PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luan Sousa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sousa's entrance music is Voodoo Child. A fine choice. This should be a great matchup!

Sousa
vs
Machida

190 cm
20
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luan Sousa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Machida shoots in for a double leg but Sousa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sousa misses with a takedown

and Machida decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sousa's guard.
Machida prevents Sousa from getting back to his feet.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Sousa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sousa is working an open guard so Machida takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Sousa drives through and clinches with Machida against the cage.

Machida drags the fight down to the ground.
Machida is pulling down on Sousa's head. It's preventing any offense from Sousa, at least for the moment.
Sousa wants to stand but Machida has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sousa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sousa is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida looking for a sweep. Not yet Machida, not yet.
Machida manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Machida controlling from mount.

Machida wants to finish this one by submission but Sousa is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Machida.
Sousa is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida looking to finish Sousa with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sousa!
Machida takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sousa is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Sousa trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Machida in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sousa wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Machida controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Machida has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sousa is trying to stand up.
Machida looking to control and managing it successfully.
Machida looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
You get the feeling that Sousa really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Machida controlling the position easily from mount.
Sousa wants to try and get back to his feet.
Sousa is squirming around, avoiding Machida's attempts to control the action.
Sousa has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Machida has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Sousa's body.
Sousa wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoto Machida dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Machida doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sousa counters with a single leg into guard. Machida didn't expect that.
Machida is adopting a defensive guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Yoto Machida just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sousa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Machida motions for Sousa to come forward. Machida throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Sousa gets caught flat footed, as Machida shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Machida lands a couple of elbows.
Sousa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Machida is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Machida scoring with punches to the head and body.
Machida trying to control but Sousa is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Machida closes the distance and clinches.
Machida tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sousa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Machida walks away with a smile on his face. Sousa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sousa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sousa's guard now.

Machida decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sousa, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sousa's waist but Sousa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Machida off to one side.
Luan Sousa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoto Machida.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sousa feints and then cracks Machida's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Machida down.
Sousa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machida is looking to take a break and control but Sousa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yoto Machida has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sousa kicks off Machida and gets to his feet.

Sousa shoots in and bounces Machida off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Machida is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sousa gets to his feet. Machida looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Machida shoots for a double leg takedown but Sousa sprawls well. He's pushed Machida's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Machida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Machida shoots in looking for a takedown. Sousa tries to sprawl out of it but Machida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sousa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Machida fails with the takedown

and Sousa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Machida tries to pull guard but Sousa holds him up against the cage and eventually Machida drops back down to his feet.
Sousa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Machida walks away with a smile on his face. Sousa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida clinches but Sousa breaks the clinch

and Sousa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sousa.

Machida has clasped his hands together around Sousa's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Machida decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sousa to his feet.
Machida looks for a takedown but Sousa sprawls well.
Sousa scoring well with a low kick there.

Machida feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Machida drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sousa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Machida has Sousa in his guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sousa is looking to stand up but Machida won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoto Machida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sousa fails to land the takedown.
Machida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sousa but Sousa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Machida tries for a takedown but Sousa circles away easily

and Sousa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Machida is looking for a sweep. Sousa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Machida is trying to maintain the position but Sousa is very close to passing his half guard.

Sousa stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Machida to get to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida fails with the takedown.
Luan Sousa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoto Machida.
Machida takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Machida clinches with his opponent.
Sousa missing with knees to the body.
Sousa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sousa prevents Machida from breaking the clinch.
Machida wants to get back to striking at distance but Sousa won't allow it.
Sousa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Machida tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sousa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Machida has had enough of the clinch but Sousa keeps him there for the moment.

Sousa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Machida misses.
Sousa misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Machida.

Sousa bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Machida moves forwards but Sousa connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Machida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sousa but Sousa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Machida needs to keep his hands up - Sousa had a free shot at his head there.
Machida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sousa circles away.
Sousa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Machida's head.

Machida forces Sousa back against the cage and clinches.
Sousa slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Machida walks away with a smile on his face. Sousa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sousa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Sousa as Machida shoots in.

Sousa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Machida wants to control but Sousa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
It looks like Sousa is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida is pressing down on Sousa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Sousa stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Machida tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sousa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A short right from Sousa.
Machida fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sousa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sousa lands a knee to the body.
Machida is looking to break free of the clinch but Sousa has double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luan Sousa showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Yoto Machida!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Yoto Machida!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Yoto Machida!

Yoto Machida wins by unanimous decision!