PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Trond Asmundsen (ranked 1834 p4p, 2362 weight class) and Seiryu Machida (ranked 233 p4p, 296 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Asmundsen
vs
Machida

188 cm
27
190
13 - 10 - 0

192 cm
31
187
14 - 9 - 4

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Core Combat
Altitude Clothing

Sportivité
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Trond Asmundsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seiryu Machida!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Machida misses

and Asmundsen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Machida!
Asmundsen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Asmundsen 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.
Asmundsen throws an elbow but Machida slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Asmundsen throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Machida works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Asmundsen stalling away here and it's allowed Machida to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Asmundsen wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Asmundsen.
Machida can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Asmundsen controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida has Asmundsen pulled in close to control his posture.
Asmundsen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Machida working a defensive guard here.
Machida wants to stand but Asmundsen is controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Asmundsen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Machida controls Asmundsen momentarily but Asmundsen frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Asmundsen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Machida pushes Asmundsen away with a front kick.
Seiryu Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Machida jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slow jab from Asmundsen misses its intended target.
Asmundsen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws an off balance right hand

and Asmundsen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Machida using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Asmundsen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Machida lands a body shot.
I was talking to Asmundsen's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Machida lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Asmundsen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Machida lands a body punch.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Machida lands with a left to the head.
Machida lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Asmundsen or not.
Asmundsen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Machida up against the cage.
Machida struggles to land a body shot inside as Asmundsen controls his hands.
Good body shot from Machida.
A short right from Machida on the inside.
Machida lands a nice uppercut.
Machida misses with a short punch on the inside.
Machida has a couple of punches blocked by Asmundsen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida landing knees to the head.

It looks like Trond Asmundsen has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machida misses with a knee strike.
Asmundsen lands a shoulder strike.
Machida blocks a body shot from Asmundsen.
Machida landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Asmundsen just leaning against Machida, taking a breather.
Machida misses with some punches.
Asmundsen misses with the head strike.
Machida lands a nice uppercut.
Machida tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Asmundsen avoids it.
Machida tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Machida lands a hook that snaps the head of Asmundsen backwards.
Machida working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Machida is leaning against Asmundsen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Machida with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Asmundsen throws a punch but it's blocked by Machida.
Asmundsen stalling in the clinch but Machida improves position.
Machida misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seiryu Machida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Trond Asmundsen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Some wild striking there from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen throws a nice looking combination but Machida bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Asmundsen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Asmundsen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machida defends it nicely.
Machida scores with a crisp jab that stopped Asmundsen in his tracks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida throws the left hand but Asmundsen avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asmundsen scores with a jab. Machida acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Machida blocks a head kick by Asmundsen.
Machida connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Machida gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Asmundsen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Asmundsen throws a big elbow that misses.
Asmundsen tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Asmundsen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Asmundsen from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Asmundsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Asmundsen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Asmundsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Asmundsen controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machida ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Machida. Asmundsen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Asmundsen misses the jab.
Machida lands a leg kick that knocks Asmundsen off balance momentarily.
Seiryu Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Asmundsen misses with a straight left.
Machida has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Asmundsen is just out of range.
Asmundsen goes for a double leg but Machida avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Machida continues to drive forward.
Asmundsen moves forwards but Machida connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Machida tries to score with a low kick but Asmundsen moves his leg out of the way.
Machida misses with a straight right.
Asmundsen attempts a counter takedown but Machida avoids it well and moves away.
Asmundsen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A low kick from Asmundsen misses
and Machida counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Asmundsen moves away from the strike by Machida.
Machida throws a lazy body kick

and Asmundsen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Machida!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Asmundsen goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Machida has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Asmundsen but great work by Machida.
Asmundsen is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Machida is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Machida stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Asmundsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Machida.
Asmundsen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Machida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Asmundsen.
Machida looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Machida misses with an uppercut

and Asmundsen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Machida!
Machida is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seiryu Machida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Trond Asmundsen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Asmundsen takes a swing at Machida's ribcage but misses.
Machida lands with a cross.
Machida misses with a hook. Asmundsen ducked under it nicely.
Machida tries to land a body kick

and Asmundsen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Asmundsen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Machida wants to stand up but Asmundsen is controlling him.
Asmundsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Asmundsen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Asmundsen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asmundsen is working hard here to advance position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Machida holds on and takes a little breather.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Asmundsen stands up over Machida, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Asmundsen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Asmundsen controlling from the top position.
Asmundsen wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Asmundsen, as that shot connected.
Asmundsen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Machida is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Machida throws a lazy right hand but Asmundsen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Machida scores with a jab. Asmundsen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Machida misses the shot to the body.
Machida misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Machida is looking for the big counter here.
Machida is looking to clinch.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Asmundsen tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Machida manages to circle out of the way.
Machida thows a left - swing and a miss!
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Asmundsen is just out of range.
Asmundsen is looking to counter the offense by Machida and move into the clinch.
Machida takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Asmundsen avoids the head kick by Machida.
Machida just misses with a punch to the body.
Asmundsen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Machida clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Asmundsen.
A bit of stalling here from Asmundsen.
Machida lands a left hand.
Machida working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Machida.
Machida scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Machida lands an elbow inside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Machida throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Seiryu Machida is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Machida.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Machida connects with a knee to the head.
Asmundsen takes an elbow to the forehead.

Asmundsen is rocked!
Machida prevents a body shot from Asmundsen.
Trond Asmundsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Asmundsen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seiryu 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

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