PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bakayoko Maaluf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Machado
vs
Maaluf

185 cm
16
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rodrigo Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bakayoko Maaluf!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maaluf attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Maaluf throws a poor cross that misses

and Machado counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Maaluf jumps guard and drags Machado to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Maaluf trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Maaluf looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Maaluf has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maaluf throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rodrigo Machado wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Maaluf shoots in for a takedown but Machado shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Maaluf shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machado defends it nicely.

Maaluf takes the fight into the clinch.
Machado throws an elbow that misses.
Machado tries a body shot but Maaluf blocks it.
Machado throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Maaluf stalling in the clinch but Machado improves position.
Machado lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maaluf avoids a wild elbow strike from Machado.
With the fighters up against the cage, Machado throws an elbow but misses.
Machado lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Machado throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Machado prevents a body shot from Maaluf.
Maaluf misses with some punches.
Maaluf blocks the elbow strike.
Maaluf wants a takedown but no success here.
Rodrigo Machado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bakayoko Maaluf.
Maaluf misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Machado has Maaluf pressed against the cage, preventing Maaluf from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Machado struggles to land a body shot inside as Maaluf controls his hands.
Maaluf throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Machado misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maaluf.
Machado lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nice body punch from Machado - that landed with a thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maaluf wants to get back to striking at distance but Machado won't allow it.
Maaluf tries a body shot but Machado blocks it.
Maaluf's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Maaluf takes an elbow to the temple.
Machado works on Maaluf's body with a couple of short punches.
Machado pushes Maaluf back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Machado makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Machado lands a damaging elbow.
A hook to the body from Machado.
Maaluf is trying to break the clinch but Machado is controlling him.
Maaluf is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Machado creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maaluf's defenses.
Machado misses with an elbow strike.
Maaluf tries to pull guard but Machado won't allow it.

Maaluf pulls Machado into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maaluf is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maaluf keeping full guard, as Machado tries to pass.
Machado has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maaluf is proving hard to escape from.
Machado really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Maaluf is striking but Machado is not phased and passes to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rodrigo Machado will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maaluf throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Machado's waist but Machado gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maaluf off to one side.
Maaluf wants to slow Machado down by chopping away at his legs.
Maaluf with a lazy takedown attempt

and Machado moves into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Machado creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Maaluf blocks an elbow strike from Machado.
Machado lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Machado on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Machado tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maaluf's elbow.
Machado throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Machado lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Maaluf throws a punch but it's blocked by Machado.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Machado.

Maaluf is rocked!

It looks like Bakayoko Maaluf has been cut.
Machado lands an elbow inside that Maaluf shrugs off.
Maaluf is still on wobbly legs! Can Machado finish him?
A right hook to the body lands for Machado.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maaluf's defenses.
Clinched against the cage, Machado lands a big elbow that drops Maaluf! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Maaluf is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:10 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rodrigo Machado!