PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tropical Punch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Machida
vs
Punch

180 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tropical Punch!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Punch is fending him off so far but Machida persists. Nope, Punch circles away and we're back to standing.
Machida wants to clinch

and Punch counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Machida!
Punch throws some wild stikes that Machida manages to avoid easily.
Machida throwing hammer fists to the chest of Punch. What's that going to do exactly?
Machida throwing hammer fists to the chest of Punch. What's that going to do exactly?
Machida is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida avoids a series of strikes thrown by Punch.
Punch content just to control the position here.

Punch is working for a guillotine from mount but Machida frees his head quite easily.
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!
Punch throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Machida is trying to escape the mount.

Punch is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Machida can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch controlling from the full mount.

Punch looking to secure an arm triangle but Machida defends it well.
Machida wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Punch.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Punch throws some wild stikes that Machida manages to avoid easily.
Machida swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Punch misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Poor strikes thrown by Punch there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Machida is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Machida throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Machida slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Punch missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Machida is defending against the submission attempts here by Punch.
Machida flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Punch thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Machida's head.
Machida wants to get back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Punch in particular looking to stall.
Machida missing with punches from the bottom.
Machida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Punch working Machida over with strikes.
Punch sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Machida defending well though.
Ground and pound from Punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punch lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Punch has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Punch throwing shots but Machida is blocking nicely.
Machida blocking the ground and pound attempt from Punch.
Machida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Machida tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Machida throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Punch thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Machida's head.
Machida tries to roll over but Punch keeps him under control.
Punch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Machida punching from the bottom.
Punch not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Punch seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machida does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Punch blocks the strikes from Machida.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Punch wants to pass the guard but Machida is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punch landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Machida tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Punch is keen to just control but Machida is a slippery customer.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida pushes Punch off looking to stand but Punch dives back in and keeps control.
Machida landing strikes from the bottom.
Punch controlling the pace.
Punch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Punch is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Machida has hold of Punch's hands but Punch slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Well, if Punch is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tropical Punch dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Machida misses with a takedown attempt

and Punch counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Machida tries to kick Punch off but Punch keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Punch seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Machida avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Punch.
Punch trying to mount his opponent but Machida defends it.
Punch thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Punch content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Punch missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Punch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Punch is trying to control. Machida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Punch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Machida misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Punch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Machida is trying to stand up here but Punch is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Punch passes the guard and advances to mount!
Machida avoids a series of strikes thrown by Punch.
Punch lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Punch sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Machida is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Punch looking to ground and pound but Machida is blocking nicely.
Punch thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Machida is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Punch throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Machida because Punch loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punch throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Punch thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Punch sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Machida flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Punch content just to control the position here.
Punch unloads with some shots from mount but Machida bucks and avoids them well.
Machida squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Punch lands with some strikes.
Punch looking to finish with strikes here!
Machida swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Machida throwing hammer fists to the chest of Punch. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is working to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Punch there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Punch sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Punch looking to ground and pound but Machida is blocking nicely.
Machida tries to reverse the position but Punch maintains control.
Poor strikes thrown by Punch there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Machida is wriggling around trying to escape.
Punch throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Punch prevents Machida from getting the reversal.
Machida in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Punch is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Punch thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Punch scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Machida?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Punch working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Machida wants to try and get back to his feet.
Machida is wriggling around trying to escape.
Punch throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Machida because Punch loaded up on that one.
Punch sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Poor strikes thrown by Punch there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Machida takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Punch misses with a head shot.
Punch unloads with some shots from mount but Machida bucks and avoids them well.
Poor strikes thrown by Punch there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Machida swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Punch working for a guillotine from mount but Machida is in no mood to give up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice elbow there by Punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tropical Punch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Punch feints and as Machida raises his hands in defense, Punch changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Punch won't allow Machida to get back to his feet.
Punch engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Punch trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Tropical Punch has got the better of the ground game so far.
Punch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Punch has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Punch is standing up over Machida. Machida looks to escape but Punch dives into side control.
Punch blocks the strikes from Machida.
Machida is trying to strike from the bottom but Punch has passed into full mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Punch there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Punch looking for a guillotine from mount but Machida is having none of it.
Machida in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch looking to finish with strikes here!
The referee warns Machida that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Punch landing punches.
Machida can't escape the position.
Punch punching from mount but Machida doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Punch sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Punch thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Punch is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Machida is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Machida flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Punch anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Machida and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Punch slips an arm under Machida chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Punch has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Punch is squeezing on Machida like an anaconda would it's prey. Machida fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tropical Punch!
A relieved looking Tropical Punch thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.