PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Grazze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machida
vs
Grazze

205 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent elbows
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Joseph Grazze!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grazze swivels and escapes.
Machida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Grazze counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Grazze scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Machida pushes Grazze off looking to stand but Grazze dives back in and keeps control.
Grazze keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Grazze's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joseph Grazze was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Grazze swings for the body but Machida moves out of range.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Grazze swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Machida wants to clinch.

Grazze closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Machida to the mat! Machida manages to get full guard.
Machida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grazze is one step ahead there.
Grazze is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grazze with a nice head shot there.
Grazze's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Grazze trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Machida working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Grazze decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Grazze keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Grazze there.
Grazze perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Let's hope that Grazze has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joseph Grazze was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Grazze throws a hook to the side of Machida's head but Machida sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Grazze drives through with a takedown into Machida's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Grazze controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grazze stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grazze controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
It looks like Grazze might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joseph Grazze hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grazze. Machida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lyoto Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grazze swats away the attempt to clinch by Machida.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Grazze dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Machida uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grazze.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Machida is defended easily by Grazze.
Machida is trying hard to land a takedown here. Grazze sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Grazze throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Machida was covering up waiting for the punch and Grazze finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Grazze controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Grazze prevents Machida from getting back to his feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Joseph Grazze wasn't active enough on the ground.

Grazze throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Machida tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Grazze is in Machida's guard.
Grazze showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Grazze must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Machida looking for a guillotine here but Grazze defends easily.
Grazze really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Machida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grazze slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Machida will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joseph Grazze.

Grazze closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Grazze slows the pace down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Joseph Grazze has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Grazze is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Machida's half guard.
Grazze trying to pass the guard but Machida defending well.
Machida really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grazze with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Machida is looking for a sweep. Grazze is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Grazze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Grazze with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joseph Grazze hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Grazze throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Grazze drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grazze not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Grazze 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!

Grazze gets a takedown into half guard.
Machida trying to control but Grazze postures up.
Machida has hold of Grazze's hands but Grazze slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Grazze landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Machida tries to kick Grazze off but Grazze keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grazze content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Grazze wants to pass the guard but Machida is defending well.
Joseph Grazze has got the better of the ground game so far.
Still in half guard, Grazze seems content to control.
Grazze takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Grazze looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joseph Grazze.
Machida throws a head kick that half lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grazze swings for the body but Machida moves out of range.

Machida closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Grazze jumps guard but Machida stands there with Grazze around his waist. Grazze gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Grazze fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Grazze is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Machida to keep the fight standing.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Grazze.

Machida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Grazze closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Machida's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grazze controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida looking for a guillotine here but Grazze defends easily.
Machida being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joseph Grazze has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Grazze circles away from the clinch attempt.
Grazze fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.
Grazze ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Machida moves away.
Grazze misses the jab.
Grazze looks to score with a jab to the body but Machida is just out of range.
Grazze tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Machida was well out of range. Poor timing from Grazze.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Machida enables Grazze to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Machida manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Joseph Grazze is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Machida has momentary wrist control but Grazze slips an elbow through the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Grazze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grazze 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Grazze!