PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Boruta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Machini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Joe Machini was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Boruta
vs
Machini

185 cm
18
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
18
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tom Boruta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Machini!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machini swats away the attempt to clinch by Boruta.
Machini throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machini closes this distance looking for a takedown but Boruta circles away.

Boruta forces Machini back against the cage and clinches.

Boruta breaks the clinch.
Boruta is looking to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Boruta as Machini shoots in.
Machini avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Machini shoots in and drives through. Boruta sprawls well.
Tom Boruta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Machini.
Machini swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Boruta clinches.
Machini gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Boruta.
Boruta tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Boruta stops a takedown attempt from Machini.

Boruta lands a takedown into guard.
Machini is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
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.

Machini working for a triangle but Boruta defends it easily.
Boruta wants to stand but Machini has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Machini is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Machini wants to stand and escape but Boruta is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boruta trying to stand up but can't free himself from Machini's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Boruta moves into the clinch successfully.
Boruta landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Machini looking to slow down the pace here.
Boruta lands a hook that snaps the head of Machini backwards.
Machini is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Boruta connects with a knee to the head.
Boruta throws a knee to the head but misses.
Boruta is breathing heavily.
Boruta throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machini blocks it with crossed arms.
Machini fails to pull guard.
Boruta creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Machini's defenses.
A knee to the head by Boruta.
Machini tries to score a body lock takedown but Boruta shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Boruta landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Boruta using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machini has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Boruta stops a takedown attempt from Machini.
Machini is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Boruta is keeping busy.
Boruta with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Boruta looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machini is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Machini drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Boruta gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Boruta creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Machini's defenses.

Machini manages to pull guard.
Machini thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Machini controls Boruta momentarily but Boruta frees himself.
Machini seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Machini throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Machini is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boruta prevents Machini from getting back to his feet.
Boruta postures up.
Machini tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machini tries for a takedown but Boruta sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Machini tries for a takedown but Boruta sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Machini shoots in looking for a takedown. Boruta tries to sprawl out of it but Machini keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Boruta manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Machini scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Boruta dominated that round.
That's time! Boruta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Machini throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Boruta's waist but Boruta gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Machini off to one side.

Machini shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Machini showed some decent athleticism there.
Machini trying to control the action but Boruta is working from the bottom.
Machini tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Boruta keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Boruta is refusing to be controlled, as Machini sits in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machini throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Machini throwing shots but Boruta is blocking nicely.
Machini wants to control but Boruta is keeping him busy.
Machini is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boruta tries to clinch but Machini is having none of it.
Machini throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Boruta.
Machini tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Boruta swivels and escapes.

Boruta instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Boruta with a knee to the head.
Boruta looking to throw knees to the head but Machini is blocking nicely.

Machini gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Machini wants to lay and pray for a moment but Boruta keeps working.
Machini landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Machini thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machini takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Boruta pushes Machini off looking to stand but Machini dives back in and keeps control.
Boruta on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Machini throwing shots but Boruta is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machini thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Boruta's head.
Boruta might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Machini controlling the pace.
Machini stops Boruta from getting back to his feet.
Machini has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Machini decides to stand and escape the position.
Tom Boruta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boruta tries to clinch but Machini moves out of range.

Boruta pushes Machini up against the cage in a clinch.
Boruta misses with a knee to the head.
Machini has Boruta pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Boruta manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tom Boruta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Machini.
Boruta with a knee to the head.
Boruta connects with a nasty looking knee right to Machini's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boruta tries a knee to the head but Machini blocks it.
Boruta comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Machini misses with a knee strike.

Boruta lands a takedown into guard.
Boruta has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Machini wants to sweep here but Boruta controlling him for the moment.
Machini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Machini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Boruta manages to get himself to full guard.
Machini prevents Boruta from getting back to his feet.
Machini pushes down on Boruta's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Machini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Machini closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Machini working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Machini throwing strikes but Boruta manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Machini is trying to get back to half guard.
Boruta knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Machini on the ground.
Boruta tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machini tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Machini manages to reverse the position and now he's in Boruta's guard. Nice work there by Machini.
Machini won't allow Boruta to get back to his feet.
Machini throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Machini is looking to work some ground and pound but Boruta has wrist control.
Machini stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boruta swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machini shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Boruta as he avoids it easily.
Machini shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machini shoots for a takedown but Boruta saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tom Boruta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Machini.
Machini shoots in but no luck this time.

Machini tries to keep at a distance but Boruta has taken the fight into the clinch.
Boruta missing with knees to the body.
Machini is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Boruta pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Boruta scores a nice knee to the body.
Boruta looking to throw knees to the head but Machini is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boruta turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Boruta manages to end up in side control.
Machini is trying to control Boruta's posture but Boruta avoids it.
Machini looking for a sweep but Boruta has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Boruta wants to control the pace but Machini is squirming around nicely.
Machini regains half guard.
Machini is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machini gets back to full guard.
Machini trying to control the position.
Boruta stays in close to Machini's body and controls the position.
Machini wants to control but Boruta passes easily into half guard.
Machini wants to control but Boruta is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tom Boruta.
I think Boruta has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Boruta!