PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Miller Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manny Machida will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Freeman
vs
Machida

165 cm
19
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miller Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Manny Machida!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Freeman feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Machida is looking to stand up but Freeman isn't so interested in that idea.

Freeman drops back looking for a leg! Machida is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Machida manages to kick Freeman off! Freeman jumps back into Machida's guard.
Freeman controlling from the top position.
Freeman looking to pass the guard.
Freeman is working hard here to advance position.
Freeman won't allow Machida to get back to his feet.
Machida thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Freeman wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Freeman clinches with his opponent.
Freeman leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freeman successfully pulls guard.

Freeman working for a triangle but Machida defends it easily.
Machida passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Machida controlling the position from side mount.
You can see the frustration on Freeman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Machida is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Freeman is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Machida working away.
Freeman is looking for a sweep.
Machida scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Freeman is breathing heavily.
Machida doesn't manage to clinch there - Freeman circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Freeman.
Freeman could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The strikes coming from Freeman are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Machida stops Freeman from passing to mount.

Machida explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Machida shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Machida was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machida unloading with bombs!
Machida landing strikes from the mount and Freeman is in trouble!
Machida controlling the pace for now.
Machida with shots to the head and body - Freeman looks very uncomfortable down there.

Machida jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Freeman manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman prevents Machida from improving position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Freeman is avoiding damage well.
Freeman takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Machida has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Machida pivots, looking for a leg kick but Freeman is out of range and Machida settles back down.

Freeman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.
Machida has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machida is trying to control the position but Freeman postures up.

Freeman gets to his feet. Machida looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Machida drives through and clinches with Freeman against the cage.
Freeman dodges an elbow strike from Machida.
With the fighters up against the cage, Freeman throws an elbow but misses.
Freeman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Machida smiles and moves away.

Freeman gets the takedown into side control.

Freeman looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Freeman is chipping away with strikes.
Freeman is putting a hurting on Machida here, landing some big shots from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Freeman passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Machida!
Machida is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Freeman is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Machida has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Machida!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Freeman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Machida would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Miller Freeman will probably get the nod.
That's time! Freeman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Machida gets caught flat footed, as Freeman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Machida looking for a sweep. Not yet Machida, not yet.
Freeman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Freeman trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Freeman 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 looking for a guillotine here but Freeman defends easily.
Machida looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Freeman from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Freeman postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Machida wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Machida lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman with a poor takedown
and Machida counters with a three punch combo that has Freeman backing up. Freeman nods at Machida to acknowledge the strikes.

Freeman is rocked!
Machida thuds his right hand into Freeman's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Oh Freeman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Machida connects with a looping right hand.
Freeman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Machida is fending him off so far but Freeman persists. Nope, Machida circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Machida. No joy for Freeman on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miller Freeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt.

Freeman fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Machida sprawls well initially but Freeman persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Freeman seems to have got his legs back now.
Machida is staying active underneath Freeman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Freeman is looking for a kimura but Machida is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Freeman to get the leverage.
Freeman passes to full mount!
Machida wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Machida is working to get back to half guard.
Freeman thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman controlling the pace for now.
Machida bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Freeman keeping busy on the bottom but Machida has passed one foot through into half guard.
Freeman wants to control but Machida is keeping busy.
Machida slips a nice elbow through Freeman's hands, connecting with Freeman's forehead.
Freeman on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Freeman keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throwing shots but Freeman is blocking nicely.
Machida not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Machida trying to control the action but Freeman is working from the bottom.
Freeman connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Machida wants to take a breather but Freeman is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Machida tries to clinch up.
Machida looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Machida wants to clinch but Freeman slips to the side

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

Freeman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Miller Freeman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Freeman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.

Freeman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Machida has escaped the position, nice work there.
Freeman controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Freeman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Machida, who protects the arm well.
Freeman controlling from side mount.

Freeman stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Freeman looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Freeman content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida pushes Freeman off looking to stand but Freeman dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miller Freeman dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Freeman looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Machida won't allow Freeman to pass to mount.
Freeman not doing much here.
Freeman blocks the strikes from Machida.

Freeman is looking for a kimura here.
Freeman is thwarting Machida's attempts to control the position.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.
Machida is refusing to be controlled, as Freeman sits in half guard.
Machida regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Freeman won't allow Machida to sweep him here.

Machida throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Freeman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Machida wriggles free and stands up.
Freeman walks into a stiff left hand from Machida.
Freeman shoots and misses

and Machida decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Freeman's guard.
Machida slips nicely into half guard.
Freeman gets back to full guard.
Machida postures up.

Machida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Machida decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt

and Freeman counters with a single leg into guard. Machida didn't expect that.
Freeman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Machida is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Freeman tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Freeman wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Machida is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Machida seems to be working for a kimura but Freeman defends the submission attempt.
Freeman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Freeman is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to stand but Freeman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Freeman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Freeman controls Machida momentarily but Machida frees himself.

Freeman is looking for a triangle but Machida pushes his legs off easily.

Freeman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Machida decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Freeman, up you get!

Freeman drives through and clinches with Machida against the cage.
Machida can't break the clinch.

Freeman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Freeman walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Machida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Machida has his takedown stuffed

and Freeman counters with a takedown into side control.
Machida is pushing Freeman's head away, looking to escape. Freeman manages to hold on to the position though.
Machida sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Machida wants to get back to full guard.
Machida tries to kick Freeman off but Freeman keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Machida is looking to improve his position.
Freeman works his way into full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida is squirming around, avoiding Freeman's attempts to control the action.
Manny Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Freeman wants to take Machida's back here but Machida is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Miller Freeman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Freeman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miller Freeman!