PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Dmitrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machida
vs
Dmitrov

187 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

199 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Dmitrov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dmitrov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Machida looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Dmitrov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Machida is not content to let Dmitrov control the position.
Dmitrov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dmitrov is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Machida as he works his way to full guard.
Dmitrov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Dmitrov from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Dmitrov with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida wants to stand and escape but Dmitrov is having none of it.
Dmitrov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Dmitrov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Machida looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Machida looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Machida!
Dmitrov wants to control but Machida postures up.
Dmitrov tries to bench press Machida off him but Machida keeps the position.
Dmitrov gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dmitrov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machida.
Dmitrov is looking for a sweep. Machida is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dmitrov is positioning himself well to prevent Machida advancing to mount.
Dmitrov is trying to get back to full guard.
Machida seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dmitrov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dmitrov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

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

Dmitrov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Machida tries to get to full guard but Dmitrov has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dmitrov is working for a submission of some sort.
Dmitrov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Dmitrov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dmitrov moves into the clinch successfully.

Dmitrov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dmitrov wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.

Machida stands up from Dmitrov's guard - Machida perhaps looking for a knockout.

Dmitrov clinches up with Machida and pushes him back against the cage.
Dmitrov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Machida.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dmitrov breaks from the clinch.

Dmitrov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Machida is looking to improve his position.
Machida might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida taking some punishment here, with Dmitrov in his half guard.
Dmitrov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dmitrov is thwarting Machida's attempts to control the position.
Machida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Dmitrov tries to pass to full mount but Machida defends it.
Dmitrov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dmitrov is keen to just control but Machida is a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Machida as Dmitrov shoots in.
Machida misses with a head kick.
Dmitrov dives in and grabs Machida's left leg, looking for a takedown. Machida pushes down on Dmitrov's head and hops out.
Machida goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dmitrov.
Machida shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dmitrov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to get back to his feet but Dmitrov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dmitrov tries to stand but Machida is controlling from the bottom.
Dmitrov controlling from the top position.
Dmitrov trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.

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.
Dmitrov preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida controls Dmitrov momentarily but Dmitrov frees himself.
Dmitrov wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.
Dmitrov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Dmitrov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Dmitrov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dmitrov misses with a takedown attempt

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Aleksander Dmitrov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dmitrov wants to get back to his feet.
Dmitrov tries to roll over but Machida keeps him under control.

Dmitrov is defending against the submission attempts here by Machida.

Machida is looking for a kimura but Dmitrov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Machida to get the leverage.
Machida throwing shots but Dmitrov is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dmitrov is controlling Machida's position as best he can from this difficult position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dmitrov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dmitrov is defending against the submission attempts here by Machida.
Machida is thwarting Dmitrov's attempts to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Dmitrov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Dmitrov working the strikes but Machida uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Machida gets back to full guard.
Dmitrov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 wants to take a breather but Dmitrov is having none of it.
Machida is really struggling to control Dmitrov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Dmitrov trying to control here.
Machida wants to take a breather but Dmitrov is having none of it.

Machida is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dmitrov is just riding it out for now. Machida eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dmitrov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dmitrov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Machida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Machida seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Machida throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dmitrov shoots for a double leg takedown but Machida sprawls well. He's pushed Dmitrov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Dmitrov with that takedown attempt.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Dmitrov.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch but Dmitrov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dmitrov tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.
Machida throws a right hand that Dmitrov ducks under and follows up with a left that Dmitrov also avoids with ease.
Dmitrov blocks a head kick by Machida.

Dmitrov feints and as Machida raises his hands in defense, Dmitrov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dmitrov thows a big elbow that misses.
Aleksander Dmitrov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Machida working a defensive guard here.
Dmitrov trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Dmitrov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dmitrov is in close to Machida's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dmitrov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksander Dmitrov!