PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vic Sotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Lyoto Machida kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sotto
vs
Machida

187 cm
22
215 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Rocha Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vic Sotto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Sotto.
Machida throws a hook to the side of Sotto's head but Sotto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A right-left combo lands from Sotto.

It looks like Lyoto Machida has been cut.
Sotto pivots, looking for a leg kick but Machida is out of range and Sotto settles back down.
Sotto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Machida.
Machida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Machida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sotto is fending him off so far but Machida persists. Nope, Sotto circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Machida.
Sotto throws a head kick that misses
and Machida counters with a body kick that stops Sotto in his tracks momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machida listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Machida checks a low kick from Sotto.
Sotto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vic Sotto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Machida.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sotto as he avoids it easily.
Machida tries for a takedown but Sotto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Machida looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida misses with a head kick.
Sotto lands a jab to the head.
Sotto misses with the combination.
Machida walks into a stiff left hand from Sotto.
Sotto takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sotto throws a leg kick but Machida sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sotto lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Machida shoots in for a double leg but Sotto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but Sotto shows good takedown defense.
Machida shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sotto lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sotto scores with a hook to the body. Machida takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lyoto Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sotto dips to his left and cracks Machida with an uppercut!
Sotto lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sotto connects with a single shot there.
Machida gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That has opened up Lyoto Machida's cut even more.
Sotto changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sotto lands a jab to the head.
The crowd cheers as Sotto lands an impressive looking overhand right. Machida doesn't seem phased though.
Machida is trying desperately to land a takedown but Sotto is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Machida.
Sotto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Machida looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Machida moves forwards but Sotto connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Machida takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotto looks to land a combination but Machida avoids it well.
Sotto lands with a shot to the body.
Sotto throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Machida on the side of the head.
Nice takedown defense from Sotto. No joy for Machida on that attempt.
Nice shot lands for Sotto.
Sotto lands the left hand.
Sotto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Machida takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sotto scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Machida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sotto pinned against the cage. Sotto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vic Sotto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Machida throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida moves out of range as Sotto throws a body kick.
Sotto throws a series of punches but Machida moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Machida or perhaps it was just good defense by Sotto which made him look bad.
Sotto misses with a double jab

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machida loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Machida throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sotto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sotto is looking to stand up but Machida isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Machida has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machida passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vic Sotto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Machida's cut.
That's time! Sotto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Machida shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Machida showed some decent athleticism there.

Sotto kicks Machida off and gets back to his feet.
Machida uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sotto.
Sotto thows a body shot but no joy.
Sotto stuffs the takedown.
Vic Sotto is winning the standup battle so far.
Machida tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sotto was well out of range. Poor timing from Machida.
Machida takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Machida scores with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vic Sotto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Machida.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotto lands with a nice body punch.
Machida walks into a stiff left hand from Sotto.
Sotto jabs Machida right on the nose. Machida blinks but takes it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Machida.
Sotto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Sotto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Machida throws the kick towards the body but Sotto avoids it.
Machida turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Machida's corner calls for a 1-2. Machida obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sotto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Sotto does no damage.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt.
Sotto with a nice cross.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but Sotto shows good takedown defense.
Sotto scores with a hook.
A shot to de liver by Sotto. Beautiful body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Sotto as Machida shoots in.
Sotto scores with a sloppy right hand. Machida should have avoided that one.
Machida changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sotto tries to avoid it but Machida manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sotto to the ground. Sotto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Sotto getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A lazy left from Sotto finds it's target.

Machida closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Machida looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sotto with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Machida is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sotto is just riding it out for now. Machida eventually gives up the hold.
Sotto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Machida.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sotto kicks off Machida and gets to his feet.
Machida fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Machida takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Machida shoots in for a double leg but Sotto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice takedown defense from Sotto. No joy for Machida on that attempt.
Decent striking displayed by Sotto there.
Sotto blocks a low kick nicely.
Sotto looks to land a combination. Machida sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Machida throws a nice head kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sotto fails to land with a series of punches.
Machida tries for a takedown but Sotto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sotto stuffs the takedown attempt from Machida. Machida gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vic Sotto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Machida's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Machida takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Machida has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sotto is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Machida.

Sotto gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sotto wants to stand and escape but Machida is having none of it.
Machida 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.
Machida missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sotto wants to stand up but Machida is controlling him.
Machida throws a big right hand that misses.
Sotto wants to sweep but no luck.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Machida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sotto swivels and escapes.
Sotto cracks Machida with a good jab.
Sotto ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sotto scores with a hook to the body. Machida takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Machida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sotto circles away.
Machida doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sotto sizes up Machida with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Machida shoots in but no luck this time.
Vic Sotto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Machida.
Nice body punch from Sotto.
A jab lands there for Sotto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Machida takes one on the button.
Sotto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Machida at a distance.
Machida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sotto circles away.
A low kick from Sotto misses

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sotto won't be happy with that.
Sotto is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sotto is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Machida is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Machida looking to finish Sotto with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sotto!
Lyoto Machida has got the better of the ground game so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sotto is in a horrible position here. Machida smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Machida is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida lands a big elbow.
Machida landing strikes from the mount.
Machida looking to control but Sotto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sotto regains half guard.
Sotto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machida.
Vic Sotto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sotto wants to get back to his feet.
Sotto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Machida is trying to control the action in half guard but Sotto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Machida takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sotto wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Machida perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Machida is tying to control. Sotto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sotto cracks Machida with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sotto throws a one two combo.
Sotto needs to keep his hands up - Machida had a free shot at his head there.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida looks for a takedown but Sotto sprawls well.
Machida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sotto lands a nice looking body shot.
Machida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sotto is fending him off so far but Machida persists. Nope, Sotto circles away and we're back to standing.
Sotto throws out a powerful jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sotto has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vic Sotto!