PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Manny Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santa Cruz has chosen 50 cent P.I.M.P as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Machado
vs
Santa Cruz

175 cm
33
164 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

180 cm
39
170 lbs
32 - 29 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Revolution Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manny Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 29 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado throws an off balance right hand
and Santa Cruz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Machado manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Machado goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Machado ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santa Cruz moves away.
Santa Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Machado as he avoids it easily.
Machado throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Santa Cruz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice takedown defense from Machado. No joy for Santa Cruz on that attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Machado creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Machado scores with a hook to the body.
Santa Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Santa Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Machado scores with a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machado lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Machado is trying to push Santa Cruz away but Santa Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Santa Cruz avoids the elbow strike from Machado, against the cage.
Santa Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Machado controls his hands.
Santa Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Machado throws an elbow but it misses.
Santa Cruz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Santa Cruz fails to land.
Santa Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Santa Cruz blocking some punches.
Santa Cruz misses with some punches.
Santa Cruz scores with a shoulder strike.
Santa Cruz scores with a shoulder strike.
Machado doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Machado blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Machado blocks a body shot from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Machado after a bit of a struggle.
Manny Machado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santa Cruz.

Machado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado misses with a body shot.
Machado throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Santa Cruz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Santa Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Santa Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Machado.
Santa Cruz only half commits to the counter leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch up but Machado circles away and keeps his distance.
Machado swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
An inside leg kick from Machado misses.
Santa Cruz misses with a straight right.
Machado steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz is looking to clinch but Machado is avoiding it.
Santa Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Santa Cruz avoids the body shot from Machado.
Machado throws a right and a left that Santa Cruz avoids nicely.
Santa Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado tries to score with a low kick but Santa Cruz moves his leg out of the way.
Santa Cruz checks a low kick from Machado.
Santa Cruz slips a jab from Machado.
Machado misses with a double jab
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice leg kick.
Manny Machado is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Machado walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Santa Cruz shoots in and bounces Machado off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Machado is working from the bottom.
Santa Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Machado looking for a sweep. Not yet Machado, not yet.
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Machado keeps moving.
Machado wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Santa Cruz is now in half guard.
Machado wants to get back to full guard.
Santa Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Santa Cruz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Well, if Santa Cruz is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Machado is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Heart Cave (8 elites, 4 double-elites, 1 triple) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Santa Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Machado defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Machado dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Machado tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Machado takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Machado fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Santa Cruz.
Machado looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Santa Cruz with the counter takedown but Machado avoids it easily.
Santa Cruz avoids the body shot from Machado.
Machado lands a two punch combo.
Santa Cruz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Machado on the side of the head.
Santa Cruz is looking to clinch.
Machado tries to work over Santa Cruz's front leg with a kick but Santa Cruz checks it.
It seemed like Santa Cruz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santa Cruz tries to land a front kick but Machado steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Machado throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Santa Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.

Santa Cruz has Machado up against the cage in a clinch.
Machado doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Machado is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santa Cruz can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Santa Cruz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Machado misses with a punch to the body.
Santa Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz pushes Machado back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Santa Cruz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Santa Cruz working the ground and pound.
Santa Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Machado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machado is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Machado is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Santa Cruz off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santa Cruz rolls, trying to escape but Machado keeps control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Machado trying to control momentarily.
Santa Cruz tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Machado raining down hammerfists from mount.
Santa Cruz is looking to improve his position but Machado isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Santa Cruz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Machado pulls his head out easily.
Santa Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Machado is working away from the top position though.

Santa Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Machado wants to free his trapped foot but Santa Cruz is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Santa Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.
Santa Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Santa Cruz works his way to full guard. Good work.

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

Santa Cruz is looking for a triangle but Machado pushes his legs off easily.

Santa Cruz working for submissions but it's allowed Machado to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Santa Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Machado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Machado throws a front kick aimed at Santa Cruz's knee but Santa Cruz avoids it well.
Santa Cruz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Santa Cruz rushes Machado and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santa Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Machado controls the action.
Machado is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Santa Cruz blocks an uppercut.
Santa Cruz lands an uppercut.
Santa Cruz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Machado struggles to land a body shot inside as Santa Cruz controls his hands.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Machado tries to circle away but Santa Cruz has him pinned against the cage.

Santa Cruz gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Machado is doing well to control the position and prevent Santa Cruz from advancing to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Machado seems keen to control Santa Cruz's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Santa Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Machado preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Machado holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Santa Cruz throws a strike but Machado rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Santa Cruz controls Machado momentarily but Machado frees himself.
Machado with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Machado trying to control the position from guard on top but Santa Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santa Cruz controlling the position.

Santa Cruz has an active guard here but Machado has managed to pass into half guard.
Santa Cruz is looking to control Machado's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Santa Cruz avoid being mounted?
Santa Cruz felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santa Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rafael Santa Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machado prevents Santa Cruz from improving his position.
Machado is trying to control the action in half guard but Santa Cruz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Machado throws a sloppy body shot
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch up but Machado circles away and keeps his distance.
Machado fails with an attempt to clinch.
Manny Machado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circle momentarily. Machado darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Machado is looking to wear down Santa Cruz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A clash of legs there as Santa Cruz blocks the low kick.
Santa Cruz was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Machado tries to bum rush Santa Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Santa Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch but Machado moves away
and Machado counters with a nice body shot.
Santa Cruz thumps Machado with a low kick.
Santa Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Machado circles away.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch up.
Santa Cruz wants to clinch.
Santa Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Machado manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Machado was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Machado moves out of range of the strikes.
Machado appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Machado misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Santa Cruz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Machado throws a low kick but Santa Cruz avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rafael Santa Cruz.
I think Santa Cruz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santa Cruz!
Rafael Santa Cruz seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.