PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tamehr Al Arhoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Arhoff has chosen Dethklok - Hatredcopter as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Machida
vs
Al Arhoff

183 cm
21
210 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
204 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!
Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tamehr Al Arhoff!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida misses with the combination.
Machida avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Al Arhoff should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Al Arhoff fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Al Arhoff throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machida throws a right and a left that Al Arhoff avoids nicely.
Machida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Al Arhoff moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Al Arhoff dives in and grabs Machida's left leg, looking for a takedown. Machida pushes down on Al Arhoff's head and hops out.
Al Arhoff avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida misses with a wild combination.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Al Arhoff circles away quickly and effectively.
Machida looks to land a combination but Al Arhoff avoids it well.
Al Arhoff dodges the punch combination from Machida.

Al Arhoff changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Machida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Arhoff decides to stand up, so the ref orders Machida to his feet.
Machida misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Machida.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Al Arhoff circles away quickly and effectively.
Machida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Arhoff throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Machida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Al Arhoff's guard now.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Machida wants to stand but Al Arhoff is controlling his posture from full guard.

Al Arhoff scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Al Arhoff.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Al Arhoff counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Machida!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Arhoff controlling from mount.
Al Arhoff's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Machida tries to reverse the position but Al Arhoff maintains control.
Al Arhoff controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tamehr Al Arhoff dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Al Arhoff misses with an uppercut. Machida saw that one coming.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida throws a left and a right that both miss

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

Al Arhoff drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Al Arhoff jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Al Arhoff tries to stand but Machida is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Al Arhoff looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Arhoff must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Al Arhoff trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Al Arhoff prevents Machida from getting back to his feet.
Machida doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Tamehr Al Arhoff has got the better of the ground game so far.
Al Arhoff trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Machida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Machida falls off balance throwing a combination

and Al Arhoff counters with a single leg into guard. Machida didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Arhoff showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Al Arhoff is looking to stand up but Machida won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to strike off his back.

Al Arhoff decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Al Arhoff shoots and misses
and Machida counters with a series of strikes. Al Arhoff will be more careful next time no doubt.
Machida misses with a series of wild punches.
Al Arhoff loads up on a big right hand but Machida slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Al Arhoff throws out a loose jab but Machida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Machida misses with a wild combination.
Machida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Al Arhoff lands a head shot.
Machida throws a right hand that Al Arhoff ducks under and follows up with a left that Al Arhoff also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tamehr Al Arhoff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Al Arhoff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Machida bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Al Arhoff is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Machida has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Al Arhoff tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Machida stands up and beckons Al Arhoff to his feet.
Al Arhoff tries for a takedown but Machida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Arhoff takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Machida shoots in looking for a takedown. Al Arhoff tries to sprawl out of it but Machida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Al Arhoff manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Al Arhoff shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Arhoff wants to control the pace but Machida is squirming around nicely.
Al Arhoff controlling the position easily from mount.
Al Arhoff wants to control the pace but Machida is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tamehr Al Arhoff just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tamehr Al Arhoff is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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 slips under a jab from Al Arhoff.
Machida misses with the combination.
Machida throws a combination that misses

and Al Arhoff counters with a shoot takedown. Machida fights it but they end up in guard.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Al Arhoff wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.

Al Arhoff stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Machida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tamehr Al Arhoff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Al Arhoff winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tamehr Al Arhoff!