PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rufus Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and santana machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee comes to the cage accompanied by Kick out the Jams by The MC5s. Lee has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Lee
vs
machida

185 cm
26
192 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

185 cm
23
187 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rufus Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, santana machida!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
machida lands with a kick to the temple. Lee shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Rufus Lee has been cut.
machida throws a head kick but Lee moves out of range.
machida throws a sloppy head kick and Lee moves out of range easily.
machida tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.
machida tries to clinch up but Lee circles away and keeps his distance.
Lee pulls out of a head kick attempt.
machida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
machida throws a sloppy head kick and Lee moves out of range easily.
Lee circles away from the clinch attempt.
machida moves in looking to clinch but Lee pushes him off.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lee lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and machida has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from machida and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
machida throws a head kick that misses.
Lee swats away the attempt to clinch by machida.
Lee sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
machida is looking to clinch.

machida gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lee is trying to force a seperation but machida has the dominant position.
Lee is trying to break the clinch but machida is controlling him.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as machida takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida keeps control of Lee as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lee tries to circle away but machida has him pinned against the cage.
machida trying to land knees to the body.
machida effectively controlling the action here.
machida with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lee wants to get back to striking at distance but machida won't allow it.
Lee prevents machida from breaking the clinch.
Lee avoids the elbow strike from machida, against the cage.
machida trying to stall but Lee improves his position.
machida lands an elbow inside that Lee shrugs off.
Lee takes an elbow to the temple.
machida creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
machida throws an elbow that misses.
machida using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lee has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lee blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lee can't break the clinch.
machida tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lee smiles and moves away.
machida doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lee lands with a shot to the body.
machida throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Lee circles away from the clinch attempt.
machida misses with a two punch combination.
machida fails in his attempt to clinch.
machida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
machida tries to clinch up.
A big left from machida misses.
Lee throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
santana machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
machida is looking to clinch but Lee is avoiding it.
machida misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lee scores with a head kick.

It looks like santana machida has been cut.
Lee is breathing heavily.
machida fails in his attempt to clinch.
machida pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lee keeps the fight on the outside.
machida takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
machida tries to clinch but Lee is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
machida tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.
Lee misses with a wild combination.
machida misses with a double jab
and Lee counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
machida tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lee counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lee throws a right hand that machida ducks under and follows up with a left that machida also avoids with ease.
machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
machida moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
machida misses with a few strikes there.
machida throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
machida tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lee counters with a nice body shot.
Lee throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
machida tries to clinch
and Lee counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
machida looks to clinch
enabling Lee to counter with a crisp jab.
Lee throws a nice looking combination but machida bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lee swings for the body but machida moves out of range.
A head kick misses from machida.
Lee throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
machida lands with a kick to the temple. Lee shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
machida fails with an attempt to clinch.
machida darts in trying to clinch
and Lee counters with a stiff right hand.
machida wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
machida tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lee counters with a nice body shot.
machida waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Lee dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

machida takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A punch combination from Lee misses.
machida tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lee cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
machida closes the distance but Lee moves to the side
and Lee counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lee circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lee counters with a one-two to the body.
Lee fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
machida tries to close the distance and clinch but Lee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lee misses with a head kick.
machida wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
No joy there for Lee, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
machida tries to clinch up
and Lee counters with a two punch combo.
machida wants to clinch
and Lee counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps machida thinking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lee paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lee circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lee looks to land a combination but machida avoids it well.
machida is looking to clinch.
machida lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
machida fails in his attempt to clinch.

machida has managed to clinch.
Lee avoiding damage as machida throws knees to the body.
Lee takes a knee right on the jaw!
Lee avoids the elbow strike from machida, against the cage.
machida trying to land knees to the body.
machida throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lee blocks it with crossed arms.
Lee avoiding damage as machida throws knees to the body.
machida using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lee wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
machida wants a takedown but no success here.

