PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Shleifer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida has chosen Metallica- Enter Sandman as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shleifer
vs
Machida

193 cm
27
152 lbs
12 - 12 - 1

175 cm
29
155 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andrei Shleifer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shleifer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Machida misses with an uppercut.

Shleifer has Machida up against the cage in a clinch.
Shleifer throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shleifer blocks an elbow strike.
Machida is looking to control Shleifer's arms but Shleifer gets an underhook and turns him. Now Machida has his back to the cage.
Machida stalling in the clinch.
Shleifer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machida blocks it with crossed arms.
Shleifer misses with a knee strike.
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the head but Machida blocks with his arms.
Shleifer scores with a shot to the side of Machida's head.
Shleifer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Machida prevents a body shot from Shleifer.
Shleifer putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Machida in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Shleifer looking to throw knees to the head but Machida is blocking nicely.
Machida stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shleifer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Machida's face.
Shleifer lands a left hand.
A bit of stalling here from Machida.
Machida blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Shleifer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machida throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shleifer misses with the combination.
Shleifer throws a head kick that misses.
Machida takes one on the button.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Machida checks a leg kick.
Machida tries to land a front kick but Shleifer steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Shleifer throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer tries a head kick but it misses.
Machida throws a leg kick but Shleifer sees it coming and moves out of range.
Shleifer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Machida pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Machida takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shleifer is looking to score with low kicks.
Machida chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shleifer can pounce on him.
Machida throws a hook to the side of Shleifer's head but Shleifer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shleifer throws a combination. Machida tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machida throws a body kick that misses.
Machida just misses with a punch to the body.

Shleifer moves into the clinch successfully.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shleifer obliges.
Shleifer utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Shleifer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Shleifer.
Shleifer shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Machida thows a body shot but no joy.
Shleifer throws a nice head kick!
Shleifer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Machida counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Machida takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Shleifer tries to land a front kick but Machida steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Machida misses with an uppercut. Shleifer saw that one coming.
Machida dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shleifer. That did some damage!
Shleifer slips under a jab.
Shleifer checks a low kick from Machida.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shleifer misses with a double jab
and Machida counters with a good, hard body kick but Shleifer shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shleifer can pounce on him.
Shleifer scores with a leg kick.
Machida misses with a hook.
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Shleifer is just out of range.
Shleifer lands a head kick. Machida smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Shleifer connects with a solid leg kick.
Machida moves out of range of the leg kick from Shleifer.
Machida thuds a left hand into Shleifer's body.
An inside leg kick from Shleifer misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shleifer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Machida throws a lazy head kick
and Shleifer counters with a big head kick but Machida shrugs it off.
Machida misses with an attempted mid kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shleifer is looking to clinch.
Shleifer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shleifer will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Machida scores with a three punch combo!
Shleifer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shleifer slips under a jab.
Shleifer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida takes a kick to the side of the head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Machida.
Shleifer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Machida scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Machida throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shleifer throws a body punch but Machida moves out of range.
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!
Shleifer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Machida finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida throws a push kick but Shleifer slaps the foot to one side.
Shleifer defending well as Machida loads up on a big left hand.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Andrei Shleifer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Machida throws an overhand right that lands on Shleifer's shoulder, as Shleifer tries to avoid the shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Shleifer.
Machida blocks a leg kick.
Shleifer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Machida. That did some damage!

Shleifer closes the distance and pushes Machida back into the cage.
Machida manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Shleifer blocks an elbow strike from Machida.
Shleifer blocks the elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Machida stalling against the cage.
Shleifer lands with a light punch inside.
Shleifer comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
With the fighters up against the cage, Machida throws an elbow but misses.
Machida dodges an elbow strike from Shleifer.
Shleifer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Machida.
Machida taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the head but Machida blocks with his arms.
Machida is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Machida takes a shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shleifer working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to stall but Shleifer improves his position.
Machida prevents Shleifer from breaking the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shleifer tries to land knees in the clinch but Machida avoids the damage to the body.
Shleifer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Machida stalling.
Shleifer misses with a knee strike.
Machida is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Andrei Shleifer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Lyoto Machida.
Shleifer misses with a few strikes there.
Shleifer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Machida. Shleifer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Shleifer.
A lazy body kick from Machida
and Shleifer counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Machida thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida tries to land a front kick but Shleifer steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Shleifer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Machida slips a jab and a cross from Shleifer.
Machida lands a nice looking kick to the body. Shleifer takes a step back to recover.
Shleifer lands a high kick!
Shleifer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shleifer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machida scores with a nice body kick.
Machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shleifer lands a head kick. Machida smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Machida scores with a nice head shot.
Shleifer avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Andrei Shleifer will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shleifer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shleifer misses with a head kick.
Andrei Shleifer is winning the standup battle so far.
Machida swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Shleifer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Machida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shleifer connects with a looping right hand.
Shleifer throws a sloppy head kick and Machida moves out of range easily.
Shleifer takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Shleifer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shleifer throws a series of punches but Machida avoids them all with ease.
Shleifer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Machida lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Shleifer avoids the body shot from Machida.
A combination from Shleifer does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shleifer throws a sloppy head kick
and Machida counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shleifer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Machida.
Good standup being displayed there by Machida as he connects with a hook.
Machida looks to throw the jab but Shleifer is out of range.
Shleifer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Machida blocks a low kick nicely.
Shleifer has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Machida finds it's way round the side to connect with Shleifer's head.
Shleifer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shleifer moves out of range as Machida throws a body kick.
Shleifer takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Machida scores with a push kick.
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 lands a right hook to the body.
Shleifer will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Shleifer thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer avoids a kick to the body.
Shleifer thows a body shot but no joy.
Shleifer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shleifer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Machida throws an overhand right that lands on Shleifer's shoulder, as Shleifer tries to avoid the shot.
Shleifer slips under a jab.
Decent striking displayed by Machida there.
Shleifer throws a head kick that half lands.
Machida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shleifer moves out of range of the body kick.
Machida slips a jab and a cross from Shleifer.
Machida has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Machida with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shleifer walks into a left hand.
Good leg kick by Shleifer there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A jab from Shleifer finds it's way through Machida's defenses.
Shleifer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shleifer avoids the body shot from Machida.
Machida pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shleifer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shleifer wants to slow Machida down by chopping away at his legs.
Machida scoring well with a low kick there.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Machida lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer swinging wildly here.
Machida lets loose with a powerful body kick. Shleifer will feel that in the morning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shleifer feints and then cracks Machida's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Machida down.
Machida throws a hook to the side of Shleifer's head but Shleifer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shleifer scores with a three punch combo!
Shleifer throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A low kick from Shleifer is predictable there
and Shleifer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shleifer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Machida.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shleifer in his tracks.
Shleifer thows a leg kick but Machida checks it
and Machida makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Shleifer lands with a kick to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shleifer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Andrei Shleifer!
Andrei Shleifer decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.