PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zivojin Miric (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machado is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Enter Sandman. 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.

Miric
vs
Machado

193 cm
27
227 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

185 cm
26
240 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zivojin Miric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johan Machado!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Miric. No joy for Machado on that attempt.
Miric stuffs the takedown.
Machado misses with a series of wild punches.

Miric fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Machado to the ground. Miric is now in Machado's guard.

Machado is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Miric defends well.
Miric pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machado is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miric's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Our spies down at at Main Event Gym inform us that Machado has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Miric gets to his feet - Machado follows without any prompting.
Miric uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Machado.

Miric shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Miric showed some decent athleticism there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machado tries to get to full guard but Miric has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado keeps trying to improve his position.
Machado gets full guard.

Machado has his foot on Miric's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miric works his way back into a safe position though.

Machado throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Machado is looking for a triangle but Miric pushes his legs off easily.
Miric has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Machado has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Miric can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machado working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Miric doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Miric manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Miric slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Machado is looking for a sweep.
Machado is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Machado looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Machado looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miric wants to stand but Machado has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Machado looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Machado is looking to improve his position.
Miric tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Machado.
Miric wants to pass to mount but Machado is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machado is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Miric pulls his head out easily.

Machado actively working from the bottom here.

Machado looking for submissions off his back.
Miric seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machado does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machado wants to get back to full guard.

Machado looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Machado looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Machado 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.

Sloppy strikes from Miric. Those never looked like landing.
Machado takes one on the button.
Miric looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Miric displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Machado moves to clinch but Miric breaks away
and Miric counters with a nice uppercut.
Miric moves away from the strike by Machado.
Machado misses with a straight right.
Machado's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Machado duly obliges.

Miric moves into range and clinches up with Machado.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machado tries for a takedown but Miric manages to get underhooks.
Miric is pressed up against the cage. Machado has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Miric down to the mat. Miric avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Miric throws a series of strikes that have Machado backpedaling.

It looks like Johan Machado has been cut.
Machado misses with a double jab.
Machado just misses with a punch to the body.
Machado scores with a jab. Miric acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Miric darts in and clinches Machado up against the cage.
Machado is trying to push Miric away but Miric has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miric pushes Machado back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Machado wants to break free but Miric has control.

Miric's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machado thows a body shot but no joy.
Machado looks to land a combination but Miric avoids it well.
Machado shoots in looking for a takedown but Miric manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Machado's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zivojin Miric has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Machado.
Machado is breathing heavily.
Miric scores with a nice strike.
Some wild striking there from Miric.
Miric tries to clinch up but Machado circles away and keeps his distance.
Johan Machado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Miric throws a shot to the body.
Miric connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Machado gets tackled into the cage by Miric. Miric maintains the clinch.

Miric successfully pulls guard.

Machado drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Miric dives on top into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miric wanted to stand there but Machado had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machado is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Miric defends well.

Machado isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Miric stacks Machado on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Miric!
Machado is not content to let Miric control the position.
Machado manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miric prevents Machado from improving his position.

Machado looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Miric looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Machado has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Miric escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Miric!
Machado is looking for a sweep.
Machado is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miric stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Machado has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Miric pushes Machado up against the cage in a clinch.

Miric escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Machado. Miric does a little dance to reset his feet.

Miric darts in and clinches Machado up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machado tries to circle away but Miric has him pinned against the cage.

Machado manages to break the clinch.

Machado throws a left that rocks Miric and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Machado dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Miric regain composure!

It looks like Zivojin Miric has been cut.
Machado working away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Machado tries for a kimura but Miric is defending well.

Machado goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Miric has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Machado but great work by Miric.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Machado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Miric closes the distance and pushes Machado back into the cage.
Machado wants to break free but Miric has control.

Miric pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Miric misses with a wild combination.
Machado misses with a looping right.

Miric pushes Machado up against the cage in a clinch.
Machado looking for a takedown.
Machado jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Miric walks away with a smile on his face. Machado gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Miric gets a takedown into half guard.

Machado looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Miric pushes past his half guard into mount!
Machado really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miric takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Machado tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Miric sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Machado actively working from the bottom here.

Miric moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Machado.
Machado tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Miric wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miric wants to stand but Machado has his arm trapped.
Machado tries to bench press Miric off him but Miric keeps the position.
Machado gets back to half guard.
Machado is looking to get back to full guard here but Miric has managed to pass to side control instead.
Machado is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Machado has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Miric escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Miric!
Machado tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Machado takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado is still trying to improve position.
Johan Machado has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machado is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Johan Machado.
I've got Machado winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Johan Machado!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Johan Machado!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Johan Machado!

Johan Machado wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Johan Machado, 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.