PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Gomaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralph Machio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Gomaz
vs
Machio

185 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

HERITAGE! (message for laundry)
AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tyler Gomaz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ralph Machio!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machio looks for the body kick but Gomaz saw that one coming.
Gomaz misses with a combination

so Machio counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Machio chips away with some ground and pound.

Machio gets to his feet - Gomaz follows without any prompting.

Machio looking to score a takedown here. Gomaz is defending well but Machio drives through and ends up in Gomaz's guard.
Machio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Machio has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Machio is in close to Gomaz's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Gomaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machio's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Machio content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Machio thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Machio is stalling in the full guard.
Machio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Machio controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two 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.
Machio cracks Gomaz with a solid left hand.
Machio passes into half guard.
Machio is controlling the pace.

Machio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gomaz defends it well.
Machio looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomaz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Machio is controlling the pace.

Machio moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Gomaz.
Gomaz tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Machio works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Machio scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gomaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Machio working the ground and pound.
Machio controlling from side mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machio is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Machio dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Machio shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Machio was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gomaz is looking for a sweep.
Machio has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Machio controlling the position from side mount.
Let's hope that Machio has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Machio is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gomaz has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gomaz taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ralph Machio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gomaz is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machio swings around for an armbar but Gomaz sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Machio's guard.
Machio lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gomaz being controlled here, momentarily.
Machio keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gomaz's head.
Machio advances position into side control!
Machio scoring with punches and elbows.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Machio working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Machio working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomaz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Machio wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Machio decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gomaz to his feet.
Ralph Machio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gomaz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
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!
Machio looks to land a body kick but Gomaz moved away.
Gomaz throws a left and a right that both miss

and Machio counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Machio.
Gomaz is trying to force a seperation but Machio has the dominant position.

Machio manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machio is pulling down on Gomaz's head to control his posture.

Machio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gomaz is aware though and is defending well.
Machio controlling Gomaz's posture.
Machio manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gomaz manages to get himself to full guard.

Gomaz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Machio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Machio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machio looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Machio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Machio stands and throws Gomaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gomaz tries to improve position but can't.

Machio is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gomaz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Machio taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Machio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Machio shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gomaz manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machio 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Machio.
Machio passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machio slips a nice elbow through Gomaz's hands, connecting with Gomaz's forehead.

Gomaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Machio slips a nice elbow through Gomaz's hands, connecting with Gomaz's forehead.
Machio slows the pace down in half guard.
Gomaz tries to roll over but Machio keeps him under control.

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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Machio lands a nice short elbow.
Machio works his way into side control.
Machio working the ground and pound from side control.

Machio decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gomaz to his feet.

Machio moves into the clinch.

Machio is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gomaz can't fight it off and eventually Machio manages to take the fight to the floor. Gomaz looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Machio slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machio sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gomaz's guard.
Machio lands strikes from half guard.

Machio is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gomaz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Machio.
Machio takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machio looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Gomaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Machio winds up and cracks Gomaz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Machio lands with a punch from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Machio winds up and cracks Gomaz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Machio working the head and body with strikes.
Machio controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Machio really 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.

Gomaz throws a nice looking combination but Machio bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Machio just misses with a punch to the body.

Machio clinches.

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

Machio controlling the action here.
Gomaz is in trouble now - Machio has advanced to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machio in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Machio connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Machio lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gomaz hang on?
Machio with a couple of short strikes.

Gomaz is rocked!
Machio unloading with bombs!
Oh Gomaz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Machio is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Gomaz goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Machio!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ralph Machio!
Ralph Machio is the new middleweight champion!
An out of breath Ralph Machio thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.