PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Hume (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes into the arena with bleed it out blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machida
vs
Hume

187 cm
22
207 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Hume!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hume changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Machida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

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

Hume decides to stand back up.
Hume looking to land some kicks to the body here.
No joy there for Machida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Machida.
Hume tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.
Hume throws a low kick but Machida avoids it.
Hume tries to work over Machida's front leg with a kick but Machida checks it.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Hume.

Hume feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Machida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hume doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hume manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hume gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hume thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Machida throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida is working hard here to advance position.
Hume won't allow Machida to get back to his feet.
Hume lands a couple of elbows.

Hume decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Machida, up you get!

Hume forces Machida back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hume pulls guard.
Hume looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hume escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Machida gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Machida is breathing heavily.

Hume pushes Machida off and gets back to his feet.
Hume fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Machida.
Hume throws a push kick but Machida slaps the foot to one side.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hume fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hume thuds his shin into the meat of Machida's side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hume looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hume wants to clinch.
Machida looks for a takedown but Hume sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyoto Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hume throws a head kick but Machida moves out of range.
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hume tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hume misses with a double jab.
Hume looks to score with a jab to the body but Machida is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hume changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Machida tries to avoid it but Hume manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Machida to the ground. Machida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Machida feints and then cracks Hume's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hume down.
Hume tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.
Machida works over Hume's head and body with a nice combination.
Hume lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hume paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hume wants to clinch
and Machida counters with a one-two to the body.
Machida misses with the combination.
Hume throws and low kick but Machida moves out of range easily.
James Hume seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hume shoots in for a double leg but Machida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Machida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hume circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hume dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hume tries to close the distance and clinch up but Machida swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hume changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Machida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Machida manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hume's best efforts.
Machida is looking to improve his position.

Machida kicks off Hume and gets to his feet.
Hume tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.
Hume swats away the attempt to clinch by Machida.

Machida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Machida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hume is one step ahead there.
Hume makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hume stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.

Machida has his foot on Hume's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hume works his way back into a safe position though.
Hume chips away with some ground and pound.

Machida looking for a guillotine here but Hume defends easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hume tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hume throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hume tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.
Hume throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Machida counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Machida throws a one two combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hume misses with a takedown attempt - Machida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hume is looking to clinch.
Hume fails with a takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Machida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machida shoots in and drives through. Hume sprawls well.
Hume tries to close the distance and clinch up but Machida swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hume tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Machida swivels and escapes.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Hume.
Machida doesn't manage to clinch there - Hume circles away.

Machida tries to keep at a distance but Hume has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hume on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hume wants to stall.
Hume using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hume misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Machida.
Hume has Machida pushed against the cage.
Machida goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hume prevents it.
Hume misses with a knee strike.
Hume missing with knees to the body.
Hume using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Machida has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hume avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hume drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machida wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hume is working for takedown but Machida is calmly controlling the position for now.
Machida is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Machida landing knees to the body.

Hume breaks from the clinch.
Machida fails with the takedown.
Hume throws a chopping leg kick but Machida manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Machida keeps the fight on the outside.
Hume misses with a takedown attempt - Machida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Machida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hume but Hume pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hume falls off balance throwing a combination
and Machida counters with a good low kick that Hume was not able to check.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hume showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Machida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hume swivels and escapes.
Good leg kick by Hume there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Hume.
Hume is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Hume misses with a wild combination.
Hume looks to clinch

and Machida counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hume!

Machida jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hume is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hume and Machida has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Machida working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hume is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Machida's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hume regains full guard. Nicely done.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hume looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Machida drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hume looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hume looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hume!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hume lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hume advances to full mount.
Machida is looking to improve his position but Hume isn't that keen on the idea.
Hume scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Machida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hume scoring with strikes but Machida is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hume dominating with strikes here.
Hume trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hume postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Machida looks a forlorn figure.
Machida is looking to improve his position but Hume isn't that keen on the idea.
A nice elbow there by Hume.
Hume connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Hume looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Machida wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Machida tries to roll but Hume sticks to his back.

Hume has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Machida has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Hume doesn't have the hooks in and Machida manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hume tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Machida drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hume manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Machida has Hume in his guard.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Hume from controlling successfully.

Machida looking for a guillotine here but Hume defends easily.
Machida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hume is one step ahead there.

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.

Hume stands up from Machida's guard - Hume perhaps looking for a knockout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Machida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hume pinned against the cage. Hume gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Hume closes the distance and clinches.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hume gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Machida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hume stands up from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Hume comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hume 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Hume!