PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Charles Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Mafra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mafra has chosen Black and Yellow - Wiz Khalifa as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machida
vs
Mafra

174 cm
22
146 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
134 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Charles Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Mafra!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mafra feints and as Machida raises his hands in defense, Mafra changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mafra postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Machida is on top in guard.
Mafra 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 slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Machida wants to control from the top but Mafra keeps moving.

Mafra looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mafra looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Machida stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mafra misses with a takedown attempt - Machida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mafra shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Machida doesn't manage to clinch there - Mafra circles away.

Mafra darts in and clinches Machida up against the cage.
Machida tries for a takedown. No joy.
Machida tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mafra avoids it.
Mafra stops a takedown attempt from Machida.
Machida putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mafra in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Mafra manages to break the clinch.
Machida is looking to clinch but Mafra is avoiding it.

Mafra gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida pushes off an throws an elbow but Mafra leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A hook to the body from Machida.

Mafra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machida tries to clinch but Mafra is having none of it.

Mafra has managed to clinch.
Machida tries to break the clinch but Mafra is controlling the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mafra breaks from the clinch.
Mafra shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Charles Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Mafra.

Mafra gets a clinch.
Machida is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mafra is defending well for now.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Mafra gets control of Machida's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mafra will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mafra lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Machida!
Machida is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mafra unloads with some shots from mount but Machida bucks and avoids them well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida is working to get back to half guard.
Mafra wants to control the pace but Machida is squirming around nicely.
Machida is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to hold on but Mafra pushes him away.
Mafra with good strikes from the mount here!
Mafra sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Machida is trying to reverse the position but instead Mafra has taken his back - oops!
Machida holding both Mafra 's hands and preventing any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mafra really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Machida.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida avoids the strikes from Mafra.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Mafra dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mafra gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mafra is looking for a takedown.
Machida working aggressively here.
Mafra is trying to pull guard but Machida turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mafra taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mafra wants a takedown but no success here.
Charles Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Mafra.

Mafra breaks the clinch.
Mafra fails to land the takedown.
Mafra scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Machida is looking to clinch.
Mafra swats away the attempt to clinch by Machida.
Machida shoots for a takedown but Mafra saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mafra will feel that in the morning.
Machida fails with an attempt to clinch.

Mafra throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Machida was covering up waiting for the punch and Mafra finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Machida working for a triangle but Mafra defends it easily.
Mafra trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mafra must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mafra with a flurry of punches that miss.
Machida trying to control the position here.
Mafra tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Mafra is stalling in the full guard.
Machida working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mafra throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Machida sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mafra throws a body punch but Machida moves out of range.
Mafra shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machida defends it nicely.
Machida tries to clinch but Mafra moves away

and Mafra counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mafra.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Machida creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Mafra pulls guard.

Machida decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mafra, up you get!
Mafra shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Machida as he jumps to the side.
Mafra is breathing heavily.

Machida tries to keep at a distance but Mafra has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Fabio Mafra has been cut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Machida.
Mafra avoiding damage as Machida throws knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mafra blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mafra is looking to break free of the clinch but Machida has double underhooks.
Machida tries to stall but Mafra uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mafra drops down looking for an ankle pick but Machida pulls his leg out and moves away.
Machida doesn't manage to clinch there - Mafra circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fabio Mafra will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Fabio Mafra's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Mafra rushes Machida and presses him up against the cage.
Machida missing with knees to the body.
Mafra wants a takedown.
Mafra has had enough of the clinch but Machida keeps him there for the moment.
Machida trying to land knees to the body.
Machida using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mafra has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

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

Mafra gets a clinch.
Mafra wants to take the fight to the mat but Machida manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mafra is trying to break free.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Machida as Mafra tries to tie him up.
Mafra managing to block the knees to the body from Machida.
Mafra is trying to push Machida away but Machida has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Machida blocks an elbow strike from Mafra.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mafra drags the fight down to the ground.

Machida gets to his feet - Mafra follows without any prompting.
Machida shoots in but no luck this time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mafra.
Charles Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Mafra.
Mafra takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mafra gets a clinch.
Machida leaning his opponent against the cage.
Mafra tries to break the clinch but Machida is controlling the position.

Mafra pulls guard.
Mafra keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Machida wants to get up but he can't break Mafra's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to control but Mafra is working from the bottom.

Machida decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mafra fails with a takedown attempt.
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!
Machida tries to clinch but Mafra moves out of range.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mafra just misses with a punch to the body.
Mafra has a takedown stuffed.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mafra swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mafra throws a sloppy head kick
and Machida counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Mafra is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Mafra tries a head kick but it misses.
Mafra fails with the takedown.

Machida gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida tries to throw a body punch but Mafra avoids it by throwing Machida back against the cage.
Machida avoids the elbow strike from Mafra, against the cage.
Mafra avoiding damage as Machida throws knees to the body.
Machida working Mafra over with knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Machida just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mafra's brow.
Machida drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mafra pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Machida. No joy for Mafra on that attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mafra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Charles Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fabio Mafra is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fabio Mafra seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mafra walks forward, straight into a front kick from Machida.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mafra 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabio Mafra!
A victorious Fabio Mafra thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.