PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Lyoto Machida has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Machida
vs
Henderson

188 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
29
214 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida throws a hook to the side of Henderson's head but Henderson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Machida staying out of range there.
Machida lands a head shot.
Machida with a hook.

Henderson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Machida tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
Henderson is thwarting Machida's attempts to control the position.
Henderson controlling the pace.
Henderson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Machida has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Henderson is working away from the top position though.
Machida blocking the ground and pound attempt from Henderson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Henderson trying to mount his opponent but Machida defends it.
Machida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Henderson tries to stand and escape but Machida is controlling the position.
Machida is staying active underneath Henderson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Machida has one foot on Henderson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Henderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Machida avoids it really well and circles away.
Henderson throws a series of punches but Machida avoids them all with ease.
Henderson throws a series of punches but Machida avoids them all with ease.
Dan Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Machida throws a hook to the side of Henderson's head but Henderson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A punch combination from Henderson misses.
Machida misses with a looping right.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Henderson.
Henderson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Machida sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henderson somewhat.
Machida defending well as Henderson loads up on a big left hand.
Henderson misses with a looping right.
Machida looks to land a left hand but Henderson moved out of range nicely.
Henderson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Machida.
Machida throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Machida scores with a crisp jab that stopped Henderson in his tracks.
Machida misses with a straight left.
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Henderson is just out of range.
Machida bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Henderson's head backwards.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Machida is trying to escape the mount.
Henderson tries to control but Machida wriggling away.
Machida blocking the ground and pound.
Henderson tries to control but Machida wriggling away.
Henderson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson looking to ground and pound but Machida is blocking nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson thowing shots but they're missing.
Machida holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Henderson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Machida is working to get back to half guard.
Henderson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
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 but Henderson isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Henderson misses with a looping left.
Henderson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Machida.
Machida fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Henderson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Henderson tries for a takedown but Machida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Machida lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Machida misses with a hook to the body
and Henderson counters with a series of strikes. Machida will be more careful next time no doubt.
Machida throws a hook to the side of Henderson's head but Henderson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Machida fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henderson manages to avoid it.
Machida uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Henderson.
Henderson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Machida's head.
Machida scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machida swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Henderson.
Henderson is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Machida connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Machida throws a leg kick but Henderson moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.
Machida throws the left hand but Henderson avoids the punch easily.
Lyoto Machida is winning the standup battle so far.
Henderson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Machida misses with the combination.
Machida throws an off balance right hand

and Henderson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Henderson.
Henderson wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.
Machida is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Henderson.
Henderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Henderson has his hands clasped together but Machida extends an breaks Henderson's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Machida.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Lyoto Machida!