PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabi Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Machida
vs
Cruz

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabi Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.
A nice combination there by Cruz.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz lands a jab to the nose.

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

Machida breaks from the clinch.
Cruz throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Machida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Machida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cruz throws a wild body kick that Machida sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabi Cruz.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
Cruz tries to clinch up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Machida looking for a takedown.

Machida manages to break the clinch.
Cruz fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Machida gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Machida unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cruz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cruz is pressed up against the cage. Machida has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cruz down to the mat. Cruz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gabi Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz tries to bum rush Machida with a series of wild strikes but Machida uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Machida tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Machida to the ground. Machida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cruz looks gassed!
Machida throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cruz's head.
Cruz tries to clinch

and Machida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Machida tries to clinch up
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruz closes the distance looking to clinch

and Machida counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz didn't expect that.

Cruz 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machida gets to his feet. Cruz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A head kick by Cruz misses

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Machida.
Machida crunches a lovely knee into Cruz's ribcage.
Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Machida manages to break the clinch.

Machida closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Machida prevents Cruz from breaking the clinch.
Cruz digs a right hand into Machida's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Machida's gas tank.

Machida has clasped his hands together around Cruz's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machida in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Machida stands up and beckons Cruz to his feet.
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.

Cruz throws a right and a left that Machida avoids nicely.
Machida wants to clinch.
Cruz clinches but Machida breaks the clinch
and Machida counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Machida.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Machida fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.

Machida lands a takedown into guard.
Machida wanted to stand there but Cruz had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Machida showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cruz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Machida isn't so interested in that idea.
Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Machida is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida avoids the body shot from Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz closes the distance but Machida moves to the side

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machida gets to his feet. Cruz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt

and Machida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Machida keeps him there for the moment.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Machida.
Machida has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Machida misses with a knee strike.
Machida keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruz wants to clinch but Machida slips to the side

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch.
Machida is trying to drag Cruz to the mat but Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Machida takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Machida digs a right hand into Cruz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cruz's gas tank.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Machida will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cruz up against the cage.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cruz tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Machida moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is trying to maintain a safe position but Cruz gets an underhook and turns Machida into the cage.
Machida just leaning against Cruz, taking a breather.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Machida is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cruz.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice uppercut lands for Cruz. That snapped Machida's head back.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Machida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabi Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Machida sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machida throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Machida off to one side.
Machida takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cruz closes the distance but Machida moves to the side

and Machida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida lands a nice knee to the body.
Cruz is trying to break free.

Machida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Machida looks for a takedown but Cruz sprawls well.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machida looks for the body kick but Cruz saw that one coming.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control but Machida is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is trying to stand.
Machida trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Machida has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

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