PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Machida
vs
Gracie

192 cm
22
214 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
191 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Team S.W.A.T.
Elite Nutrition Supplements

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.

Machida pushes Gracie off and scrambles back to his feet.
Machida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Machida is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Machida is one step ahead there.
Machida has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Machida gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Machida.
Machida clinches but Gracie breaks the clinch

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gracie is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Machida Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gracie's back instead.
Gracie rolls, trying to escape but Machida keeps control of the position.
Gracie is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Machida tightening his grip on Gracie, looking for the choke.
Machida is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Machida is looking for the choke from the back position but Gracie is controlling his hands well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie breaks Machida's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Machida dives on top into guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Machida is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Machida's back instead.
Machida tries to escape but Gracie has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Gracie working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Machida just trying to survive but Gracie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Gracie is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Machida covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Machida is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Machida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida throws and elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Machida's guard. Nice move by Gracie!

Machida working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.
Machida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Machida has taken the fight into the clinch.
Machida tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Machida prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Machida shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Gracie.
Machida prevents a takedown attempt there.

Machida manages to break the clinch.
Machida closes the distance but Gracie moves to the side

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machida's guard now.
Royce Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machida trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Machida dives on top into guard.
Machida trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Machida's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Machida pushes his legs off easily.
Machida sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Machida seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Machida is controlling well.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Machida pulls his head out easily.
Machida wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Machida has control of the leg.

Machida is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Machida eventually gives up the hold.
Machida wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Machida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie scores with a three punch combo!
Machida tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida darts in trying to clinch

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machida's guard now.
Gracie stands and throws Machida's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Machida wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Machida is trying to work for a sweep but Gracie has mounted him!
Machida is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.
Machida regains half guard.
Machida blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Machida knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Machida slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Machida tries to clinch but Gracie moves away

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gracie.
Gracie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Machida manages to break the clinch.
Machida closes the distance but Gracie moves to the side

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Machida didn't expect that.
Machida is trying to keep Gracie in close.

Machida is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Machida throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Machida controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.
Machida is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie shoots and misses

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch.

Gracie gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Machida regains guard.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Machida dives on top into guard.

Machida drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Machida off! Machida jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Machida stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gracie prevents Machida from moving into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Machida wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gracie prevents Machida from improving position.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Machida wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Machida gets to his feet - Gracie follows without any prompting.
Machida tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Machida looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Machida is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Machida manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Machida's guard.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.
Machida striking from the bottom here.

Machida is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Machida is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A head kick misses from Machida.

That's four 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.

Gracie rushes Machida and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Machida lands a hook to the side of the head.

Machida manages to pull guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Machida's guard.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gracie passes to side control.
Machida tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Machida is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gracie 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Gracie!