PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Roko Tiili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tiili comes to the cage accompanied by Antti Railio - Halla ja etelätuuli. 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.

Tiili
vs
Machado

168 cm
30
137 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

185 cm
25
145 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roko Tiili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Machado!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Eddie Farnsworth and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Machado. No joy for Tiili on that attempt.
Machado with the counter takedown but Tiili avoids it easily.
Machado avoids a kick to the body.
Machado feints the counter takedown.
Tiili throws a leg kick that is checked

and Machado counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tiili is looking to improve his position.

Tiili looking for submissions off his back.
Tiili might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tiili is trying to control but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiili tries to get to full guard but Machado has control of the leg.
Machado controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiili tries to roll over but Machado keeps him under control.
Machado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tiili works his way to full guard. Good work.
Machado trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tiili is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Machado is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Machado with a flurry of punches that miss.
Machado throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tiili works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Machado works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tiili wants to get back to full guard.
Machado looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tiili with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tiili is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tiili keeps working.
Tiili wants to get back to full guard.
Machado uses his free foot to push down on Tiili's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Tiili.
Machado working Tiili over with strikes here.
Tiili bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Machado keeping full guard, as Tiili tries to pass.
Tiili is looking to work some ground and pound but Machado has wrist control.
Machado has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiili trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tiili with a flurry of punches that miss.
Machado utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Machado is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Machado avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tiili trying to control the position from guard on top but Machado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machado can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tiili controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tiili stopping the sweep attempt from Machado.
Machado has Tiili pulled in close to control his posture.
Tiili pushing down on Machado's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tiili throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tiili is keen to just control but Machado is a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiili throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tiili misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rodrigo Machado will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Machado avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Machado feints the counter takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Machado. No joy for Tiili on that attempt.
And Machado tries to counter it with a takedown but Tiili pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Machado showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tiili.
Machado staying out of range there.
Machado with the counter takedown but Tiili avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiili digs a good hook to Machado's body.
Machado moves out of range of the body kick.

Tiili scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tiili.
Machado slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Machado is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tiili throwing strikes but missing.
Tiili throws a big elbow that misses.
Machado bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tiili's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Machado throwing strikes but missing.

Tiili looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tiili keeping moving, preventing Machado from controlling successfully.
Machado throws an elbow that misses. Tiili uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Machado's guard. Nice move by Tiili!

Tiili missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Machado looking for a sweep. Not yet Machado, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiili throws an elbow that misses. Machado uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tiili's guard. Nice move by Machado!

Machado throws a strike but Tiili rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tiili throwing strikes but missing.
Tiili is looking to work some ground and pound but Machado has wrist control.
Tiili 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Tiili slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tiili advances to mount.
Machado is looking to get to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiili lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roko Tiili dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tiili stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tiili tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Machado was well out of range. Poor timing from Tiili.
Machado changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tiili scores with a jab to the jaw.

Machado is rocked!
Tiili drops Machado with a straight right hand, right on the button! Tiili follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roko Tiili!
Roko Tiili was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.