PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kazuteru Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chico Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chico Sanchez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Machida
vs
Sanchez

182 cm
23
211 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

185 cm
20
182 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kazuteru Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Chico Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Machida.
Sanchez has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Machida is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Machida wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuteru Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Machida goes for a double leg but Sanchez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sanchez continues to drive forward.
Sanchez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Machida circles away quickly and effectively.
Machida appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Machida avoids the body shot from Sanchez.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machida shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanchez sprawls well. He's pushed Machida's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Machida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanchez clinches up against the cage.
Sanchez lands with a right to the head.
Machida drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Sanchez forces Machida back against the cage and clinches.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sanchez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Machida trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Machida is really struggling to control Sanchez but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Machida.
Machida trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida with a flurry of punches that miss.
Machida missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Machida working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Machida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Machida.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Machida trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Sanchez takes the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sanchez lands a body shot.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Machida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.

Sanchez drives through and clinches with Machida against the cage.
Machida is looking to take this one to the mat.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Machida.
Machida takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machida shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanchez defends it nicely.
Sanchez lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Kazuteru Machida has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sanchez throws a counter combo.
Machida seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Sanchez darts in and clinches Machida up against the cage.
Machida tries for a takedown. No joy.
Machida can't get the takedown.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sanchez.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanchez pinned against the cage. Sanchez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sanchez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chico Sanchez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kazuteru Machida's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sanchez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Machida fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sanchez to the ground. Machida is now in Sanchez's guard.
Machida wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Machida throws a strike but Sanchez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Machida is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Machida throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Machida thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sanchez's head.
Machida looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Machida in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Machida trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Machida postures up in Sanchez's guard and throws a big left but Sanchez blocks it.
Machida seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

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.
Sanchez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Machida throws a big elbow that misses.
Machida is stalling in the full guard.
Sanchez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Machida on that attempt.

Sanchez rushes Machida and presses him up against the cage.
Sanchez gets underhooks to prevent Machida's takedown attempt.
Sanchez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuteru Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short body shot lands from Sanchez as the two fighters clinch.
Sanchez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Machida is working for takedown but Sanchez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sanchez has Machida pressed against the cage.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Machida shoots in for a double leg but Sanchez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chico Sanchez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Machida shoots for a takedown but Sanchez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A nice combination there by Sanchez.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown.
Machida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanchez pinned against the cage. Sanchez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez closes the distance and pushes Machida back into the cage.
Sanchez stops a takedown attempt from Machida.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Machida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanchez swivels and escapes.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.
Sanchez is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Machida looks for a takedown but Sanchez sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sanchez is fending him off so far but Machida persists. Nope, Sanchez circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanchez was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A punch combination from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
An inside leg kick from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Machida.
Sanchez is looking for the big counter here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chico Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kazuteru Machida's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanchez throws a leg kick but Machida sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanchez gets the takedown into side control.
Machida is trying to control Sanchez's posture but Sanchez avoids it.
Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Machida trying his best to control but Sanchez has mounted him.
Machida wants to control but Sanchez is having none of it.

Sanchez get's back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida dives in and grabs Sanchez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sanchez pushes down on Machida's head and hops out.

Sanchez moves into the clinch successfully.
Machida being controlled against the cage.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez scoring well with a low kick there.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanchez as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuteru Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Machida on that attempt.
Some wild striking there from Sanchez.
Machida feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Sanchez forces Machida back against the cage and clinches.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Machida fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez avoids it really well and circles away.
Machida takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez takes a swing at Machida's ribcage but misses.
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Machida.
Sanchez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sanchez wants it to stay on the feet.
Sanchez misses with the combination.
Machida thinks about countering with a body kick.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.
Sanchez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida checks a leg kick.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Chico Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Machida scores with a takedown into Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Machida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throwing strikes but missing.
Sanchez wants to stand and escape but Machida is having none of it.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Machida is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanchez wanted to stand there but Machida had control of the position.

That's four 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.
Sanchez preventing the sweep.
Machida working a defensive guard here.
Machida throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Chico Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Machida looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Machida escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanchez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sanchez wants to stand but Machida has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chico Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanchez 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 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chico Sanchez!
The defeated Kazuteru Machida had this to say: 'Team Goroshi - Kore Fight Nutrition - Project Ascension'.