PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Alvarez
vs
Machida

180 cm
20
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

S.W.A.T.

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Miguel Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Machida swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alvarez wants to clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Machida forces Alvarez back against the cage and clinches.
Machida lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Machida jumps guard but Alvarez stands there with Machida around his waist. Machida gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Machida throws an elbow that misses.
Alvarez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Lyoto Machida has been cut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Alvarez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Machida's brow.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside that Machida shrugs off.
Alvarez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Machida has hold of one of Alvarez's legs. Alvarez is fighting the takedown attempt but Machida gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Alvarez wants to stand and escape but Machida is having none of it.

Machida decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Alvarez, up you get!
Machida tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.

Alvarez pushes Machida up against the cage in a clinch.
Machida dodges an elbow strike from Alvarez.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
Machida looking to stall.
Alvarez pushes off an throws an elbow but Machida leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Alvarez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Machida jumps guard but Alvarez stands there with Machida around his waist. Machida gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida pulls guard effortlessly.

Machida is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Alvarez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Alvarez.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Alvarez.
Alvarez stops a takedown attempt from Machida.
Miguel Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Machida.
Alvarez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Machida blocks an elbow strike from Alvarez.
A short right from Machida.
Machida landing knees to the head.
Alvarez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Machida with a knee to the head.

Machida has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Alvarez regains guard immediately.

Machida stands up from Alvarez's guard - Machida perhaps looking for a knockout.

Machida looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Machida won't allow Alvarez to get back to his feet.

Alvarez wriggles free and stands up.

Alvarez darts in and clinches Machida up against the cage.
Alvarez lands an elbow just above Machida 's eye.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Alvarez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida blocks the elbow strike.
Machida looking to slow down the pace here.
Machida takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alvarez throws an elbow but misses.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Machida gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Alvarez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it misses.
Machida is working for takedown but Alvarez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alvarez misses with an elbow over the top.

Machida is trying to trip Alvarez. He has hold of a leg but Alvarez is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Machida persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Machida wants to pass the guard but Alvarez is keeping the position.

Machida gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Machida fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.

Machida bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Machida decides to stand back up. Machida steps back and let's Alvarez get back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Machida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alvarez tries to clinch up

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

Alvarez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Alvarez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside.
Alvarez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Alvarez pushes off an throws an elbow but Machida leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Alvarez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Machida wants to get back to striking at distance but Alvarez won't allow it.
Machida changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Alvarez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.
Alvarez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown. Alvarez fights it but they end up in guard.
Alvarez wants to stand up but Machida is controlling him.
Machida passes into half guard.
Alvarez is trying to stand up here but Machida is controlling him well.
Machida is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Alvarez pushes Machida off looking to stand but Machida dives back in and keeps control.
Machida has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Machida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alvarez is looking to escape.
Machida raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez trying desperately to get to his feet.
Machida scoring with strikes but Alvarez is staying in there.
Machida sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Machida scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Machida lands a big shot there that rocks Alvarez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Alvarez tries to buck Machida off but he can't manage it.
Alvarez is bucking up trying to escape but Machida cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Machida trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Machida's cut.
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.

Machida tries to clinch up.
Alvarez is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Machida is looking to clinch.

Machida gets a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Alvarez.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Alvarez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Machida's brow.
Alvarez lands an elbow that stopped Machida in his tracks for a moment.
Alvarez misses with an elbow over the top.
Alvarez misses with an elbow strike.
Alvarez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Machida tries to break the clinch but Alvarez is controlling the position.
Alvarez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Machida is trying to maintain a safe position but Alvarez gets an underhook and turns Machida into the cage.
Machida tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alvarez smiles and moves away.
Alvarez closes the distance but Machida moves to the side

and Machida counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Alvarez!
Alvarez squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Machida controlling the position easily from mount.
Alvarez is trying to stand.

Alvarez somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Alvarez tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alvarez wants to clinch.
A punch combination from Machida misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.

