PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between William Wallace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralph Machio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ralph Machio is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Wallace
vs
Machio

185 cm
23
192 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
29
193 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, William Wallace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ralph Machio!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machio wants to clinch up but Wallace keeps it at a distance.
Wallace tries to counter with a takedown but Machio is quick to defend against it.
Machio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wallace throws a shot from downtown. Machio moves away and avoids it.
Machio shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wallace but Wallace pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Machio shoots for a takedown but Wallace saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Wallace misses the target.

Wallace shoots in and bounces Machio off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Machio has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Wallace is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Wallace to work.
Machio pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machio is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Wallace to keep the fight standing.
William Wallace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralph Machio.

Machio breaks the clinch.
Machio ducks under a wild hook from Wallace.
Machio moves in looking to clinch but Wallace pushes him off.
Machio takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Machio moves out of range as Wallace strikes.
Wallace fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Wallace has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Machio lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Machio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wallace attempts a counter takedown but Machio avoids it well and moves away.
Machio has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Ralph Machio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machio fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wallace feinted with a counter takedown.
Wallace lands a nice looking body shot.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Machio - that will leave a mark!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machio ducks under a wild hook from Wallace.
Wallace swings away with a body shot that misses
and Machio counters with a three punch combo that has Wallace backing up. Wallace nods at Machio to acknowledge the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Wallace closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Machio quickly recovers to half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Machio taking some punishment here, with Wallace in his half guard.
Machio is looking to improve his position.
Machio makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Machio.
Wallace is in close to Machio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Wallace has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wallace is stalling in the full guard.
Wallace tries to free his leg and advance position but Machio is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallace is in close to Machio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Wallace tries to free his leg and advance position but Machio is retaining full guard.
Machio is trying to keep Wallace in close.

Machio has his foot on Wallace's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wallace works his way back into a safe position though.
Machio wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wallace pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machio is keeping the position for now.
Wallace landing with the ground and pound.
Wallace trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wallace wants to control from the top but Machio keeps moving.

Machio is looking for a triangle but Wallace pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallace chips away with some ground and pound.
Machio pulls Wallace in close to prevent any damage.
Wallace is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Machio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wallace wants to control from the top but Machio keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Machio tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Wallace dominated that round.
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.

Wallace swats away the attempt to clinch by Machio.
Wallace feinted with a counter takedown.
Machio lands a head kick. Wallace smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Wallace looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Machio wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Wallace manages to pass to side control.

Wallace trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machio wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machio manages to get to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Machio is on top in guard.

Wallace utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Machio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wallace is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Machio stopping the sweep attempt from Wallace.
Machio with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Machio postures up.
Wallace looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machio is looking to work some ground and pound but Wallace has wrist control.
Machio wants to control from the top but Wallace keeps moving.

Wallace looking for a guillotine here but Machio defends easily.
Machio throws a big right hand that misses.
Wallace keeping full guard, as Machio tries to pass.
Machio postures up and lands a big shot to Wallace's brow.
Machio lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wallace tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Machio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wallace managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wallace swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Machio trying to control the position from guard on top but Wallace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Wallace fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machio manages to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Machio.
Wallace misses with a looping left.

Machio throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Wallace was covering up waiting for the punch and Machio finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Machio throws a strike but Wallace rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 is nestled in close to Wallace, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Wallace is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Machio looks to land a strike but Wallace avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Machio preventing the sweep.

Wallace looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wallace is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wallace tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Machio changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wallace tries to avoid it but Machio manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wallace to the ground. Wallace escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wallace throws a jab when Machio was well out of range.

Wallace throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Machio tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Wallace is in Machio's guard.

Machio is looking for a triangle but Wallace pushes his legs off easily.
Wallace slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Machio is working to avoid the ground and pound but Wallace connects with a decent elbow.
Wallace advances nicely into full mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wallace breaks from Machio's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Machio is working to get back to half guard.
William Wallace overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Machio bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machio trying to control the position from guard on top but Wallace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machio landing with the ground and pound.
Wallace lands with a heel strike from the guard.

Wallace is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Machio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wallace wants to sweep here but Machio controlling him for the moment.
Wallace is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.
Wallace looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Machio puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Wallace is looking to control Machio's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wallace avoid being mounted?
Wallace is looking for a sweep. Machio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Wallace is staying active underneath Machio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wallace is trying to get back to full guard.
Wallace is working hard here to advance position.
Machio trying to control the action but Wallace is working from the bottom.
Wallace trying to hold on to Machio's head to control him but Machio postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Machio there.

Machio seems to be looking for submissions.
Machio is nestled in close to Wallace, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Machio looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Machio has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Wallace is working to get back to half guard.
Machio trying to control but Wallace is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machio lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wallace keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Machio raining down shots from the mount!
Machio mounts Wallace! Really nice guard pass there!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machio looking to control but Wallace is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wallace manages to regain half guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ralph Machio.
I think Machio 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralph Machio!
A victorious Ralph Machio thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.