PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruben De La Vega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Machado could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ruben De La Vega's chin.

Machado
vs
De La Vega

175 cm
29
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ruben De La Vega!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Machado feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Machado is looking to work some ground and pound but De La Vega has wrist control.
De La Vega keeping moving, preventing Machado from controlling successfully.
Machado throws a big elbow that misses.
Machado stays in close to De La Vega's body and controls the position.
Machado has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Machado slips nicely into half guard.
De La Vega is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Machado scores with a couple of nice shots.
De La Vega is trying to get back to full guard.
Machado missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Machado sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. De La Vega defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Machado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
De La Vega has hold of Machado's hands but Machado slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
De La Vega avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machado.
Machado lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Machado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Machado is working for a kimura but De La Vega is defending it quite comfortably.
Machado is just content to waste time from the top position. De La Vega takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Machado in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
De La Vega keeping full guard, as Machado tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Machado with a flurry of punches that miss.
Machado missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Machado wants to control from the top but De La Vega keeps moving.
Machado postures up in De La Vega's guard and throws a big left but De La Vega blocks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Machado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Machado looking to sit in guard and control but De La Vega gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
De La Vega postures up in Machado's guard and throws a big left but Machado blocks it.

De La Vega avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Machado working for a triangle but De La Vega defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Vega wants to pass the guard but Machado is keeping the position.
De La Vega wants to control from the top but Machado keeps moving.

Machado is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. De La Vega is aware though and is defending well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Machado is on top in guard.
De La Vega is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Machado is in close to De La Vega's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Machado postures up in De La Vega's guard and throws a big left but De La Vega blocks it.
Machado 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.
Machado is working De La Vega over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
De La Vega tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Vega keeping moving, preventing Machado from controlling successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machado sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Machado with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Machado trying to control but De La Vega is working from the bottom.
Machado loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Machado throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as De La Vega works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
De La Vega wants to sweep here but Machado controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Machado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Machado 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.

Machado gets a takedown into half guard.

Machado 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.
Machado is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
De La Vega is looking to escape.
Machado wants to take a breather but De La Vega is having none of it.
Machado lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Machado missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Vega is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Machado scores with a couple of nice shots.
De La Vega is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Machado scores with a couple of nice shots.
Machado landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
De La Vega is trying to get back to full guard.
Machado is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Machado with the ground and pound but De La Vega uses the opportunity to regain guard.
De La Vega avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Machado is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that De La Vega can do to turn this around?
Machado trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Machado postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machado is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado throws a big elbow that misses.
Machado with a nice head shot there.
Machado is in close to De La Vega's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Machado is pushing down on De La Vega's leg trying to pass to half guard. De La Vega is fighting to maintain full guard but Machado has managed to sneak the leg through.

Machado is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Machado frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Machado landing strikes from the mount.
Machado looking to finish De La Vega with some ground and pound. This is bad for De La Vega!
De La Vega takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
De La Vega really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado punishing his opponent with strikes.

It looks like Ruben De La Vega has been cut.
Machado lands with some strikes.
Machado lands a big shot there that rocks De La Vega but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Machado working the ground and pound effectively.
Machado postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. De La Vega looks a forlorn figure.

De La Vega is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machado postures up and throws a massive shot that knocks De La Vega out cold! Two more strikes to his unconscious opponent for good luck and this one is all over! Machado goes absolutely crazy with his corner! Wow, you can see how much that win means to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Joe Machado!