PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam T (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dai Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). T comes into the arena with Kiss From a Rose blaring out of the sound system. Machida has chosen Do The Ayatollah as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

T
vs
Machida

185 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam T!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Dai Machida!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
T tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Machida shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Machida was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Machida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as T is looking to escape.
T tries to lock up and control but Machida gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Machida looking to ground and pound but T is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida trying to control but T is having none of it.
Machida throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Machida throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for T because Machida loaded up on that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida content just to control the position here.
BOOM! Machida connects with a massive shot to the dome!
T holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Machida tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Machida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as T is looking to escape.
Machida content just to control the position here.
T tries to reverse the position but Machida maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A nice elbow there by Machida.
T taking shots to the head.
Machida landing punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
T keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Machida throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Machida controlling from the full mount.
T holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Machida tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
T is squirming around, avoiding Machida's attempts to control the action.
Machida lands with some vicious ground and pound - can T hang on?
T in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Machida avoids the attempt from T to control.
Machida controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Machida throwing strikes here but T is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Machida wants to control the pace but T is squirming around nicely.
Machida unloads with some shots from mount but T bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
T is squirming around, avoiding Machida's attempts to control the action.
Machida controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dai Machida 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 shoots in and bounces T off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Machida chips away with some ground and pound.
Machida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. T swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Machida wants to get up but he can't break T's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
T keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
T working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Machida.
Machida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. T is keeping the position for now.
T keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Machida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with T but T pushes him off and we're back to square one.
T scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Dai Machida has been cut.
Machida is breathing heavily.
T is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Machida lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and T has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from T and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Machida closes this distance looking for a takedown but T circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida avoids the head kick by T.
T misses with a low kick.
T throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Machida's waist but Machida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing T off to one side.
T tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.
Machida doesn't manage to clinch there - T circles away.
T fails in his attempt to clinch.
T slow jab from Machida misses its intended target.
Machida tries to clinch but T moves out of range.

Machida drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Machida controlling from side mount.
T struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida decides to stand back up. Machida steps back and let's T get back to his feet.
T tries to close the distance and clinch up but Machida swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Machida lands a two punch combo.
Nice shot by T.
Jab from Machida.
T tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Machida closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Machida lands in his opponent's guard.
T is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to control from the top but T keeps moving.
Machida won't allow T to sweep him here.
T pulls Machida in close to his closed guard and prevents Machida from doing any damage or advancing position.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but T is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dai Machida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dai Machida's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

T fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Machida, pushing him back against the cage.
Machida wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
T lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
T avoiding damage as Machida throws knees to the body.
T lands a left hand that snaps the head of Machida backwards.

T breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Machida slips a straight right by T.
T throws a hook but Machida blocks it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Machida takes a swing at T's ribcage but misses.
No joy there for T, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Machida tries to clinch but T moves out of range.
T swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Machida counters with a nice low kick that buckles T's knee momentarily.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt.
Machida misses with an attempted mid kick.
Machida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
T throws a jab but it's blocked by Machida.
T thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.

T clinches.
Machida blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Machida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
T throws a shot from downtown. Machida moves away and avoids it.
T ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Machida closes this distance looking for a takedown but T circles away.
Sam T has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dai Machida.
T throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
T doesn't manage to clinch there - Machida circles away.
T misses the body punch
and Machida counters with a lovely straight right hand!
T throws a hook but Machida avoids it easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Machida.
Machida landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Machida just content to control the position.

Machida is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. T knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida decides to stand up, so the ref orders T to his feet.
Machida looks for a takedown but T sprawls well.
T does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
T waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Machida.
T throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
T lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
T tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Machida counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Machida shoots for a takedown but T saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Machida blocks a head kick by T.

Machida clinches with his opponent.

Machida manages to break the clinch.
T scores with a jab to the jaw.
T scoring well with a low kick there.
T just misses with a punch to the body.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt - T sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
T misses with a double jab

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
T is not content to let Machida control the position.
T avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machida.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida moves nicely into side control.
T is trying to control Machida's posture but Machida avoids it.
Machida controls the position.
Sam T has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear T down.
Machida tries to move to mount but T blocks the move with his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Machida stands up and we're back to a striking position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dai Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Machida 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

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