PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dameon Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesus Trace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes into the arena with Brazilian Death blaring out of the sound system. 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
Trace

179 cm
28
144 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

176 cm
24
145 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dameon Machida!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jesus Trace!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida misses with a few strikes there.
Machida drops his hands momentarily and Trace takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Machida takes a swing at Trace's ribcage but misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Trace misses the target.
Machida looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Trace misses with an uppercut. Machida saw that one coming.
Machida looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Trace scores with a hook.
Machida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Trace checks a low kick from Machida.
Machida fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Trace is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Machida.
Machida throws a right and a left that Trace avoids nicely.
Machida throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Trace uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Machida really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Machida misses with a straight left.
Trace throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Trace moves into the clinch successfully.

Machida manages to break the clinch.
Machida throws a jab when Trace was well out of range.
Machida throws a head kick but Trace moves out of range.
Machida uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Trace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trace throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Trace looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Machida is fending him off so far but Trace persists. Nope, Machida circles away and we're back to standing.
Machida throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Machida drops Trace with a right and a left! Machida comes rushing in but Trace regains his composure and manages to keep Machida in guard.

Trace is rocked!

It looks like Jesus Trace has been cut.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Trace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Trace is still in real trouble! Can Machida finish him?
Machida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Trace seems to have recovered his senses.
Machida throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Trace works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Trace working a defensive guard here.
Machida trying to stand up but can't free himself from Trace's guard.
Trace wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trace seems keen to control Machida's posture.
Machida scoring with some ground and pound.
Machida trying to control but Trace is working from the bottom.
Trace seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Machida lands a couple of digs.
Machida has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Trace preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Trace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida drops back looking for a leg! Trace is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Trace manages to kick Machida off! Machida jumps back into Trace's guard.
Machida's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Machida sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Trace's guard.
Machida working the head and body with strikes.
Trace moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Trace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Trace is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Machida distracts Trace with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Machida stands and throws Trace's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Machida working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Trace keeps working.
Trace managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Machida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dameon Machida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jesus Trace's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Machida takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Machida scores with a punch to the head.
Machida does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Trace bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Trace shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A slapping leg kick lands for Machida.
Trace shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Machida as he avoids it easily.
Machida scores with a jab to the body.
Machida looks to land a combination but Trace avoids it well.
A swing and a miss from Machida.
Machida moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A big left from Machida misses.
A punch combination from Trace misses.
Trace is breathing heavily.
A left lands for Machida.
Trace tries to score a power double leg takedown but Machida sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Trace somewhat.
Dameon Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesus Trace.
Machida throws a combination that misses
enabling Trace to counter with a crisp jab.

A jab-cross combination lands for Machida and sends Trace crashing to the mat! Machida follows him down to the mat - Trace regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Machida trying to control the action but Trace is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Trace defending well though.
Machida winds up and cracks Trace with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Machida seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Trace is not content to let Machida control the position.
Machida is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Trace wants to improve his position but Machida is controlling well.
Machida scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trace trying to hold on to Machida's head to control him but Machida postures up.
Machida works his way into full mount!
A nice elbow there by Machida.
Machida trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Machida landing strikes from the mount and Trace is in trouble!
Trace is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trace takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Trace bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Machida escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Trace gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Machida is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Machida 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.
Trace postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Trace with a flurry of punches that miss.
Trace wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.

Trace got a little sloppy there for a moment and Machida has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Trace has managed to get both his arms back between Machida's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machida throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Trace escapes and throws Machida's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Trace in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Machida tries to improve position but can't.

Trace is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Machida has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Trace throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Machida is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dameon Machida dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jesus Trace's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Trace's corner calls for a 1-2. Trace obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Machida is rocked!
Trace sees an opening and throws a straight punch right through Machida's defenses. It connects perfectly with Machida's jaw and knocks him out cold! Wow - that's a contender for knockout of the year - absolutely brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jesus Trace!
Jesus Trace is the new bantamweight champion!