PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Iron Ispa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Iron Ispa has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Iron Ispa seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ispa
vs
Machida

185 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
191 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iron Ispa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ispa throws the left hand but Machida avoids the punch easily.
Machida fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ispa avoids it really well and circles away.
Iron Ispa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Machida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Machida is controlling the pace.
Ispa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machida.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida wants to take a breather but Ispa is having none of it.
Ispa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machida.
Machida wants to stand up but Ispa is controlling the position.
Ispa wants to stand back up but Machida manages to pass into side control.

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.
Ispa is trying to control Machida's posture but Machida avoids it.

Machida stands up and beckons Ispa to his feet.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ispa as he jumps to the side.
Iron Ispa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Machida.
Machida lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ispa's sensitive parts.
Ispa is breathing heavily.
Ispa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Machida sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Machida lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ispa's head backwards.
Machida moves out of range of the strikes.
Machida steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ispa.
Ispa takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Machida shoots for a double leg takedown but Ispa sprawls well. He's pushed Machida's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Machida closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ispa to the mat! Ispa manages to get full guard.
Machida looking to pass the guard.
Machida controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ispa keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Machida gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ispa misses with a head kick.
Machida is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ispa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Ispa moves out of range easily.
Machida ducks under a wild hook from Ispa.
Machida ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Machida closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ispa is trying to control Machida's posture but Machida avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fighters circling - Ispa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ispa scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A head kick by Ispa misses

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Machida is keen to just control but Ispa is a slippery customer.
Machida is looking to advance position but Ispa won't allow it.
Machida missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Machida trying to control from half guard but Ispa is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ispa looks like he's trying to stand up.

Machida stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ispa to get to his feet.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Machida avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two 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.
Ispa tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Machida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Machida scores with a shot to the side of Ispa's head.
Machida wants a takedown but no success here.

Ispa breaks the clinch.
Machida buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

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

Machida decides to stand back up. Machida steps back and let's Ispa get back to his feet.
Jab, jab by Ispa - just one landing.
Machida wants to clinch.
A head kick by Ispa misses

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ispa is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ispa wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.

Machida looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Machida is looking for a triangle but Ispa pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ispa preventing the sweep.
Machida is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ispa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
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.
That's time! Ispa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Machida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Machida thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Machida trying to control the action but Ispa is working from the bottom.
Machida trying to pass the guard but Ispa defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ispa kicks Machida off and gets back to his feet.
Ispa misses with a straight right.
Machida fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ispa avoids it really well and circles away.
Ispa looks to land a right hand but Machida moved out of range.
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ispa as he jumps to the side.
Iron Ispa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ispa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Ispa closes the distance and clinches.
Machida fails to pull guard.
Iron Ispa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Machida.
Ispa throws an elbow that misses.
Ispa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nice body punch from Machida.
Machida changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ispa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ispa smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ispa throws a shot from downtown. Machida moves away and avoids it.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ispa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ispa jabs Machida right on the nose. Machida blinks but takes it well.
Machida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ispa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ispa throws a lazy head kick

and Machida counters with a shoot takedown. Ispa fights it but they end up in guard.
Machida slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ispa is trying to stand back up but Machida is controlling him
Ispa is not content to let Machida control the position.
Lyoto Machida has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Machida works his way into side control.

Machida decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ispa to his feet.

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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

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