PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nyrkki Kyllikki Van Dammed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyoto Machida has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Machida
vs
Kyllikki Van Dammed

185 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
183 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nyrkki Kyllikki Van Dammed!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Dammed tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Van Dammed doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nyrkki Kyllikki Van Dammed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Dammed dodges the punch combination from Machida.
Machida drops Van Dammed with a nice combination! Machida dives into Van Dammed's guard, looking to finish!

Van Dammed is rocked!
Machida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Van Dammed is still in real trouble! Can Machida finish him?
Van Dammed tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Machida not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Van Dammed seems to have recovered his senses.
Machida postures up.
Van Dammed wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Dammed trying to keep a closed guard but Machida is proving a slippery customer.
Machida is stalling in the full guard.
Machida preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Van Dammed shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Van Dammed uses his free foot to push down on Machida's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Machida.

Van Dammed looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Machida holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Van Dammed tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Van Dammed 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Dammed trying to control but Machida is having none of it.
Van Dammed tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Van Dammed 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.
Van Dammed content just to control the position here.
Machida is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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.

Van Dammed working for a guillotine from mount but Machida is in no mood to give up.
Van Dammed can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Machida is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Van Dammed unloads with some shots from mount but Machida bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice uppercut there from Machida.
Machida waves his right hand out infront of him, looking to distract Van Dammed. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Van Dammed to the canvas! Can he finish him!?
Van Dammed is trying to control the position but Machida postures up.
Van Dammed looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Dammed, not yet.

Van Dammed is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Machida slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Van Dammed manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Machida manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Dammed trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Van Dammed from controlling successfully.
Machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Machida keeping full guard, as Van Dammed tries to pass.
Van Dammed trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Van Dammed prevents Machida from getting back to his feet.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Van Dammed from controlling successfully.
Machida tries to strike from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Van Dammed throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Machida stuffs the takedown.
Van Dammed is breathing heavily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Machida darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nyrkki Kyllikki Van Dammed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A shot to de liver by Machida. Beautiful body shot.
Machida drops Van Dammed with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Van Dammed! Machida dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lyoto Machida!
Lyoto Machida retains his middleweight title!