PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Renaldo Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Dent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Dent

186 cm
25
198 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
19
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Renaldo Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arthur Dent!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dent.
Renaldo Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dent fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Machida swinging wildly here.
Machida throws a nice looking combination but Dent bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No joy there for Machida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Machida misses with a jab, cross combination.
Machida swinging wildly here.

Dent drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dent looking to pass the guard.
Dent throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dent slips nicely into half guard.
Dent looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Machida with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Dent is trying to control. Machida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dent has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dent controlling the pace.
Machida looks like he's trying to stand up.
Dent tries to stand but can't do so whilst Machida controls his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Dent dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dent avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dent avoids the head kick by Machida.
Dent tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dent looks for a takedown but Machida sprawls well.
Dent has a takedown stuffed.
Machida tries to bum rush Dent with a series of wild strikes but Dent uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida stuffs the takedown attempt from Dent. Dent gets slowly back to his feet.
Renaldo Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Dent.
Machida just misses with a punch to the body.

Dent clinches up against the ropes.

Dent manages to break the clinch.
Dent looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dent.
Dent is breathing heavily.
Machida throws a hook to the side of Dent's head but Dent sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Machida lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Machida swinging wildly here.
Dent tries to score with a low kick but Machida moves his leg out of the way.
Machida throws a series of punches but Dent moves out of range.
Dent avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida leaves Dent with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Machida.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dent rushes Machida and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Machida is pressed up against the ropes. Dent has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Machida down to the mat. Machida avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Dent drives through and clinches with Machida against the ropes.
Machida stops a takedown attempt from Dent.

Dent successfully pulls guard.

Dent is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Dent misses with a short punch on the inside.
Machida lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Machida has Dent pressed against the ropes, preventing Dent from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Machida lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Machida lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machida lands a body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Machida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Dent moves out of range easily.
Machida throws a hook but Dent avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renaldo Machida dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Machida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Dent showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Machida.
Dent uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Machida.
Dent shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machida defends it nicely.
Dent ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Dent moves into the clinch successfully.
Machida fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Machida prevents the takedown attempt.

Dent drags the fight down to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dent wants to stand but Machida is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Dent is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
A right handed body shot lands from Machida.
Machida has a couple of punches blocked by Dent.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dent avoids the head kick by Machida.
Renaldo Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida misses with the combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machida throws a hook to the side of Dent's head but Dent sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dent looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machida throws a series of punches but Dent moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Dent really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Machida throws a head kick that misses.

Dent scores with a takedown into Machida's guard.
Dent working some strikes from top position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Dent stands up from guard. Let's bang!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Dent wants to clinch.
Dent showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Machida.
Renaldo Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida misses with a few strikes there.
Dent looks to score with a jab to the body but Machida is just out of range.
Machida misses with a low kick.
Dent looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Machida tries to bum rush Dent with a series of wild strikes but Dent uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Machida throws the left hand but Dent avoids the punch easily.
Dent shoots in and drives through. Machida sprawls well.
Machida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Machida wants it to stay on the feet.
Renaldo Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Dent.
Dent throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Machida's waist but Machida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dent off to one side.
Dent shoots in for a double leg but Machida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

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.
A combination from Machida does no damage.

Dent darts in and clinches Machida up against the ropes.
Machida lands an uppercut.
Machida lands a shoulder strike.
Machida creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dent's defenses.
Dent's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Dent wants a takedown but no success here.
Nice body punch from Machida.
Machida misses with some punches.
Machida tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dent keeps control of Machida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Machida misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Machida fails to land.
A short body shot lands from Dent as the two fighters clinch.
Dent looking for a takedown.
Dent has had enough of the clinch but Machida keeps him there for the moment.
Machida lands a shot to the body.
Dent tries to score a body lock takedown but Machida shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dent takes an elbow to the temple.
Machida blocks a body shot from Dent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Dent dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dent tries to score a power double leg takedown but Machida sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dent somewhat.
Arthur Dent is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Machida throws a jab but it's blocked by Dent.
Dent fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dent is defended easily by Machida.
Renaldo Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Dent.
Machida looks to land a combination but Dent avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dent uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Machida.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Dent gets a takedown into half guard.

Dent postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Machida to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab from Machida does it's job there.
Machida looks to land a right hand but Dent moved out of range.
Dent dodges the punch combination from Machida.
Dent scores with a jab to the body.
Machida stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dent tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.

Dent shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Dent trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Dent content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur Dent comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dent 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 46:49
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 46:49
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Dent!