PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Heitor Maran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maran
vs
Machida

178 cm
19
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Heitor Maran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Machida!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida dodges the punch combination from Maran.
Maran lands a nice shot to the body.
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida misses with a series of wild punches.
Machida with a jab.
Maran throws a left and a right that both miss

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Machida.
Maran is trying to drag Machida to the mat but Machida just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Maran wants to break free but Machida has control.
Maran is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Machida pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Machida prevents Maran from breaking the clinch.

Machida breaks the clinch.
Maran lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Maran.

It looks like Mauricio Machida has been cut.
Machida dodges the punch combination from Maran.
Maran throws a series of punches but Machida moves out of range.
Maran swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maran falls off balance throwing a combination

and Machida decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maran's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida controls from within his opponent's guard.
Maran wants to get back to his feet but Machida passes into half guard.
Maran is looking to improve his position.
Maran wants to get back to his feet.
Machida tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Maran.
Machida prevents Maran from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maran tries to get to full guard but Machida has control of the leg.
Machida blocks the strikes from Maran.
Machida looks gassed!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Machida shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Machida showed some decent athleticism there.
Maran tries to roll over but Machida keeps him under control.
Well, if Machida is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Maran pushes Machida off but Machida dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maran is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Machida is controlling him well.
Machida is looking to take a break and control but Maran is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machida prevents Maran from escaping the position.
Machida taking a breather here.
Maran tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maran manages to get back to half guard.
Machida blocks the strikes from Maran.
Machida looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Maran manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Machida dodges the punch combination from Maran.
Maran lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Maran throws a left and a right that both miss
and Machida counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Machida wants to clinch.
Maran lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Machida backs up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Machida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Machida's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Maran tries to bum rush Machida with a series of wild strikes but Machida uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A right-left combo lands from Maran.
Maran misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Machida wants to clinch.
Maran doesn't manage to clinch there - Machida circles away.
No joy there for Maran, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maran looks to land a combination but Machida avoids it well.
Heitor Maran is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A punch combination from Maran misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Maran finds it's way through Machida's defenses.
Maran misses with a double jab
enabling Machida to counter with a crisp jab.
Maran's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Maran duly obliges.
Machida is breathing heavily.
The fighters circling - Machida throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maran throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maran moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Maran throws a combination that misses

and Machida counters with a single leg into guard. Maran didn't expect that.
Machida trying to control but Maran is working from the bottom.
Maran wants to stand but Machida is controlling the position.
Machida postures up.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Maran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida looking to sit in guard and control but Maran gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maran postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida has momentary wrist control but Maran slips an elbow through the middle.
Maran wants to stand but Machida has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machida takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Maran shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Maran 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.
Maran looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Maran throws a right and a left that Machida avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maran tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Machida swivels and escapes.
Machida falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maran counters with a series of strikes. Machida will be more careful next time no doubt.
Machida showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maran.
Machida on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Machida moves forwards but Maran connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Maran changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Machida tries to avoid it but Maran manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Machida to the ground. Machida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heitor Maran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Maran is fending him off so far but Machida persists. Nope, Maran circles away and we're back to standing.
Maran tries to move into range but Machida moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Maran stuffs the takedown attempt from Machida. Machida gets slowly back to his feet.
Maran misses with a combination
and Machida counters with a series of strikes. Maran will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maran closes the distance but Machida moves to the side
and Machida counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maran swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Maran is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Machida stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Machida wants to clinch.
Maran shoots for a double leg takedown but Machida sprawls well. He's pushed Maran's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Machida misses with a wild combination.
Maran misses with a combination

and Machida moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maran is looking to break free of the clinch but Machida has double underhooks.

Maran's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Machida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Machida's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Machida thuds his right hand into Maran's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Heitor Maran seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Maran, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maran misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maran lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Maran.
A combination from Maran does no damage.
Machida showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maran.
Machida misses with the combination.
Machida throws a lazy head kick
and Maran counters with a stiff right hand.
Maran scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Danga de danga de dang - Maran scores with a four punch combination!
Maran throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Maran wants to control but Machida is keeping busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maran tries to kick Machida off but Machida keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mauricio Machida has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machida wants to control but Maran is keeping him busy.
Maran tries to kick Machida off in order to stand up. Machida Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Machida looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maran is trying to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Machida dodges the punch combination from Maran.
Machida thows a left - swing and a miss!

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.
Maran will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maran wants to clinch up but Machida keeps it at a distance.
Maran blocks a jab.
Maran misses with a combination

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida tries to free his leg and advance position but Maran is retaining full guard.

Maran pushes Machida off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Machida connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Maran throws a nice looking combination but Machida bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maran misses with a series of wild punches.
Maran swinging wilding here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maran shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.
Machida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maran but Maran pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Machida tries to clinch up.
Maran scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Maran lands a two punch combo.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maran.
Maran throws a right and a left that both miss.
Maran tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch.
Maran wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Machida has him pressed against the cage.
Maran tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heitor Maran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maran can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maran stops a takedown attempt from Machida.
Machida stalling in the clinch.

Machida pulls guard successfully.
Maran postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Heitor Maran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maran. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maran trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Machida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maran is one step ahead there.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mauricio Machida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maran trying to stand up but can't free himself from Machida's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Machida 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Machida!