PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Modus Ponens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Modus Ponens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ponens
vs
Machado

178 cm
23
208 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

196 cm
18
224 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Modus Ponens!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Xander Machado!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ponens.
Ponens tries to clinch but Machado is having none of it.
Machado is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ponens throws a hook to the side of Machado's head but Machado sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ponens throws a body kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ponens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado blocks a head kick by Ponens.
Ponens doesn't manage to clinch there - Machado circles away.
Machado feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machado changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ponens looks to land a body kick but Machado moved away.
Machado is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ponens wants to clinch.
Ponens misses with an uppercut.

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.
Ponens goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ponens wants to clinch up but Machado keeps it at a distance.

Ponens moves into range and clinches up with Machado.
Machado tries for a takedown. No joy.
Machado is looking to take this one to the mat.
Machado is looking to take this one to the mat.
Modus Ponens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Machado.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ponens throws an elbow but misses.
Machado has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ponens after a bit of a struggle.
Ponens can't find room to land a body shot as Machado controls the action.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ponens throws an elbow but misses.
Ponens tries a body shot but Machado blocks it.
Machado goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ponens prevents it.
Ponens lands an elbow just above Machado 's eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponens lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ponens is leaning against Machado and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ponens gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Machado blocks an elbow strike from Ponens.

Machado has Ponens pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Machado pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ponens tumbling to the mat - Machado dives into Ponens's guard.
Ponens has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Machado tries to free his leg and advance position but Ponens is retaining full guard.
Ponens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Machado scoring with punches to the head and body.
Machado throwing strikes but missing.
Machado advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponens wants to get back to full guard.
Machado thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Machado throwing shots but Ponens is blocking nicely.
Machado prevents Ponens from improving his position.
Ponens is trying to control but can't.
Machado throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ponens to regain full guard.
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!
Machado landing with the ground and pound.
Machado throwing strikes from guard but Ponens blocks nicely.
Ponens on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ponens tries to get out of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machado pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ponens is keeping the position for now.
Machado missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Modus Ponens dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ponens drives through with a takedown into Machado's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ponens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Machado wants to sweep here but Ponens controlling him for the moment.
Machado is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ponens has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Machado is working away from the top position though.
Machado has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machado wants to pass to mount but Ponens is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Machado connects with a nice short shot to Ponens's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ponens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Machado throwing shots but Ponens is blocking nicely.
Machado landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Machado looks to land a strike but Ponens avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Machado trying to control but Ponens is working from the bottom.
Ponens wants to get back to his feet but Machado is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ponens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Machado loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Xander Machado has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machado working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ponens's head.
Machado throws a big right hand that misses.
Machado trying to control but Ponens is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ponens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ponens trying to control the position.
Machado working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ponens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machado throws a big right hand that misses.
Machado throws an elbow that misses. Ponens uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Machado's guard. Nice move by Ponens!

Machado wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ponens is now in half guard.
Ponens landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado tries to get to full guard but Ponens has control of the leg.
Machado is staying active underneath Ponens, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ponens missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Machado tries to roll over but Ponens keeps him under control.
Machado moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ponens landing with the ground and pound.
Ponens throwing strikes but missing.
Ponens has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Machado working a defensive guard here.
Ponens lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Machado tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponens throws a big elbow that misses.
Machado has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Ponens has passed into side control.
Machado manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ponens's best efforts.
Machado wants to get back to full guard.
Machado trying to control here.
Machado on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Machado is rocked!
Ponens scores with a big shot! Machado's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Machado! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Modus Ponens!
Modus Ponens is the new light heavyweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Modus Ponens started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.