PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bleed it out - Linkin Park kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Lyoto Machida is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Melo
vs
Machida

184 cm
20
209 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida is looking to clinch but Melo is avoiding it.
Machida closes the distance and clinches up with Melo, looking for a takedown. Machida pushes Melo against the cage but Melo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Melo with a poor takedown

and Machida decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Melo's guard.
Machida is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Melo looking for a guillotine here but Machida defends easily.
Machida stays in close to Melo's body and controls the position.
Melo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Machida doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Machida manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Melo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Machida with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Machida wants to control from the top but Melo keeps moving.

Melo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Machida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Melo is breathing heavily.
Machida is stalling in the full guard.
Machida trying to control but Melo is working from the bottom.
Machida controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Machida scores a takedown into full mount!
Machida sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Melo wants to control but Machida is having none of it.
Machida trying to control but Melo is having none of it.
Melo sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melo keeps working.
Machida content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Melo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Melo trying to hold on to Machida's head to control him but Machida postures up.
Machida looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Machida with a poor takedown

and Melo counters with a shoot takedown. Machida fights it but they end up in guard.
Melo works over Machida with some ground and pound from guard.
Melo lands a couple of digs.

Machida has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Melo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Machida is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Melo postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Melo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Melo throws and elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Melo's guard. Nice move by Machida!
Machida is looking to work some ground and pound but Melo has wrist control.

Melo looking for a guillotine here but Machida defends easily.
Machida must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Machida landing some decent shots from guard.
Machida showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Machida is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Melo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida content to stall in guard here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Lyoto Machida just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Machida gets a clinch.
Machida tries to break the clinch but Melo is controlling the position.

Machida turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo throws a couple of strikes there.
Machida cracks Melo with a big elbow.
Machida throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Machida creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Machida controls the position from side control.
Machida trying to control the action but Melo is working from the bottom.
Machida taking a breather here.
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 Victor Melo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Melo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Machida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Melo tries to pull guard but Machida won't allow it.
Machida wants to break free but Melo has control.
Melo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Melo pulls Machida into guard.
Machida working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Melo's head.

Machida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Melo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Machida gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Melo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Machida controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Machida throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Machida sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Machida keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Melo's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida gets to his feet - Melo follows without any prompting.

Machida gets the takedown into side control.
Melo is being controlled here.
You can see the frustration on Melo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Machida lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Melo struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melo is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Machida has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Lyoto Machida!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for Lyoto Machida!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Lyoto Machida!

Lyoto Machida wins by unanimous decision!