PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Imanari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Judge Machina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machina has chosen Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Imanari
vs
Machina

172 cm
29
165 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

185 cm
25
162 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160
Sparta Fightware

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoshihiro Imanari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Judge Machina!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imanari tries to score a power double leg takedown but Machina sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Imanari somewhat.
Imanari misses with a hook. Machina ducked under it nicely.
Imanari misses with a right hand

and Machina counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Machina.
Machina throws an elbow but it misses.
Machina tries to land knees in the clinch but Imanari avoids the damage to the body.
Imanari wants a takedown but no success here.
Imanari changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Machina fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshihiro Imanari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machina stuffs the takedown attempt from Imanari. Imanari gets slowly back to his feet.
Machina avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machina stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Machina wants it to stay on the feet.
Imanari swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Machina holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Machina with a knee to the head.
Imanari has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Imanari avoids a wild elbow strike from Machina.
Machina is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Machina connects with a nasty looking knee right to Imanari's face.
Imanari definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Machina using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Imanari tries to break free but Machina pushes him back against the cage.
Machina looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Machina throws an elbow that misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Machina obliges.
Machina throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imanari is trying to pull guard but Machina has him pressed against the cage.
Machina lands a damaging elbow.

Imanari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Imanari throws a poor cross that misses

and Machina counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Machina.
Machina is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Imanari is defending well for now.
Imanari blocks an elbow strike.
Imanari avoids the elbow strike from Machina, against the cage.
Machina pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Machina throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Imanari blocks an elbow strike from Machina.
Imanari dodges an elbow strike from Machina.
Machina misses with a knee to the head.
Machina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Machina comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Imanari has Machina pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machina lands a damaging elbow.
Machina pushes off an throws an elbow but Imanari leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Machina comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice elbow from Machina.
Machina crunches a lovely knee into Imanari's ribcage.
Machina comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Imanari blocks an elbow strike from Machina.
With the fighters up against the cage, Machina throws an elbow but misses.
Machina connects with a knee to the head.
Imanari tries for a takedown. No joy.
Imanari blocks an elbow strike from Machina.
Imanari dodges an elbow strike from Machina.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Imanari jumps guard but Machina stands there with Imanari around his waist. Imanari gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Imanari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari is trying to break the clinch but Machina is controlling him.

Imanari wants the takedown. Machina is fighting it off but Imanari persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Machina's guard against the cage.
Imanari trying to control the position from guard on top but Machina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machina tries to strike from the bottom.
Machina has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Imanari wants to control from the top but Machina keeps moving.

Yoshihiro Imanari has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Imanari misses with a body shot.
Machina has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Imanari is landing a low percentage of strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Imanari misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Imanari throws a lazy right hand but Machina sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Imanari misses with a double jab

and Machina counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Machina.
Imanari is working for takedown but Machina is calmly controlling the position for now.
Machina misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Imanari.
Machina connects with a nasty looking knee right to Imanari's face.
Machina blocks an elbow strike.
Machina misses with an elbow over the top.
Machina throws a knee to the head but misses.
Machina pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Imanari has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Machina is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Machina lands a nice elbow.
Machina throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari blocks an elbow strike from Machina.
Machina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Imanari blocks an elbow strike from Machina.

Imanari lands a takedown into guard.
Machina trying to keep a closed guard but Imanari is proving a slippery customer.
Imanari being controlled here momentarily.
Imanari preventing the sweep.
Machina is trying to keep Imanari in close.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Judge Machina hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Imanari will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshihiro Imanari. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari throws a combination that misses

and Machina counters by moving into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Machina throws an elbow but misses.
Imanari is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Machina gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nice elbow from Machina.

It looks like Yoshihiro Imanari has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imanari wants to break free but Machina has control.
Machina looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Imanari avoids the elbow strike from Machina, against the cage.
Machina creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Imanari's defenses.

Imanari has hold of one of Machina's legs. Machina is fighting the takedown attempt but Imanari gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Machina not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Machina wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Judge Machina hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Imanari throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Imanari connects with a jab.
Imanari misses with a body shot.
Imanari misses with a jab, cross combination.
Imanari looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Machina is fending him off so far but Imanari persists. Nope, Machina circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Imanari misses.
Imanari is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Machina's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Imanari misses with a hook

and Machina holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Imanari avoids the elbow strike from Machina, against the cage.
Machina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Imanari blocks the elbow strike.
Judge Machina seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Machina misses with an elbow over the top.
Machina looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Imanari blocks an elbow strike.
Machina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Machina misses with an elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machina throws an elbow but it misses.
Imanari avoids the elbow strike from Machina, against the cage.
Imanari tries to break free but Machina pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Judge Machina showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Yoshihiro Imanari's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Imanari throws an off balance right hand

and Machina counters by clinching up.
Machina misses with an elbow strike.
Machina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Imanari goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Machina lands an elbow that stopped Imanari in his tracks for a moment.
Imanari takes an elbow to the forehead.
Machina creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Imanari's defenses.
Machina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Imanari gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Machina regains guard.
Machina trying to control the position here.
Machina keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.
Imanari with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machina seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Yoshihiro Imanari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Imanari wants to control from the top but Machina keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Imanari misses with a wild combination.
Imanari misses with a hook.
Machina uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Imanari.
Imanari lands with a nice combination. Machina backs away looking to recover.
Judge Machina is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari misses with a left hand

and Machina counters by moving into the clinch.
Imanari is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Imanari fails to pull guard.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Machina just misses with a elbow thrown towards Imanari's brow.
Imanari is trying to break the clinch but Machina is controlling him.
Imanari dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Imanari is working for takedown but Machina is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshihiro Imanari. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machina lands a nice knee to the body.
Imanari is trying to pull guard but Machina has him pressed against the cage.
Machina prevents a takedown attempt there.
Imanari wants to break free but Machina has control.

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.
Imanari tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Imanari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Machina tries to land a knee to the head but Imanari blocks with his arms.
Yoshihiro Imanari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Imanari is trying to pull guard but Machina has him pressed against the cage.
Imanari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Imanari is stalling here.
Imanari throws an elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Imanari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Machina 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Judge Machina!
Our winner, Judge Machina, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.