PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida has chosen Lyoto Machida as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Joseph
vs
Machida

178 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Organic Peak Performance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitchell Joseph!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Machida as he avoids it easily.

Machida gets the takedown into side control.

Machida decides to stand back up.

Machida looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Machida is looking for a kimura here.
Machida trying to control the pace.
Machida sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Joseph defending well though.
Machida has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machida is taking a breather. Joseph says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Joseph trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Joseph has managed to free his arm - good work.
Joseph moves into full guard.
Machida is stalling in the full guard.
Machida stops Joseph from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joseph can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Machida controls the pace.
Joseph could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Joseph is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Joseph is breathing heavily.

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.
Joseph throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Joseph working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Machida.

Joseph looking for a guillotine here but Machida defends easily.
Machida sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Machida passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Machida content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Joseph knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Joseph is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joseph keeps working.
Machida lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Joseph down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Machida wants to control but Joseph is keeping him busy.
Machida working the body and head with strikes.
Joseph is trying to control Machida's posture but Machida avoids it.

Machida tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Machida tries for a kimura but Joseph is defending well.
A lull in the action here as Machida stalls from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Joseph misses with a two punch combination.
Joseph doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Machida slows the pace down in half guard.
Joseph trying to hold on to Machida's head to control him but Machida postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida not doing much here.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joseph keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is controlling the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, Lyoto Machida just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Joseph. No joy for Machida on that attempt.
Machida takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Joseph darts in trying to clinch

and Machida counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Machida decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Machida drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joseph can't keep his opponent in guard - Machida advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Joseph wants to control but Machida is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Machida passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Joseph!
Machida lands a big shot there that rocks Joseph but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Joseph turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Machida off and cradles Joseph's limp body as Machida celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Lyoto Machida!
Lyoto Machida is the new light heavyweight champion!