PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mubarak Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and German Valdez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). German Valdez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Machida
vs
Valdez

188 cm
24
209 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
42
117 lbs
12 - 28 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mubarak Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 28 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, German Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Valdez.
Machida drops down looking for a counter takedown but Valdez sprawls and moves away.
Valdez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Machida counters with an outside leg kick.
Valdez fails with a takedown attempt.
Machida swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mubarak Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of German Valdez.
Valdez takes a kick to the side of the head.
Valdez with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Valdez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida lands a high kick!
Machida slaps away a takedown attempt from Valdez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Machida is looking to counter with a body kick.
Valdez misses with a takedown attempt - Machida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Machida tried to counter with a leg kick but Valdez avoided it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez fails with a takedown attempt.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Machida as he jumps to the side.
Machida was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Valdez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Machida avoids it really well and circles away.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valdez.
Valdez misses with a takedown attempt
and Machida counters with a leg kick.
Machida stuffs the takedown attempt from Valdez. Valdez gets slowly back to his feet.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Valdez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Machida is looking to slow Valdez down with leg kicks.
Valdez closes the distance and clinches up with Machida, looking for a takedown. Valdez pushes Machida against the cage but Machida circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida stuffs the takedown.
Machida appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Valdez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Machida sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Valdez shoots in and drives through. Machida sprawls well.

Machida shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machida takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Valdez won't allow Machida to pass to mount.
Valdez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Machida.
Valdez wants to control but Machida is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Machida trying to mount his opponent but Valdez defends it.
We've been hearing good reports from Machida's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Machida in particular looking to stall.
Machida throwing shots but Valdez is blocking nicely.
Machida has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez wants to hold on but Machida pushes him away.
Machida tries to control but Valdez wriggling away.
Valdez blocking the ground and pound.
Valdez is looking to improve his position but Machida isn't that keen on the idea.
Machida punishing his opponent with strikes.
Valdez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Machida avoids the attempt from Valdez to control.
Machida takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Valdez tries to hold on but Machida pushes him away.
Valdez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida looking to control but Valdez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Valdez wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Machida.

Machida is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Valdez to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Valdez shrugs it off.
Valdez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Machida controlling his opponent.

Machida looking for a guillotine from mount but Valdez is having none of it.
Machida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Valdez is looking to escape.
Machida thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Valdez manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mubarak Machida dominated that round.
That's time! Machida's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Valdez shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Valdez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Machida fires out a quick counter leg kick but Valdez just manages to avoid it.
Mubarak Machida is winning the standup battle so far.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Machida swings for the body but Valdez moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Machida.
Valdez steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Machida.
Valdez goes for a double leg but Machida avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Machida continues to drive forward.
Valdez moves out of range of the leg kick from Machida.
Valdez is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Machida misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez fails to land the takedown.
Mubarak Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of German Valdez.
Valdez misses with a takedown attempt
and Machida counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Valdez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Machida pinned against the cage. Machida gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez with a poor takedown
and Machida counters with a good low kick that Valdez was not able to check.
Machida throws a body punch but Valdez moves out of range.
Valdez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Machida avoids it really well and circles away.
Valdez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Machida as Valdez shoots in.
Machida quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Valdez with a poor takedown
and Machida makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Valdez is breathing heavily.
Machida throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mubarak Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machida throwing a counter right hand but Valdez manages to avoid it.
Machida throws a looping overhand right but Valdez ducks down to avoid it.
Valdez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Machida defends it well.
Valdez fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Valdez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Machida seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Machida is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Valdez can do to turn this around?
Machida has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Valdez trying to keep a closed guard but Machida is proving a slippery customer.
Machida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valdez is keeping the position for now.
Machida wants to control from the top but Valdez keeps moving.
Machida controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Machida trying to control but Valdez is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida sitting in guard here, content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Valdez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Machida digs a good hook to Valdez's body.
Valdez shoots in but Machida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Machida seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Valdez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Machida defends well and Valdez ends up having to push Machida into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Machida throws a big counter combination but Valdez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Valdez fails with a takedown attempt.
Machida appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Valdez dives in for a single leg takedown but Machida sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Machida lands a head kick!
Valdez dives in for a single leg takedown but Machida sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Machida! Valdez is out on his feet! Machida rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Valdez is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Valdez is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mubarak Machida!