PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lee Sang Seok (ranked 189 p4p, 30 weight class) and Manny Machado (ranked 850 p4p, 100 weight class). 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.

Sang Seok
vs
Machado

176 cm
26
160 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

175 cm
38
164 lbs
31 - 16 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
FORCEE

Aspire Clothing
FORCEE

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 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lee Sang Seok!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manny Machado!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Seok bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Machado's head backwards.
Machado is looking to clinch.
Machado lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Machado ducks under a wild hook from Seok.
Seok throws a low kick but Machado avoids it.
Machado misses with a looping right.
Machado misses the jab.
Seok avoids the body shot from Machado.
Machado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Seok.
Seok has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Machado.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Seok loads up on a big right hand but Machado slips the punch.
Machado swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Seok seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Seok avoids the body shot from Machado.
Seok appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Machado throws a body punch but Seok moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado throws out a loose jab but Seok uses good head movement to avoid it.
Seok fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machado manages to avoid it.
Machado staying out of range there.
Machado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Seok.
Machado is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Seok with a body shot.
Seok misses with a looping right.
Seok takes one on the button.
Machado blocks a leg kick.
Seok misses with a body shot.
Seok stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Machado.
Seok walks into a straight right hand from Machado.
Machado scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seok pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Machado misses with a wild body shot.
Machado connects with a good right hand that stumbles Seok. Seok circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Seok checks a leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Seok.
Machado tries to close the distance and clinch up but Seok swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Seok misses with a right hand
and Machado counters with a nice uppercut.
Machado throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machado punishes Seok's body with a nice straight punch.
Machado slips under a jab from Seok.
Seok keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Machado moves out of range as Seok strikes.
Machado wants to counter the offense by Seok and move into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seok looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Machado lands with an uppercut that bounces Seok off the cage and back into range.
Machado takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Machado defending well as Seok loads up on a big left hand.
Seok throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Machado counters with a left to the body.
Machado tries to move into range but Seok moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Machado slips a jab from Seok.
Machado tries to counter with a clinch but Seok shakes him off and moves away.
Seok misses with a wild body shot.
Seok swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Seok looks to land a right hand but Machado moved out of range.
Machado scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Seok keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seok misses with a wild body shot.
Machado tries a quick counter leg kick but Seok is wise to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machado swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Machado staying out of range there.
Machado only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Machado fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Seok has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Seok.

Seok gets a takedown into half guard.

Seok wants to work for an arm triangle but Machado is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Seok blocks the strikes from Machado.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Manny Machado will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Seok motions for Machado to come forward. Seok throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Seok throws a right and a left that both miss.
Seok fails with the takedown.
Machado misses with a hook.
Seok misses with a kick to the body.
Machado lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Machado connects with a looping right hand.
Machado gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Seok.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Seok. Those never looked like landing.
Machado throws a big shot that misses.
Seok appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Seok looking to score a takedown here. Machado is defending well but Seok drives through and ends up in Machado's guard.

Machado is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Seok defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado looking to hit a scissor sweep but Seok is one step ahead there.
Machado avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Seok sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Machado's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Seok is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Machado sees it coming and defends easily.
Machado won't allow Seok to pass to mount.
Machado is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Seok moves into full mount! Machado won't be happy about that!
Seok working Machado over with strikes here.
Seok can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Machado is looking to escape.
Seok scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Machado?
Machado sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Machado is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Seok's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Seok's back!
Machado is hanging on to Seok's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado is trying to stick to Seok's back but Seok is turning into Machado. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Machado's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Seok.
Seok preventing the sweep.
Seok stays in close to Machado's body and controls the position.
Machado avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Machado looking for a sweep. Not yet Machado, not yet.
Seok looking to sit in guard and control but Machado gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Seok trying to keep a closed guard but Machado is proving a slippery customer.
Lee Sang Seok overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Seok wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seok is working hard here to advance position.
Machado working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machado wants to control from the top but Seok keeps moving.

Seok working for a triangle but Machado defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machado wants to control from the top but Seok keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Sang Seok dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Seok slips a jab from Machado.
Seok swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Machado throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machado looks to score with a jab to the body but Seok is just out of range.
Seok changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Seok just misses with a punch to the body.
Machado is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Seok with a body shot.
Seok dips to his left and cracks Machado with an uppercut!
Machado scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Seok misses with an uppercut. Machado saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Seok lands with an uppercut that bounces Machado off the cage and back into range.
Machado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Seok.
Seok throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Seok takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Seok connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Machado momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seok takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Manny Machado is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Machado displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Seok.
Machado doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Seok keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Seok moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Seok avoids the body shot from Machado.
Seok keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Machado lands with a good body shot.
Machado is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Seok appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
The fighters circle momentarily. Seok darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seok throws the left hand but Machado avoids the punch easily.
Machado throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Seok stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Machado ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Seok moves away.
Machado cracks Seok with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Seok fails with the takedown
and Machado counters with a stiff right hand.
Seok lands a glancing blow to the side of Machado's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machado jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Machado connects with a body shot.
Seok misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Sang Seok. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado just misses with a punch to the body.
Seok uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Machado.
Seok half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Machado scores with a nice right hand.
Seok fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Machado loads up on a big right hand but Seok slips the punch.
Machado is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Seok.
Machado defending well as Seok loads up on a big left hand.
A little jabbing left from Machado on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Machado just misses with a punch to the body.
Machado just misses with a punch to the body.
Seok swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado misses with a straight left.
Seok slips a jab from Machado.
Machado takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Machado tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Seok manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters circling - Seok throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Machado! But no joy.
Seok shoots in for a double leg but Machado sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A nice side step and Machado releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Seok fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Seok misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Machado.
Machado throws out a loose jab but Seok uses good head movement to avoid it.
Seok drops down looking for a counter takedown but Machado sprawls and moves away.
A right-left combo lands from Machado.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Machado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Machado 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Machado!
An out of breath Manny Machado thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.