PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manny Machado (ranked 3163 p4p, 3907 weight class) and Tiger King (ranked 385 p4p, 454 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Machado
vs
King

190 cm
24
185
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
190
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tiger King!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado wants to clinch up but King keeps it at a distance.
Machado looks for a takedown but King sprawls well.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by Machado.
King avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Machado tries to close the distance and clinch but King swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

King shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than King was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Machado has one of King's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

King decides to stand up, so the ref orders Machado to his feet.
We've been hearing reports that Machado has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado fails with a takedown attempt.

King moves into the clinch.
King drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machado tries to pull guard but King holds him up against the cage and eventually Machado drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Machado. That's going to take a lot out of him.

King manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Machado trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Machado keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of King's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King keeping moving, preventing Machado from controlling successfully.
King pulls Machado in close to prevent any damage.
Machado wants to pass the guard but King is keeping the position.
King pulls Machado in close to prevent any damage.
Machado stays in close to King's body and controls the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King tries for a takedown but Machado sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from King. No joy for Machado on that attempt.
Machado moves in looking to clinch but King pushes him off.
Horrible takedown attempt by Machado or perhaps it was just good defense by King, which made it look bad.
And King tries to counter it with a takedown but Machado pushes his down on his head and steps out.
King lands a head kick!
Tiger King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

King rushes Machado and presses him up against the cage.
Machado missing with knees to the body.
Machado tries to score a body lock takedown but King shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
King will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Machado up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado is trying to pull guard but King turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Machado wants to break free but King has control.

Machado gets control of King's arms and successfully pulls guard. Machado will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
King passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Machado tries to escape but King is in control.
You can see the frustration on Machado's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

King stands up and beckons Machado to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

King closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Machado quickly recovers to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiger King dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from King enables Machado to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. King manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

King scrambles and gets back to his feet.

King shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
King working the head and body with strikes.
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 is trying to maintain the position but King is very close to passing his half guard.
Machado is looking for a sweep. King is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Machado is looking to control King's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Machado avoid being mounted?
King working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
King looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Machado with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Machado is rocked!
Machado wants to get back to full guard.
Machado wants to get back to his feet.
Machado trying to control but King postures up.

King stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Machado to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice body punch from King.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
King shoots for a double leg takedown but Machado sprawls well. He's pushed King's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
King shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machado defends it nicely.
Machado tries to counter with a takedown but King is quick to defend against it.
Machado tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but King paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from King misses.

King gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
King is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Machado gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Manny Machado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiger King.
Machado tries to score a body lock takedown but King shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Machado seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

King gets the takedown into side control.
Machado is looking to reverse the position.

King stands up and beckons Machado to his feet.
Machado stuffs the takedown attempt from King. King gets slowly back to his feet.
Machado fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but King avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from King, right into the meat of the thigh.
King goes for a double leg but Machado avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Machado continues to drive forward.
Machado is looking for a counter combo.
Machado misses with a head kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by King or perhaps it was just good defense by Machado, which made it look bad.
Machado appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Machado fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
King with a nice calf kick.
King has a takedown stuffed.
Machado seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
King tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiger King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Machado shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. King defends it nicely.

King gets the takedown into side control.
King scores with a couple of short elbows.
Machado can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado is letting King control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado taking punishment in the form of punches.
King working away.
King content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
King lands a few punches from side control.
Oh Machado is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

King tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no King has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Machado seems to have got his legs back now.
King is staying tight to Machado's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Tiger King has got the better of the ground game so far.
King trying to control the action but Machado is working from the bottom.
King controlling the position from side mount.
King avoids the strikes from the bottom by Machado.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado tries to escape but King is in control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

King has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Machado gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Machado being controlled here, momentarily.

King stands up and waves to Machado to follow him.
Machado dives in for a single leg takedown but King sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machado gets tackled into the cage by King. King maintains the clinch.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machado shoots in and drives through. King sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Machado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King shoots in looking for a takedown but Machado manages to keep the fight standing, pushing King's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Machado drops down looking for a counter takedown but King sprawls and moves away.
Machado shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and King counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
King lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Machado is trying to force a seperation but King has the dominant position.

King pulls Machado into guard.
Manny Machado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machado would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tiger King is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
King trying to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiger King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well King has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiger King!