PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and SergiO Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ortiz has chosen Face the pain - Steem as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Machida
vs
Ortiz

185 cm
21
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
205 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Win Nutritional
Mundo Green - World Verde

Win Nutritional

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 4 - 2 - 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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, SergiO Ortiz!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortiz moves in looking to clinch but Machida pushes him off.
Ortiz tries for a takedown but Machida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ortiz tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.

Ortiz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ortiz wants to control for a moment but Machida uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Machida is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ortiz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Machida.

Machida is trying to work for a kimura but Ortiz is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz is trying to stand back up but Machida is controlling him

Machida is trying to work for a kimura but Ortiz is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ortiz is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Ortiz wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Machida is pressing down on Ortiz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ortiz is holding on for now.
Ortiz is trying to stand up here but Machida is controlling him well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Machida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ortiz swivels and escapes.
SergiO Ortiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ortiz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Machida's guard.
Machida being controlled here, momentarily.
Ortiz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz scoring with punches to the head and body.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ortiz won't allow Machida to get back to his feet.
Ortiz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Machida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ortiz is working Machida over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ortiz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ortiz lands a couple of digs.
Ortiz throwing strikes but missing.
Ortiz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Ortiz from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ortiz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ortiz wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Ortiz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ortiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ortiz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ortiz scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ortiz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Machida is fending him off so far but Ortiz persists. Nope, Machida circles away and we're back to standing.

Ortiz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ortiz trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Ortiz looking to sit in guard and control but Machida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Machida drops back looking for a leg! Ortiz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ortiz manages to kick Machida off! Machida jumps back into Ortiz's guard.
Ortiz is pulling down on Machida's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida drops back looking for a leg! Ortiz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ortiz manages to kick Machida off! Machida jumps back into Ortiz's guard.
Ortiz wants to get back to his feet but Machida is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Ortiz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Machida did well to prevent Ortiz getting side control.
Ground and pound from Ortiz.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ortiz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machida does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ortiz is taking a breather. Machida says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ortiz is breathing heavily.
Machida is trying to stand up here but Ortiz is controlling him well.
Ortiz trying to advance position but Machida counters by regaining guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz won't allow Machida to get back to his feet.
Ortiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ortiz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortiz.
Ortiz postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Ortiz wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Machida being controlled here, momentarily.
Machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ortiz wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ortiz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

SergiO Ortiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ortiz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ortiz is defended easily by Machida.
Machida moves in looking to clinch but Ortiz pushes him off.

Machida closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortiz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Machida pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of SergiO Ortiz.
Ortiz can't get the takedown.
Machida lands a good knee to the midsection. Ortiz won't want to take too many of those.
Ortiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Machida lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like SergiO Ortiz has been cut.
Machida connects with a knee to the head.
Machida lands a knee to the body.
Machida throws a knee to the head but misses.
Machida tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida lands a knee to the body.
Machida scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Machida.
Machida lands a knee to the body.
Ortiz is working for takedown but Machida is calmly controlling the position for now.
Machida throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ortiz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Machida gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Machida landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ortiz looking for a takedown.
Machida working Ortiz over with knees to the body.
Machida keeps control of Ortiz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Machida landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Machida lands a good knee to the midsection. Ortiz won't want to take too many of those.
Ortiz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Machida pulls his leg out and moves away.
Machida keeps the fight on the outside.

Ortiz 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.
Ortiz throws and elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ortiz's guard. Nice move by Machida!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida 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 won't allow Ortiz to get back to his feet.
SergiO Ortiz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Machida drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Machida jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ortiz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Machida is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ortiz shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Machida fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ortiz avoids it really well and circles away.
Ortiz shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Machida fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ortiz, pushing him back against the cage.
Machida using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Machida scores with a knee to the head.
Machida with a knee to the head.

Ortiz has picked Machida up - he's going for a ride! Ortiz dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Ortiz works his foot free and advances to mount.
BOOM! Ortiz connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ortiz 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for SergiO Ortiz!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for SergiO Ortiz!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for SergiO Ortiz!

SergiO Ortiz wins by unanimous decision!