Alvarez instigates a clinch.
Alvarez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Alvarez lands a damaging elbow.
Machida wants to get back to striking at distance but Alvarez won't allow it.
Machida lands a nice elbow.
Machida wants a takedown.
Alvarez lands an elbow that stopped Machida in his tracks for a moment.
Machida can't break the clinch.

Machida pulls Alvarez into guard.
Alvarez stopping the sweep attempt from Machida.

Machida scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Alvarez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Machida counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Alvarez!

Machida working for a submission but Alvarez is keeping him at bay.
Alvarez is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Machida cracks Alvarez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to try and get back to his feet.
BOOM! Machida connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet.
Machida in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Alvarez is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machida throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Machida wants to control the pace but Alvarez is squirming around nicely.
Machida lands with some strikes.
Machida landing strikes from the mount.

Alvarez somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Machida wants to clinch.
Machida is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alvarez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alvarez closes the distance but Machida moves to the side

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Machida has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Machida stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Machida keeps the fight on the outside.

Machida gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Alvarez throws an elbow that misses.
Alvarez pushes off an throws an elbow but Machida leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Machida is trying to break free.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Alvarez lands a nice elbow.
Machida is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Alvarez pushes off an throws an elbow but Machida leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Alvarez avoids the elbow strike from Machida, against the cage.
Machida is working for takedown but Alvarez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Miguel Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Machida.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez lands a damaging elbow.
Alvarez keeps control of Machida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alvarez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Machida throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Machida dodges an elbow strike from Alvarez.
Alvarez takes an elbow to the temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez throws an elbow that misses.
Machida is working for takedown but Alvarez is calmly controlling the position for now.
A knee to the head by Machida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Machida's cut.
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!

Machida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Alvarez gets caught flat footed, as Machida shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Machida manages to pass to side control.

Machida stands up from half guard.
Alvarez wants to clinch.
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Machida swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alvarez wants to clinch but Machida slips to the side

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Alvarez won't be happy with that.
Alvarez is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Machida asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Alvarez 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida advances nicely into full mount.
Alvarez trying desperately to get to his feet.
Machida trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alvarez trying desperately to get to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alvarez bucks Machida off and manages to get back to his feet!
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt

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

Machida stands and steps away. Alvarez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez closes the distance but Machida moves to the side

and Machida decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Alvarez's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alvarez wants to stand and escape but Machida is having none of it.

Machida gets to his feet - Alvarez follows without any prompting.
Alvarez is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt

and Machida moves into the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Alvarez.
Machida tries for a takedown but Alvarez manages to get underhooks.
Alvarez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Machida has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Alvarez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Machida has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Alvarez has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Alvarez grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Machida gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida scores with punches and elbows.
Alvarez looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Machida is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Alvarez up.

Alvarez defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Alvarez is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Alvarez is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Machida off. It looks like it's working - Machida slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Alvarez displaying calm under pressure there.
Alvarez moves in looking to clinch but Machida pushes him off.

Alvarez clinches.
Machida dodges an elbow strike from Alvarez.
Alvarez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Machida avoids the elbow strike from Alvarez, against the cage.
Machida wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside.
Machida dodges an elbow strike from Alvarez.
Alvarez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Machida blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Machida takes an elbow to the temple.
Alvarez lands an elbow just above Machida 's eye.
Machida blocks the elbow strike.
Machida tries to pull guard but Alvarez holds him up against the cage and eventually Machida drops back down to his feet.

Machida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Machida closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Alvarez to the mat! Alvarez manages to get full guard.
Alvarez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Machida is controlling him.
Machida wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.
Alvarez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Machida is controlling him.

Machida stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Machida looking for a takedown.
Miguel Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Machida.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez lands a nice elbow.
Alvarez lands an elbow that stopped Machida in his tracks for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez lands an elbow just above Machida 's eye.
Machida takes an elbow to the temple.
Alvarez lands an elbow just above Machida 's eye.

That has opened up Lyoto Machida's cut even more.
Alvarez pushes off an throws an elbow but Machida leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Miguel Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Machida fails to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Machida 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

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