PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Curtis Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machdoor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clay comes to the cage accompanied by Atari Teenage Riot - Revolution Action . Machdoor comes into a darkened arena with his song building. AVICI - LEVELS kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Curtis Clay could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Lyoto Machdoor's chin.

Clay
vs
Machdoor

185 cm
24
200 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

180 cm
28
184 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

L.A. Elite Clothing Co

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Curtis Clay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lyoto Machdoor!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machdoor slips a straight right by Clay.
Machdoor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Clay counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Machdoor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Clay wants to control but Machdoor is keeping him busy.
Clay passes to full mount!
Machdoor is desperately trying to improve his position but Clay has a good base and remains in mount.
Machdoor 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.
Clay is pressing down on Machdoor's thigh, looking to free his foot. Machdoor is holding on for now.
Clay is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Machdoor reverses the position - he's now on top in Clay's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clay looking for a sweep. Not yet Clay, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clay looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Machdoor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Machdoor 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.

Machdoor is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Clay is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Clay has escaped and now he's on top!
Clay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machdoor is keeping the position for now.
Machdoor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay pushing down on Machdoor's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Clay is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Machdoor slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Clay preventing the sweep.
Machdoor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Machdoor passes the guard and advances to mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machdoor landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Machdoor.
Machdoor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Clay's face.
Clay has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Machdoor's lack of action.
Clay is refusing to be controlled, as Machdoor sits in half guard.
Clay works his way to full guard. Good work.
Machdoor won't allow Clay to sweep him here.
Machdoor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Machdoor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Machdoor wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machdoor drops back looking for a leg! Clay is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Clay manages to kick Machdoor off! Machdoor jumps back into Clay's guard.
Machdoor wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.
Clay looking for a sweep. Not yet Clay, not yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machdoor wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machdoor controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machdoor 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.

A looping hook to the body misses from Clay. Machdoor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Clay takes a swing at Machdoor's ribcage but misses.
Clay misses with a hook. Machdoor ducked under it nicely.

Machdoor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Machdoor putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Clay wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Machdoor is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Machdoor doesn't have the hooks in and Clay manages to turn into his guard.
Machdoor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clay's guard.
Machdoor controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay trying to control the position.
Clay being controlled here, momentarily.
Lyoto Machdoor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machdoor throws a big right hand that misses.
Machdoor postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Machdoor trying to control but Clay is working from the bottom.
Machdoor is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Machdoor wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Clay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clay working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Machdoor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Machdoor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Machdoor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Clay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Machdoor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machdoor throws a big right hand that misses.
Machdoor connects with a couple of short punches.
Machdoor is working Clay over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Machdoor postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Clay is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Machdoor, into his guard.
Clay has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machdoor trying to keep a closed guard but Clay is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Machdoor holds on and takes a little breather.
Machdoor wants to stand but Clay is controlling the position.
Machdoor wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Clay trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machdoor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Clay manages to get himself to full guard.
Clay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machdoor works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Machdoor wants to control but Clay is keeping him busy.
Clay keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Clay is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Machdoor pulls his head out easily.
Machdoor has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Machdoor putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee warns Clay that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machdoor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Machdoor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Clay throws out the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clay. Machdoor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Clay throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machdoor slips a straight right by Clay.
Clay shoots in looking for a takedown but Machdoor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Clay's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Machdoor swinging wildly here.
Curtis Clay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clay tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Machdoor was well out of range. Poor timing from Clay.
Machdoor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Clay throws a jab when Machdoor was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Machdoor.
Machdoor throws an elbow but Clay slips to the side and avoids it well.
Machdoor scoring with punches and elbows.
Machdoor is looking to take a break and control but Clay is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machdoor working the ground and pound but Clay is defending the strikes.
Clay takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Machdoor working the body and head with strikes.
Lyoto Machdoor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machdoor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clay keeps working.
Machdoor remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Machdoor trying to control the position but Clay is working away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clay is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Machdoor slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Lyoto Machdoor wasn't active enough on the ground.

Machdoor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay wants to get back to full guard.
Machdoor stalling.
Clay wants to improve his position but Machdoor is controlling well.
Machdoor controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machdoor trying to control from half guard but Clay is working away.

Lyoto Machdoor has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clay. Machdoor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lyoto Machdoor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Machdoor misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clay swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Machdoor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machdoor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Machdoor winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Machdoor!
A very excited looking Lyoto Machdoor rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.