PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Judge Machina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machina comes to the cage accompanied by Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy. McManus is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Jeff Danna - 'The Blood of Cú Chulainn'. 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.

Machina
vs
McManus

185 cm
23
162 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

177 cm
24
167 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Judge Machina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Connor McManus!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McManus throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Machina tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McManus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McManus looks for the body kick but Machina saw that one coming.
No joy there for McManus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Machina throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McManus stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Machina scores with a shot to the body.
McManus misses with a straight right.
McManus misses with a lunging right hand

and Machina counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Machina.
Machina using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McManus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Machina tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McManus avoids it.
Machina is pushing McManus up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Machina unloads a knee to the mid-section. McManus lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Machina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Machina throws a knee to the head but misses.
Machina missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machina scores a nice knee to the body.
McManus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Machina looks to throw an elbow but misses.
McManus wants a takedown but no success here.
McManus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McManus tries to break free but Machina pushes him back against the cage.
Machina stalling the fight.
Machina throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on McManus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Machina.

It looks like Connor McManus has been cut.
Machina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Machina is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McManus is defending well for now.
Machina misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machina looking to throw knees to the head but McManus is blocking nicely.
McManus wants to get back to striking at distance but Machina won't allow it.
McManus takes a knee to the side of the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machina looking to throw knees to the head but McManus is blocking nicely.
Machina lands an elbow inside.
Machina using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McManus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

McManus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Machina instigates a clinch.
McManus blocks the elbow strike.
McManus has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Machina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McManus blocks it with crossed arms.
Machina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McManus working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machina misses with a knee to the head.
McManus is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McManus wants to break free but Machina has control.
Machina misses with a knee to the head.
McManus avoiding damage as Machina throws knees to the body.
Machina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McManus blocks it with crossed arms.
Machina trying to land knees to the body.
Machina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Machina misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McManus.
McManus letting Machina take a breather here.

McManus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus shoots in and drives through. Machina sprawls well.
Machina tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McManus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McManus misses with a looping left.
McManus misses with a double jab.
Machina looks to land a right hand but McManus moved out of range.
Machina lands an overhand right.
McManus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Machina moves away.
McManus just misses with a punch to the body.
McManus loads up on a big right hand but Machina slips the punch.
McManus throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McManus takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A jab from McManus misses.
McManus throws a big shot that misses.
Machina scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McManus misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Judge Machina dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Connor McManus's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McManus misses with a head kick.
McManus checks a leg kick.
McManus checks a leg kick.
Machina lands with a nice body punch.
Machina tries to clinch there but McManus circles away.
Machina throws a head kick that misses.
McManus gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Machina.
Machina tries to clinch there but McManus circles away.
Machina swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McManus avoids a punch combination nicely.
An inside leg kick from Machina misses.
Machina tries to clinch up.
Sloppy strikes from McManus. Those never looked like landing.
Machina tries a low kick but McManus avoids it.
Judge Machina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machina stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McManus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machina throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Machina pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
McManus walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Machina checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
McManus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McManus throws a leg kick but Machina checks it.
McManus throws a head kick but Machina moves out of range.
Machina tries to clinch there but McManus circles away.
McManus looks to land a left hand but Machina moved out of range nicely.
Machina misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McManus looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Machina comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McManus misses with a wild body shot.
Machina moves out of range of the body kick from McManus.
McManus throws a jab when Machina was well out of range.
McManus takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus throws a low kick but Machina avoids it.
Machina tries a head kick but it misses.
McManus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Machina misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McManus shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Machina as he avoids it easily.
Machina fakes a jab and throws a low kick but McManus checks it well.
Machina avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Judge Machina is winning the standup battle so far.
McManus keeps the fight on the outside.
Machina throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A telegraphed right hand from McManus misses the target.
Machina misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Machina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Machina throws a head kick but McManus moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McManus closes the distance and clinches up with Machina, looking for a takedown. McManus pushes Machina against the cage but Machina circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machina but Machina pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Judge Machina has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor McManus.
Machina blocks a leg kick.
Machina slips a jab from McManus.
A cross from McManus lands.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
McManus shoots for a double leg takedown but Machina sprawls well. He's pushed McManus's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Machina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Machina gets caught napping as McManus dives in and scores a takedown. Machina manages to retain guard.
McManus is breathing heavily.
Machina working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McManus.
Machina wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machina wants to stand and escape but McManus is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Judge Machina wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Machina is looking to chop away at McManus's legs.
McManus wants to land a leg kick but Machina is out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McManus misses with an uppercut. Machina saw that one coming.
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!
McManus throws a jab but it's blocked by Machina.
Machina stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Machina wants it to stay on the feet.
McManus is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Machina tries a low kick but McManus avoids it.
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 Judge Machina will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Connor McManus's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

McManus is looking to chop away at Machina's legs.
Machina scores with a three punch combo!
Machina scores with a hook to the body. McManus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Machina dodges the punch combination from McManus.
Machina tries to clinch but McManus is having none of it.
Machina throws a head kick but McManus moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Machina.
Machina throws a lazy right hand but McManus sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McManus throws a right and a left that Machina avoids nicely.
McManus staying out of range there.
McManus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Machina fakes a jab and throws a low kick but McManus checks it well.
McManus throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Machina sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McManus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Machina.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machina misses with a jab, cross combination.

Machina rushes McManus and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Machina tries a knee to the head but McManus blocks it.
Machina misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McManus.

McManus manages to break the clinch.
Machina tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McManus circles away from the clinch attempt.
Machina darts in trying to clinch
and McManus counters with a good low kick that Machina was not able to check.
No joy there for McManus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Machina lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McManus at a distance.
McManus takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Machina darts in and clinches McManus up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machina misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McManus.
Machina tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Machina throws a knee to the head but misses.
Machina is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Machina controlling the action here for a moment.
McManus wants to break the clinch but can't.
Machina throws a knee to the head but misses.
Judge Machina has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Machina throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McManus blocks it with crossed arms.
McManus is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
McManus managing to block the knees to the body from Machina.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machina is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McManus is defending well for now.
McManus takes a knee right on the jaw!
Machina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Machina using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McManus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McManus on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
McManus is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Machina pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Machina is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Machina misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McManus.
Machina trying to land knees to the body.
Connor McManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machina with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Machina with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McManus managing to block the knees to the body from Machina.
McManus wants a takedown but no success here.
Judge Machina has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor McManus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus is trying to drag Machina to the mat but Machina just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Machina obliges.
McManus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McManus wants to get back to striking at distance but Machina won't allow it.
Machina utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
McManus is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machina blocking some punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machina is pushing McManus up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Machina lands a damaging elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Judge Machina showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Machina, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

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