PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phil Mastadon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikel Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Phil Mastadon has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mastadon
vs
Machida

190 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

187 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phil Mastadon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikel Machida!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Reed Andrews and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mastadon tries to bum rush Machida with a series of wild strikes but Machida uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Phil Mastadon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mastadon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Machida, pushing him back against the cage.
Machida misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mastadon.
Mastadon tries to pull guard but Machida holds him up against the cage and eventually Mastadon drops back down to his feet.
Machida goes for a takedown attempt but Mastadon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Machida decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Machida looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Machida is pressing down on Mastadon's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mastadon is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mastadon looks like he's trying to stand up.
Machida wants to pass the guard but Mastadon is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Machida stops Mastadon from getting back to his feet.
Machida works his way into side control.
Mastadon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Machida wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mastadon is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mastadon.
Mastadon tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mastadon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mastadon misses with a takedown attempt

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mastadon won't be happy with that.

Machida is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mastadon has escaped the position, nice work there.
Machida looks gassed!
Machida prevents Mastadon from escaping the position.
Mastadon struggling a bit here.
Mastadon is not content to let Machida control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mastadon stops Machida from passing to mount.

Machida tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Machida has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mastadon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Machida wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mastadon is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four 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.
Mastadon is looking to regain half guard here but Machida keeps moving and retains side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mastadon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown. Mastadon fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Mastadon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Mastadon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida sitting in guard here, content to control.

Machida postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mastadon is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Machida, into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikel Machida 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.

Mastadon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mastadon shoots in and drives through. Machida sprawls well.
Mastadon lands with a kick to the temple. Machida shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Machida changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mastadon looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Machida swings around for an armbar but Mastadon sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Machida's guard.
Machida trying to control the position.
Mastadon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mastadon advances to half guard.
Machida wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is looking for a sweep. Mastadon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mastadon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machida does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Machida is trying to maintain the position but Mastadon is very close to passing his half guard.

Mastadon wants to work for an arm triangle but Machida is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Machida is trying to stand up here but Mastadon is controlling him well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mastadon misses with a takedown

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mastadon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mastadon trying to hold on to Machida's head to control him but Machida postures up.

Machida looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Machida wants to stand but Mastadon has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mastadon keeps working.
Machida wants to stand up but Mastadon manages to regain full guard.
Machida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mastadon is keeping the position for now.
Machida is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mastadon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machida counters with a single leg into guard. Mastadon didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Mastadon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Machida is pushing down on Mastadon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mastadon is fighting to maintain full guard but Machida has managed to sneak the leg through.
Machida moves nicely into side control.

Machida is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mastadon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mastadon is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Machida is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikel Machida 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. This is the final round!

Mastadon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mastadon.
Mastadon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Machida postures up.

Mastadon stands up from Machida's guard - Mastadon perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mastadon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mastadon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mastadon with a lazy takedown attempt

and Machida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mastadon's guard now.
Mastadon trying to control the position here.

Mastadon wriggles free and stands up.
Mastadon has his takedown stuffed

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Mastadon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida controlling the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Machida is looking for a kimura here.
Machida passes into side control, despite Mastadon's attempt to control the position.
Machida is looking to take a break and control but Mastadon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Machida wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mastadon, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida stands up and beckons Mastadon to his feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mastadon.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Mastadon.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mastadon.

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.

Mastadon gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mastadon keeping full guard, as Machida tries to pass.

Machida stands and steps away. Mastadon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mikel Machida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mastadon looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mastadon wants to stand but Machida has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mastadon trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikel Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Machida 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikel Machida!