PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes to the cage accompanied by For Whom The Bell Tolls. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Machida
vs
Kennedy

185 cm
38
205 lbs
31 - 25 - 1

191 cm
33
216 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 31 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy misses with a kick to the body
and Machida counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like George Kennedy has been cut.

Kennedy drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Machida can't do much from the bottom here.
Machida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Machida regains half guard.
Machida tries to kick Kennedy off but Kennedy keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Kennedy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Machida sees it coming and defends easily.
Kennedy stalling.

Kennedy is working for a kimura but Machida is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is looking to improve his position.
Kennedy stalling.
Kennedy wants to control but Machida is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Machida wants to control but Kennedy is keeping busy.
Kennedy tries to pass to full mount but Machida defends it.
Machida is refusing to be controlled, as Kennedy sits in half guard.
Machida keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kennedy scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kennedy walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Machida checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kennedy fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Machida checks it well.
George Kennedy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida defending well as Kennedy loads up on a big left hand.
Lyoto Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kennedy throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice body kick from Kennedy.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kennedy. That's going to slow Machida down.
Kennedy lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kennedy throws a leg kick that is checked
and Machida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Machida blocks a head kick by Kennedy.
Kennedy lands a nice looking body kick.
Machida moves out of range as Kennedy throws a body kick.
Kennedy goes for a double leg but Machida avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Machida continues to drive forward.
Kennedy tries for a takedown but Machida manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to control the position but instead, Kennedy has worked for underhooks and has pushed Machida into the cage.
Kennedy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Machidas head.
Kennedy pressing his opponent against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kennedy prevents Machida from breaking the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kennedy manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kennedy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Machida after a bit of a struggle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Kennedy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on George Kennedy's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kennedy looks to throw a body kick
and Machida counters with a thumping low kick.
Machida has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kennedy.
Kennedy scores with a push kick.
Kennedy sizes up Machida with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kennedy throws a nice outside leg kick.
George Kennedy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kennedy throws a half hearted mid kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kennedy tries to land a leg kick but Machida saw it coming and moves away.
Kennedy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kennedy throws a wild body kick that Machida sees coming a mile off.
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kennedy.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kennedy 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 Machida has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Machida and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kennedy throws a low kick but it's checked well by Machida.
Machida looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Kennedy scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kennedy sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Machida is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Machida is trying to buck Kennedy off.
Kennedy is looking to take a break and control but Machida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kennedy lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida parries the strikes from Kennedy easily there. Kennedy is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Machida to escape.

Kennedy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kennedy creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Machida sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kennedy tries to move to full mount but Machida actually manages to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kennedy content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Kennedy is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
George Kennedy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kennedy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Machida knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kennedy on the ground.
Machida is looking to escape.
Kennedy controlling the action here.
Machida moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy pushes down on Machida's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Machida regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kennedy looking to pass the guard.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Kennedy from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kennedy is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Kennedy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on George Kennedy's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kennedy shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kennedy.
A low kick from Machida misses
and Kennedy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kennedy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Machida.
Kennedy is looking to chop away at Machida's legs.
Machida will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Machida moves out of range of the body kick from Kennedy.
Machida takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Donk. Machida catches Kennedy right on the button with a cross.
Kennedy misses with a body kick.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick
and Kennedy counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kennedy throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kennedy tries to land a front kick but Machida steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kennedy misses with a body kick.
Kennedy throws a low kick but Machida avoids it.
A leg kick checked by Machida.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kennedy.
Machida moves out of range of the body kick from Kennedy.
A leg kick checked by Kennedy.
Kennedy lands a lovely overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida moves out of range of the body kick from Kennedy.
Kennedy shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Kennedy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Machida on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kennedy. Kennedy obviously looking to wear him down.
No luck for Kennedy with that takedown attempt.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a head kick that misses.
Machida is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A combination from Machida does no damage.
Kennedy throws a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Machida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kennedy 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 Machida has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Machida and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kennedy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Machida.
Kennedy misses with a body kick.
Kennedy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kennedy shoots for a double leg takedown but Machida sprawls well. He's pushed Kennedy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kennedy throws a wild body kick that Machida sees coming a mile off.
A swing and a miss from Kennedy.
Kennedy wants to land a leg kick but Machida is out of range.
Machida jabs Kennedy right on the nose. Kennedy blinks but takes it well.
Machida throws a looping overhand right but Kennedy ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a hook to the side of Kennedy's head but Kennedy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kennedy attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kennedy gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Machida counters with a low kick, right behind Kennedy 's knee.
Kennedy throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
George Kennedy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Kennedy scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kennedy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Machida doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kennedy.
Kennedy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Kennedy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kennedy 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Kennedy!
A relieved looking George Kennedy thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.