PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machado comes to the ring accompanied by Entrance. Fernando Machado has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Machado
vs
Maia

200 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Maia!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia has Machado up against the ropes in a clinch.

Maia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machado lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maia circles away quickly and effectively.
Fernando Machado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maia moves into the clinch successfully.
Maia lands a damaging elbow.
Machado blocks an elbow strike.

Machado's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from Machado.
Maia misses with a series of wild punches.
Maia lands a head kick!
Machado throws a half hearted mid kick.
A head kick by Machado misses

and Maia counters by clinching up.
Machado is trying to break free.

Maia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Machado avoids the head kick by Maia.
Machado closes the distance but Maia moves to the side
and Maia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A right-left combo lands from Maia.

Machado tries to keep at a distance but Maia has taken the fight into the clinch.
Maia is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Maia lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado takes an elbow to the forehead.

Maia manages to pull guard.

Maia has his feet on Machado's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Maia throws a sloppy head kick and Machado moves out of range easily.
Maia misses with a head kick.
Machado avoids the head kick by Maia.
Machado misses with a head kick.

Maia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Maia has Machado pressed against the ropes, preventing Machado from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Maia tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Machado avoids it.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Maia throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Maia closes the distance and clinches.

Maia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Maia clinches.
Maia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machado blocks it with crossed arms.
Machado missing with knees to the body.
Machado is trying to break the clinch but Maia has him pressed against the ropes.
Maia lands a damaging elbow.

Maia is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Machado can't fight it off and eventually Maia manages to take the fight to the floor. Machado looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Machado is working an open guard so Maia takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Maia looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia moves into the clinch.
Maia lands an elbow inside.

Maia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nick Maia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Maia moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Maia.
Machado working hard to break the clinch.
Machado avoiding damage as Maia throws knees to the body.
Machado looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Machado has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Machado tries for a takedown but Maia manages to get underhooks.
Maia lands a nice elbow.
Machado is trying to break the clinch but Maia has him pressed against the ropes.
Maia lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Maia comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A knee to the head by Maia.
Maia lands an elbow inside that Machado shrugs off.
Maia looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Maia throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Machado throws a lazy head kick
and Maia counters with a two punch combo.
Machado tries to clinch up

and Maia counters by moving into the clinch.
Maia comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Maia lands a nice elbow.

Machado's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Maia has closed the distance and engaged Machado in a clinch.
Maia prevents Machado from breaking the clinch.

Machado breaks from the clinch.
Maia tries to bum rush Machado with a series of wild strikes but Machado uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Maia darts in and clinches Machado up against the ropes.
Maia gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Maia creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Machado's defenses.
Maia lands an elbow inside.
Machado takes an elbow to the temple.

Maia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Maia closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia decides to pull guard.

Maia uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
Machado throws a sloppy head kick
and Maia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Maia has closed the distance and engaged Machado in a clinch.
Maia lands a nice elbow.

Maia manages to break the clinch.
Maia scores with a head kick.

Maia has managed to clinch.
Maia is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Maia creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Machado's defenses.

Maia pulls guard.

Maia has his feet on Machado's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Maia drives through and clinches with Machado against the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia lands an elbow inside that Machado shrugs off.
Maia landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maia wants a takedown.
Nice elbow from Machado.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Maia dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Machado tries to clinch up

and Maia counters by clinching up.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Machado clinches but Maia breaks the clinch

and Maia counters by moving into the clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Maia in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Maia pulls guard.
Machado is looking to stand up but Maia won't let him.

Maia wriggles free and stands up.

Maia gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maia utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Machado takes an elbow to the temple.
Maia lands a nice elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maia crunches a lovely knee into Machado's ribcage.

Maia pulls guard successfully.

Maia pushes Machado off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Maia clinches up with Machado and pushes him back against the ropes.
Knees in the clinch landing for Maia.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Machado throws a head kick that misses

and Maia counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Maia comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Maia landing knees to the body.
Machado tries to circle away but Maia has him pinned against the ropes.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Maia obliges.
Knees in the clinch landing for Maia.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Maia lands with a kick to the ribs.
Machado lands a head kick. Maia smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Maia moves into the clinch.
Maia misses with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Maia.
Maia lands a nice elbow.
Maia changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Machado fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Machado misses with a double jab
and Maia counters with a body kick that stops Machado in his tracks momentarily.
Maia closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Maia lands a head kick!
Maia lands a head kick. Machado smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Maia moves into the clinch.

