PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Dai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes to the cage accompanied by Gang Starr - Battle. Dai has chosen Dignity as his entrance music. The key to victory for Lyoto Machida has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Machida
vs
Dai

186 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

165 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 2 - 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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Dai!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida dives in and grabs Dai's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dai pushes down on Machida's head and hops out.

Machida shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Dai is trying to control but can't.
Machida seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dai is looking for a sweep. Machida is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dai is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Machida gets caught flat footed, as Dai shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Machida knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dai on the ground.
Dai won't allow Machida to get back to his feet.

Dai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dai is pushing down on Machida's leg trying to pass to half guard. Machida is fighting to maintain full guard but Dai has managed to sneak the leg through.
Machida is trying to stand up here but Dai is controlling him well.

Dai seems to be looking for submissions.
Machida trying to hold on to Dai's head to control him but Dai postures up.

Dai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Machida defends it well.
Machida won't allow Dai to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to control from the bottom.

Dai is looking for a kimura here.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dai looks gassed!

Dai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Machida is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Machida is trying to stand back up but Dai is controlling him

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

Dai seems to be working for a kimura but Machida defends the submission attempt.

Dai seems to be working for a kimura but Machida defends the submission attempt.
Machida wants to get back to his feet.

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.

Dai is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Machida has managed to free his arm - good work.

Dai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Dai is looking for a kimura here.

Dai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machida wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Dai dominated that round.
That's time! Machida's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Machida misses with a takedown attempt

and Dai counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Dai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Machida is trying to stand back up but Dai is controlling him

Dai seems to be working for a kimura but Machida defends the submission attempt.
Machida is looking to control Dai's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Machida avoid being mounted?

Dai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida is defending against the submission attempts here by Dai.

Dai is looking for a kimura but Machida is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dai to get the leverage.
Machida is looking to improve his position.
Machida trying to control here.
Machida wants to get back to his feet.

Dai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Dai looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Machida wants to get back to his feet.

Dai is working for a kimura but Machida is defending it quite comfortably.

Dai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Machida defends it well.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is trying to stand back up but Dai is controlling him

Dai is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Machida has managed to free his arm - good work.

Dai is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Machida is just riding it out for now. Dai eventually gives up the hold.
Machida trying to control from the bottom.

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.

Dai is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Dai seems to be looking for submissions.

Dai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Machida pushes Dai off and gets back to his feet.
Dai shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Dai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Machida looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Dai!
Dai keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dai tries to hold on but Machida postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dai working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dai sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Dai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dai is trying to maintain the position but Machida is very close to passing his half guard.
Machida will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dai tries to get to full guard but Machida has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dai is pressing down on Machida's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Machida postures up in Dai's guard and throws a big left but Dai blocks it.
Machida not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dai is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Machida throwing strikes from guard but Dai blocks nicely.
Dai keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Machida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida won't allow Dai to sweep him here.
Dai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Dai shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Dai seems to be looking for submissions.
Dai trying to advance position but Machida counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dai has gone for a leg lock! Machida slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dai's guard.
Dai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are battling for position here. Machida manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dai looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dai drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Dai seems to have locked his on tight now - Machida screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Dai, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Mark Dai!