PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and J F Houle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Houle has chosen Human(e) Meat (The Flensing of Sandor Katz) as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Machida
vs
F Houle

187 cm
19
212 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

199 cm
19
246 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rashad Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, J F Houle!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Machida.

Machida shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Machida was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Houle slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Machida seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houle is positioning himself well to prevent Machida advancing to mount.
Houle trying to hold on to Machida's head to control him but Machida postures up.
Houle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Machida is stalling in the full guard.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Machida stopping the sweep attempt from Houle.
Machida wanted to stand there but Houle had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida stopping the sweep attempt from Houle.
Houle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Houle wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.
Houle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Machida manages to get himself to full guard.
Machida might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Machida striking off his back but it's not causing Houle any problems.
Machida seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Houle wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Houle content to stall in guard here.
Houle tries to stand but Machida is controlling from the bottom.
Houle looks gassed!
Houle passes into half guard.
Machida trying to control but Houle postures up.
Houle works his foot free and advances to mount.
Machida tries to hold on but Houle pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houle tries to control but Machida wriggling away.
Machida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Machida tries to hold on but Houle postures up.
Machida keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Machida tries to hold on but Houle pushes him away.
Machida bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Machida slips nicely into half guard.
Machida is looking to take a break and control but Houle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Machida wants to free his trapped foot but Houle is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Houle is refusing to be controlled, as Machida sits in half guard.
Machida trying to mount his opponent but Houle defends it.
Houle keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Houle is looking to control Machida's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Houle avoid being mounted?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houle wants to improve his position but Machida is controlling well.
Houle trying to control but Machida postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but J F Houle will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Machida thuds his shin into the meat of Houle's side.

Houle looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Machida!
Machida keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Machida prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Machida is squirming around, avoiding Houle's attempts to control the action.
Houle controlling from mount.
Houle is breathing heavily.
Machida holds on for dear life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida wants to control but Houle is having none of it.
Machida is in all sorts of trouble here.
Houle controlling his opponent.
Machida is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Houle controlling from the full mount.
Machida slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Machida trying to control from the bottom.
Houle controlling the action here.
Machida trying to control from the bottom.
Machida is pressing down on Houle's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Machida is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houle looking to sit in guard and control but Machida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Houle trying to keep a closed guard but Machida is proving a slippery customer.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Houle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throwing strikes but missing.
Machida throws a big right hand that misses.
Houle managing to control the position.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Houle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machida connects with a body shot.
Houle takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Houle keeps the fight on the outside.
Rashad Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida fails with an attempt to clinch.
Houle throws a series of punches but Machida avoids them all with ease.
Machida avoids the head kick by Houle.
Machida throws a lazy head kick
and Houle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Houle shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Houle 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 shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Machida landing strikes from the mount and Houle is in trouble!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houle tries to hold on but Machida postures up.
Machida controlling from mount.
Machida has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Machida dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Houle swats away the attempt to clinch by Machida.
A head kick from Machida lands but Houle takes it in his stride.
Machida slips a jab and a cross from Houle.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt - Houle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice body kick there by Houle.

Houle looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Machida trying to control but Houle postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Houle passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Houle controlling from mount.
Houle's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Houle trying to control but Machida is having none of it.
Machida tries to hold on but Houle pushes him away.
Houle trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Machida tries to buck Houle off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Houle looking to control but Machida is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Machida really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Machida gets back to half guard.
Houle is looking to take a break and control but Machida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machida wants to improve his position but Houle is controlling well.
Machida is working hard here to advance position.
Houle trying to pass the guard but Machida defending well.
Houle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Machida is trying to control but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Machida scores with a hook.
Machida with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Machida jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Machida tries to clinch but Houle moves away

and Houle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Houle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Machida wants to sweep here but Houle controlling him for the moment.
Machida has a closed guard, preventing Houle from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida looking for a sweep. Not yet Machida, not yet.
Houle prevents Machida from getting back to his feet.
Machida can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Houle controls the pace.
Houle slips nicely into half guard.
Houle tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Machida.

And that's the end of the fight!
J F Houle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Houle has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... J F Houle!