Maia manages to break the clinch.
Machado misses with a double jab
and Maia cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Maia has closed the distance and engaged Machado in a clinch.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Machado throws a lazy body kick
and Maia counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Maia drives through and clinches with Machado against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Machado just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maia's brow.
Machado wants to break the clinch but can't.

Maia manages to break the clinch.
Machado is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Maia.
Machado tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Maia counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Machado throws a lazy head kick

and Maia counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Maia tries to land knees in the clinch but Machado avoids the damage to the body.
Machado wants to break free but Maia has control.
Maia is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Maia landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Machado tries to pull guard but Maia won't allow it.
Maia comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Maia manages to break the clinch.
Maia moves in looking to clinch but Machado pushes him off.
Fernando Machado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machado blocks a head kick by Maia.
Maia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Machado throws a head kick that misses
and Maia counters with a one-two to the body.
Maia scores with a one two! Machado had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Maia rushes Machado and presses him up against the ropes.
Machado takes an elbow to the temple.
Maia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machado has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Machado breaks from the clinch.
Machado throws a head kick that misses

and Maia counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Maia lands an elbow inside.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Nice elbow from Maia.

Maia drags the fight down to the ground.

Maia pushes Machado off and gets back to his feet.
Machado tries to clinch up

and Maia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maia.

Maia breaks the clinch.

Machado tries to keep at a distance but Maia has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machado wants to break free but Maia has control.

Maia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Maia scores with a head kick.

Maia clinches with his opponent.
Maia lands an elbow inside.
Maia lands an elbow inside that Machado shrugs off.
Machado wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maia creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Maia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maia throws a nice head kick!
Machado misses with a double jab

and Maia counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Maia lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Maia lands an elbow that stopped Machado in his tracks for a moment.
Maia lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Machado wants to break free but Maia has control.
Maia lands an elbow inside that Machado shrugs off.
Maia comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Machado is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machado is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Maia has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Machado regains guard immediately.
Maia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A low kick from Machado is predictable there
and Maia makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Machado really felt that one!

Maia has managed to clinch.
Maia lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nick Maia seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Machado avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maia scores with a head kick.
Machado swinging wilding here.

Maia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Machado, pushing him back against the ropes.
Maia lands a damaging elbow.

Maia breaks the clinch.

Maia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Machado fails to pull guard.
Knees to the body from Maia.

Machado breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia lands a head kick. Machado smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Maia circles away from the clinch attempt

and Maia counters by moving into the clinch.
Maia tries for a takedown. No joy.

Maia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Machado misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maia lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Machado throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Maia.
Machado throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Machado tries to break free but Maia pushes him back against the ropes.
Maia creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Machado's defenses.

Maia manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Maia pushes Machado off and gets back to his feet.
Machado closes the distance but Maia moves to the side

and Maia counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado blocks an elbow strike from Maia.
Machado takes an elbow to the temple.
Maia lands an elbow inside.
Maia scores a nice knee to the body.
Machado tries to pull guard but Maia holds him up against the ropes and eventually Machado drops back down to his feet.
Maia tries a knee to the head but Machado blocks it.
Machado takes an elbow to the temple.
Maia comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Machado breaks from the clinch.
A head kick by Machado misses
and Maia counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Machado throws a leg kick that is checked
and Maia counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Maia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Machado, pushing him back against the ropes.

Maia pulls Machado into guard.
Machado has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maia is proving hard to escape from.

Maia has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Machado off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia drives through and clinches with Machado against the ropes.

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

Maia darts in and clinches Machado up against the ropes.
Machado working hard to break the clinch.

Maia breaks the clinch.

Maia has managed to clinch.
Maia scores a nice knee to the body.
Machado fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Machado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia tries to score a body lock takedown but Machado shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Machado can't break the clinch.
Maia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Machado.

Maia manages to break the clinch.
Machado thumps Maia with a low kick.
Machado throws the kick towards the body but Maia avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Maia moves into the clinch successfully.
Maia with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Maia lands a damaging elbow.
Fernando Machado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nick Maia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maia landing knees to the body.
Maia avoids a wild elbow strike from Machado.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Maia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maia has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Maia!