PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexandre Takarabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexandre Takarabe has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Takarabe
vs
Machida

197 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alexandre Takarabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Machida!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takarabe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Machida.
Machida scores with a shot to the body.
Machida tries for a takedown but Takarabe sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Machida showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Takarabe.
Machida keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Machida dives in and grabs Takarabe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Takarabe pushes down on Machida's head and hops out.
Alexandre Takarabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Machida.
A punch lands to the side of Machida 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Machida is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takarabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Machida.
Machida has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Machida.
Takarabe fails to land the takedown.
Machida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takarabe pinned against the cage. Takarabe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takarabe throws a series of punches but Machida avoids them all with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Machida. Takarabe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takarabe fails with the takedown.

Machida forces Takarabe back against the cage and clinches.
Takarabe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Machida is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Takarabe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Machida gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Machida tries to pull guard but Takarabe forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Machida jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Takarabe walks away with a smile on his face. Machida gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Machida throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Takarabe's waist but Takarabe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Machida off to one side.
Machida has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Machida with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Takarabe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Machida sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takarabe somewhat.
Takarabe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Takarabe is breathing heavily.
Takarabe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A combination from Takarabe does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takarabe slaps away a takedown attempt from Machida, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Machida leaves Takarabe with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Machida stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Machida lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt.
Machida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Takarabe swivels and escapes.
Takarabe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Machida sprawls well. Machida wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Takarabe gets slowly back to his feet.

Machida looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Takarabe!
Takarabe is desperately trying to improve his position but Machida has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida looking to control but Takarabe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
A nice elbow there by Machida.
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.
Machida looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Takarabe stuffs the takedown.
Takarabe cracks Machida with an open hand slap.
Machida tries to clinch up but Takarabe circles away and keeps his distance.
Takarabe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takarabe swats away the attempt to clinch by Machida.
Matt Machida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Machida shoots for a double leg takedown but Takarabe sprawls well. He's pushed Machida's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Takarabe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Machida tries to avoid it but Takarabe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Machida to the ground. Machida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Takarabe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandre Takarabe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida shoots in looking for a takedown but Takarabe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Machida's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Machida fails to land the takedown.
Machida misses with a double jab
and Takarabe counters with a two punch combo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida shoots in looking for a takedown. Takarabe tries to sprawl out of it but Machida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Takarabe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Takarabe looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Machida is fending him off so far but Takarabe persists. Nope, Machida circles away and we're back to standing.
Alexandre Takarabe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Takarabe counters with a one-two to the body.
Takarabe dives in and grabs Machida's left leg, looking for a takedown. Machida pushes down on Takarabe's head and hops out.
Takarabe shoots in and drives through. Machida sprawls well.
Machida is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takarabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Machida looks for a takedown but Takarabe sprawls well.
Machida fails with the takedown.
Takarabe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Takarabe displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takarabe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Machida swivels and escapes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Machida.
Takarabe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Takarabe.

Machida gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Machida drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Takarabe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Machida is pushing Takarabe up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida tries to land knees in the clinch but Takarabe avoids the damage to the body.
Takarabe has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Machida after a bit of a struggle.
Machida goes for a takedown in the clinch but Takarabe prevents it.
Takarabe has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Machida after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Takarabe as Machida tries to tie him up.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Machida throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Takarabe's waist but Takarabe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Machida off to one side.
Machida lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Machida looks for a takedown but Takarabe sprawls well.
Takarabe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Machida sprawls well. Machida wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Takarabe gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Machida clinches up with Takarabe and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Machida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Takarabe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takarabe misses with the combination.

Takarabe moves into the clinch.
Machida jumps guard but Takarabe turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Machida gets underhooks to prevent Takarabe's takedown attempt.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but Takarabe blocks with his arms.
Takarabe prevents the takedown attempt.
Machida tries to pull guard but Takarabe forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Alexandre Takarabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Machida.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takarabe is pressed up against the cage. Machida has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Takarabe down to the mat. Takarabe avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Takarabe shoots in but no luck this time.
Takarabe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Machida counters with a two punch combo.
Nice takedown defense from Machida. No joy for Takarabe on that attempt.
Horrible takedown by Machida or perhaps it was just good defense by Takarabe which made him look bad.
Takarabe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Machida sprawls well. Machida wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Takarabe gets slowly back to his feet.
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Takarabe fails to land the takedown.
Machida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Machida tries to clinch but Takarabe moves out of range.
Takarabe misses with a takedown attempt - Machida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Takarabe keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Takarabe is just out of range.
Takarabe throws a series of punches but Machida avoids them all with ease.
Machida scores with a head kick. Takarabe tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Takarabe lands with a nice combination. Machida backs away looking to recover.
Alexandre Takarabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takarabe pinned against the cage. Takarabe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Takarabe closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida tries to pull guard but Takarabe holds him up against the cage and eventually Machida drops back down to his feet.
Takarabe wants a takedown.
Machida trying to stall but Takarabe improves his position.
Machida is stalling here.
Machida tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Takarabe's elbow.
Machida wants to break free but Takarabe has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but Takarabe blocks with his arms.
Takarabe tries to break free but Machida pushes him back against the cage.
Takarabe wants a takedown.
Takarabe is trying to force a seperation but Machida has the dominant position.

Machida manages to pull guard.
Takarabe throwing strikes from guard but Machida blocks nicely.
Machida wants to sweep here but Takarabe controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takarabe throws a strike but Machida rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Machida.
Well Machida has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Machida!