out of range. Poor timing from Yasuda.
Yasuda tries to land a front kick but Machida steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Yasuda misses with a body shot.
Yasuda tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.
Machida throws a nice looking combination but Yasuda bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yasuda has managed to clinch.
Yasuda struggles to land a body shot inside as Machida controls his hands.
Yasuda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Yasuda effectively controlling the action here.
Yasuda lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Machida looking for a takedown.
Yasuda throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Machidas head.

Machida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Yasuda.
Yasuda delivers a nice body kick.
Yasuda moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Machida is looking to wear down Yasuda with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Yasuda scores with a shot to the body.
Machida throws a right hand that Yasuda ducks under and follows up with a left that Yasuda also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Machida on the side of the head.
Machida avoids the body shot from Yasuda.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt - Yasuda sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
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!
A big right from Yasuda misses.
Some wild striking there from Machida.
Machida slips under a jab.
A shot to the liver by Yasuda. Beautiful body shot.
A head kick misses from Yasuda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida blocks a head kick by Yasuda.
Yasuda throws a hook but Machida blocks it.
Yasuda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yasuda stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Yasuda moves out of range as Machida strikes.
Yasuda throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yasuda connects with a good right hand that stumbles Machida. Machida circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Yasuda throws a sloppy head kick and Machida moves out of range easily.
Yasuda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yasuda throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yasuda instigates a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yasuda manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Machida is trying to break free.
Machida wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yasuda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Machida can't get the takedown.
Yasuda works on Machida's body with a couple of short punches.
Yasuda tries to throw a body punch but Machida avoids it by throwing Yasuda back against the cage.
Yasuda keeps control of Machida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yasuda throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Machidas head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yasuda scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yasuda throws a head punch that misses.

Machida breaks the clinch.
Machida swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuki Yasuda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Machida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yasuda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kazuki Yasuda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Machida fails with the takedown.
Yasuda doesn't manage to clinch there - Machida circles away.
Yasuda throws a good cross that connects.
Yasuda lands a nice looking kick to the body. Machida takes a step back to recover.
Yasuda swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Yasuda misses the shot to the body.
Yasuda lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasuda slaps away a takedown attempt from Machida, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yasuda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida lands with a nice combination. Yasuda backs away looking to recover.
Yasuda just misses with a punch to the body.

Machida drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Machida tries to score with some ground and pound. Yasuda controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Yasuda struggling a bit here.
Yasuda managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Machida.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Machida trying to control the action but Yasuda is working from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Machida.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Machida is trying to work for a kimura but Yasuda is defending well.
Machida seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wanderlei Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kazuki Yasuda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yasuda manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Machida postures up.
Yasuda manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Machida is working to get back to half guard.
Yasuda avoids the attempt from Machida to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida is wriggling around trying to escape.
Yasuda avoids the attempt from Machida to control.
Yasuda trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Machida sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida is looking to improve his position.

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 Wanderlei Machida.
I think Yasuda has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

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