Lee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
machida fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lee punishes machida's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Lee finds it's way through machida's defenses.
machida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
machida fails with an attempt to clinch.
machida misses with a head kick.
A jab from Lee finds it's way through machida's defenses.
Lee swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and machida counters with a stiff right hand.
Lee misses with a jab to the body
and machida counters with a flying knee. Nice.
machida tries to close the distance and clinch but Lee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rufus Lee is winning the standup battle so far.
machida wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
Lee is looking to wear down machida with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
machida is looking to clinch.
Lee misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lee takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
machida misses with a series of wild punches.
Lee misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee misses with a series of wild punches.
machida misses with a body kick.
machida wants to clinch but Lee slips to the side
and Lee counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lee misses with a hook. machida ducked under it nicely.
machida misses with a double jab
and machida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
machida wants to clinch.
machida tries to close the distance and clinch but Lee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lee circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rufus Lee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lee misses with a body kick.
machida fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lee avoids the body shot from machida.
Lee waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract machida.

That's four 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.
Lee keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from machida.
No joy there for machida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lee fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lee avoids a punch combination nicely.
machida wants to clinch
and Lee counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps machida thinking.
machida dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lee. That did some damage!
machida tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lee counters with a three punch combo that has machida backing up. machida nods at Lee to acknowledge the strikes.
machida wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
machida wants to clinch
and Lee counters with a lovely straight right hand!
machida throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Lee avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
machida fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Lee dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

A head kick misses from machida.
machida darts in trying to clinch
and Lee counters with a nice low kick that buckles machida's knee momentarily.
Lee swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lee throws a big shot that misses.
machida is looking to clinch but Lee is avoiding it.
machida lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Lee will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
machida wants to clinch
and Lee counters with a right hand to the body.
machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lee swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee avoids a punch combination nicely.
machida tries to close the distance and clinch but Lee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lee fakes a jab and throws a low kick but machida checks it well.
machida tries to clinch but Lee moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lee swats him away and circles back towards the center.
machida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lee scores with a shot to the body.
machida lands a high kick!
machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
machida is looking to clinch.
machida misses with a two punch combination.
machida fails in his attempt to clinch.
machida misses with a head kick.
A jab from Lee finds it's way through machida's defenses.
Lee takes a swing at machida's ribcage but misses.
machida misses with an uppercut. Lee saw that one coming.
machida just misses with a punch to the body.
machida tries to clinch but Lee moves away
enabling Lee to counter with a crisp jab.
machida wants to clinch but Lee slips to the side
enabling Lee to counter with a crisp jab.
machida tries to clinch but Lee moves away
and Lee counters with a big head kick but machida shrugs it off.
Lee just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee ducks down and throws a hook to the body but machida moves away.
machida misses with an uppercut.
Nice shot lands for Lee.
machida misses with a head kick.
machida tries to clinch but Lee moves away
and Lee counters with a two punch combo.
santana machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
machida tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lee counters with a leg kick.
A head kick from machida lands but Lee takes it in his stride.
Lee misses with a body shot.
machida is looking to clinch.
machida wants to clinch.
machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lee swats him away and circles back towards the center.
machida tries to clinch but Lee moves away
and Lee counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
machida connects with a solid leg kick.
machida tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lee counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - machida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
machida lands a nice hook to Lee's body. Lee takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
machida wants to clinch
and Lee counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps machida thinking.
machida throws a front kick aimed at Lee's knee but Lee avoids it well.
machida doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.
machida wants to clinch
and Lee counters with a straight right hand.
machida clinches but Lee breaks the clinch
and machida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
machida tries to clinch up
and Lee counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
machida is looking to clinch but Lee is avoiding it.
Lee circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lee counters with a nice uppercut.
Lee cracks a nice hook into machida's ribs.
machida tries to clinch up
and Lee counters with a three punch combo that has machida backing up. machida nods at Lee to acknowledge the strikes.
machida tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lee counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
machida tries to clinch up
and Lee counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick by machida misses
and Lee counters with a straight right hand.
machida throws a head kick but Lee moves out of range.
Lee takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lee takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rufus Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lee, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rufus Lee!