PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and ced ben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ced ben struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 266.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Anderson Machida has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Machida
vs
ben

194 cm
22
217 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

200 cm
22
280 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anderson Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, ced ben!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
ben fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Machida.
ben looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Machida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Machida is trying to work for a kimura but ben is defending well.

Machida is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. ben doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Machida.

ben pushes Machida off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ben throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
ben will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No luck for Machida with that takedown attempt.
Machida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has ben pinned against the cage. ben gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida is breathing heavily.
ben misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
ben throws a nice looking combination but Machida bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida avoids the head kick by ben.

Machida clinches with his opponent.
Machida keeps control of ben as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Machida works on ben's body with a couple of short punches.

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.

Machida has clasped his hands together around ben's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Machida advances nicely into full mount.

Machida is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, ben has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Machida has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of ben's face.
ben wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Machida.

Machida looking for a guillotine from mount but ben is having none of it.
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 looking to finish ben with some ground and pound. This is bad for ben!
ben holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Machida tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Machida is standing up, even though he is in mount.
ben throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown by Machida or perhaps it was just good defense by ben which made him look bad.
ben pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four 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.
Nice takedown defense from ben. No joy for Machida on that attempt.
ben stuffs the takedown.
ben misses with a series of wild punches.
ben takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A punch combination from ben misses.

Machida closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Machida looking for a takedown.
ben has had enough of the clinch but Machida keeps him there for the moment.

Machida is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. ben can't fight it off and eventually Machida manages to take the fight to the floor. ben looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Machida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida tries to free his leg and advance position but ben is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Machida dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice shot by ben.
Horrible takedown by Machida or perhaps it was just good defense by ben which made him look bad.
ben throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A good leg kick by ben.
Machida has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Anderson Machida has been cut.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt - ben sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Machida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida shoots in and drives through. ben sprawls well.
A nice combination there by ben.
Machida blocks a head kick by ben.
A left and a right from ben both land. Nice combination.
ben misses with a wild combination.
ced ben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
ben scores with a crisp jab that stopped Machida in his tracks.
Nice takedown defense from ben. No joy for Machida on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
ben throws a nice looking combination but Machida bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice body punch from ben.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida tries for a takedown but ben sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says ben as he avoids it easily.
ben misses with a double jab.
ben throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
ben swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
ben turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Machida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Machida is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Machida seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but ben does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida is trying to work for a kimura but ben is defending well.
ben is looking to escape.
ben on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Machida is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
ben is trying to stand up here but Machida is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida is working for a submission of some sort.
Machida missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Machida is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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.

ben is defending against the submission attempts here by Machida.

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

ced ben showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anderson Machida'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. And we move into the final round!

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by ben.
A head kick from ben lands but Machida takes it in his stride.
ben misses with a jab, cross combination.
ben lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Machida circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice sprawl there from ben as Machida shoots in.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Machida closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Machida lands in his opponent's guard.
Machida wants to control from the top but ben keeps moving.
Machida with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ben keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Machida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. ben swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

ben is working an open guard so Machida takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
ben throws a one two combo.
Machida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but ben swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ben works over Machida's head and body with a nice combination.
ben throws a head kick but Machida moves out of range.
ben throws a head kick that half lands.
ben lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
ben fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida shoots in looking for a takedown. ben tries to sprawl out of it but Machida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. ben manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Machida changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. ben tries to avoid it but Machida manages to keep hold of a leg and drag ben to the ground. ben escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Machida dodges the punch combination from ben.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts ben as he jumps to the side.

Machida feints and as ben raises his hands in defense, Machida changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Machida trying to control but ben is working from the bottom.
Machida pushing down on ben's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Machida throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Machida is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, ben has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, ben has managed to free his arm - good work.
Machida thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Machida is working for a kimura but ben is defending it quite comfortably.

Machida is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, ben has managed to free his arm - good work.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Machida here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

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 is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Machida is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and ben defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Machida 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

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