PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chinzo Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes to the cage accompanied by Hit and Run. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Machida
vs
Gracie

173 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
20
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Mundo Green - World Verde

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chinzo Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida lands with a nice body kick.
Machida throws a quick inside leg kick.
Machida moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Machida lunges at Gracie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie's hand.

Machida closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Machida tries to clinch up.
Machida lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.

Machida closes the distance and clinches.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Machida breaks the clinch.
Machida dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Machida. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Machida works over Gracie's head and body with a nice combination.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Chinzo Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gracie fails to pull guard.

Machida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Machida lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie's sensitive parts.
Machida scores with a kick to the body.
Gracie looks gassed!
An inside leg kick lands from Machida.

Machida rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Machida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Machida scores with a head kick.
Machida turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machida misses with a jab, cross combination.

Machida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Machida is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Machida takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Machida knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Machida wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Machida is looking to advance position but Gracie won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.

Machida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice combination there by Machida.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Machida.
Machida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Machida lands with a kick to the ribs.
Machida lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Machida gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gracie jumps guard but Machida stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Machida with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida slowing the pace effectively.

Machida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machida fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Machida gets a takedown into half guard.
It looks like Machida is going to stand back up.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie trying to control but Machida postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chinzo Machida dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Machida shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Machida was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Machida's attempts to control the action.
Machida controlling the pace for now.
Gracie tries to lock up and control but Machida gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Machida lands a nice shot to the head.
Machida wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Machida working a defensive guard here.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Machida.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

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.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Machida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

Machida looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Gracie has picked Machida up and slammed him! Machida can't keep hold of the triangle and Gracie manages to pass to side control!
Machida is looking to reverse the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch.

Machida lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Machida trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie has his foot on Machida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Machida works his way back into a safe position though.
Machida wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Machida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Machida slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Machida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gracie has his foot on Machida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Machida works his way back into a safe position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Machida is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Machida's back instead.

Machida fending off the submission attempt from Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Machida's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Machida on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Machida tries to get out of the position.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Machida has escaped the position, nice work there.
Machida is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Machida is defending well.
Royce Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Machida, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Machida wants to get back to his feet but Gracie drags him back down.
Machida is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Machida tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Machida to the ground. Machida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Machida has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Machida!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Machida looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Gracie! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Royce Gracie!