PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khal Tiberio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica- Enter Sandman. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machida
vs
Tiberio

175 cm
29
155 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

168 cm
22
154 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Khal Tiberio!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida lands a two punch combo.

Tiberio fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Machida to the ground. Tiberio is now in Machida's guard.
Tiberio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Machida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tiberio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Machida trying to control the position.
Tiberio throwing strikes from guard but Machida blocks nicely.
Machida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tiberio is one step ahead there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tiberio not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tiberio throws an elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tiberio's guard. Nice move by Machida!
Tiberio keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida wants to stand but Tiberio is controlling his posture from full guard.

Tiberio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Machida stands and steps away. Tiberio gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tiberio looks to land a left hand but Machida moved out of range nicely.
Machida lands a leg kick that knocks Tiberio off balance momentarily.
Tiberio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Machida feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Tiberios jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Tiberio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Machida's half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Machida manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tiberio 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.
Machida is trying to keep Tiberio in close.
Tiberio prevents Machida from getting back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machida pulls Tiberio in to control the position.
Tiberio connects with a couple of short punches.
Machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tiberio postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Tiberio is looking to advance position but Machida has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Tiberio tries to reverse the position but Machida maintains control.
Machida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tiberio is looking to escape.
Tiberio tries to hold on but Machida pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tiberio wants to control but Machida is having none of it.
Machida controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tiberio wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tiberio can't escape the position.
Machida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tiberio is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiberio tries to hold on but Machida pushes him away.
Machida wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Tiberio slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tiberio gets back to full guard.

Tiberio wriggles free and stands up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tiberio. Machida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Machida throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Tiberio gets a takedown into half guard.
Tiberio drops an elbow to the side of Machida's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tiberio tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Machida counters with a good low kick that Tiberio was not able to check.
Machida misses with a double jab.
Tiberio shoots in but Machida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Machida lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tiberio swats away the attempt to clinch by Machida.
Machida misses with a series of wild punches.
Tiberio walks into a jab.
Machida tries to bum rush Tiberio with a series of wild strikes but Tiberio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Machida throws a nice head kick!
Tiberio looks to land a left hand but Machida moved out of range nicely.
Machida tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tiberio was well out of range. Poor timing from Machida.
A jab from Tiberio misses.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch but Tiberio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tiberio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Machida connects with a looping right hand.
Tiberio wants to clinch up but Machida keeps it at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Machida. No joy for Tiberio on that attempt.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khal Tiberio.
Tiberio will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Machida stalks Tiberio and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tiberio's face. Tiberio staggers backwards, shaken.
Tiberio throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tiberio doesn't manage to clinch there - Machida circles away.
Machida lands a head kick!
Tiberio takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Machida throws a one two combo.

Machida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida keeping moving, preventing Tiberio from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tiberio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tiberio lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Machida seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tiberio trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tiberio keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Machida's head.
Tiberio trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiberio throws a strike but Machida rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tiberio has his feet on Machida's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tiberio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A jab from Tiberio finds it's way through Machida's defenses.
Tiberio takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Machida has Tiberio up against the cage in a clinch.
Machida is looking to break free of the clinch but Tiberio has double underhooks.
Machida tries for a takedown. No joy.
Machida prevents the takedown attempt.
Tiberio looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiberio has had enough of the clinch but Machida keeps him there for the moment.

Machida breaks the clinch.
Machida throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tiberio.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tiberio takes a kick to the side of the head.
Machida misses with a body kick.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A right-left combo lands from Machida.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt
and Machida counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tiberio is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Tiberio shoots in and bounces Machida off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Machida is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Machida wants to sweep here but Tiberio controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Khal Tiberio will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tiberio fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Machida to the ground. Tiberio is now in Machida's guard.
Tiberio postures up.
Tiberio preventing the sweep.
Tiberio is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tiberio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tiberio is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tiberio won't allow Machida to sweep him here.
Machida trying to keep a closed guard but Tiberio is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tiberio lands a couple of elbows.
Tiberio postures up and lands a big shot to Machida's brow.
Machida has momentary wrist control but Tiberio slips an elbow through the middle.
Tiberio working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Khal Tiberio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.
Machida has his hands on Tiberio's head, controlling the position.
Tiberio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiberio postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Machida is trying to keep Tiberio in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiberio working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Machida's head.
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!
Tiberio scoring with some ground and pound.
Tiberio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tiberio distracts Machida with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Machida looking to control.
Tiberio stopping the sweep attempt from Machida.
Tiberio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tiberio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tiberio is looking to work some ground and pound but Machida has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tiberio distracts Machida with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Machida wants to sweep here but Tiberio controlling him for the moment.
Tiberio scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tiberio is looking to work some ground and pound but Machida has wrist control.
Tiberio lands a couple of digs.
Tiberio is looking to work some ground and pound but Machida has wrist control.
Machida manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tiberio manages to get himself to full guard.
Tiberio wants to stand but Machida is controlling the position.

Tiberio uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Machida. Those never looked like landing.
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 lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tiberio circles away quickly and effectively.
Machida cracks the inside of Tiberio's front leg.

Tiberio feints and as Machida raises his hands in defense, Tiberio changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tiberio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Machida throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Machida trying to keep a closed guard but Tiberio is proving a slippery customer.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tiberio wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tiberio cracks Machida with a solid left hand.
Khal Tiberio is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Machida being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khal Tiberio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tiberio winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khal Tiberio!
After the fight, Khal Tiberio was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.