PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Helio Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yao Ming (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
Ming

182 cm
22
245 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Helio Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yao Ming!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ming tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.
Machida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ming moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters circling a little - Ming finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Ming has taken the fight to the clinch.
Machida wants to get back to striking at distance but Ming won't allow it.
Machida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ming has him pressed against the cage.
Ming misses with a knee strike.
Ming with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ming using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Machida breaks the clinch.
Ming tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Ming.
Ming shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Machida pinned against the cage. Machida gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ming is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ming lands a head kick. Machida smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Machida throws a solid leg kick but Ming takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Machida.
Yao Ming seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ming is looking to clinch.
Ming is looking to clinch.
Machida walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ming checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ming tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ming misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ming tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Machida swivels and escapes.
Helio Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yao Ming.
Ming takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ming looks gassed!
Ming shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Machida punishes Ming's body with a nice straight punch.
Ming takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Machida misses with a kick to the body.
Ming is looking to clinch.
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Ming moves into range and clinches up with Machida.
Machida is looking to break free of the clinch but Ming has double underhooks.

Machida manages to break the clinch.
Ming tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ming shoots in but Machida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Machida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ming fails in his attempt to clinch.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Ming.
Ming looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Machida is fending him off so far but Ming persists. Nope, Machida circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ming has a takedown stuffed.
Helio Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida looks to land a body kick but Ming moved away.
Machida misses with a few strikes there.
Machida throws a right and a left that Ming avoids nicely.
Ming throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ming with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ming tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.
Machida throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Machida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Ming moves into the clinch.
Ming tries to score a body lock takedown but Machida shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ming doesn't manage to clinch there - Machida circles away.
Machida lands a nice hook to Ming's body. Ming takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A punch combination from Machida misses.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Machida crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ming - the referee stops the clock and Machida gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ming. Machida manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ming tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Machida scores with a four punch combination!
Machida throws a nice looking combination but Ming bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Machida thows a body shot but no joy.
Both fighters circling a little - Ming finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Machida misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ming.
Ming wants to clinch up but Machida keeps it at a distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Machida scores with a four punch combination!
Ming blocks a head kick by Machida.
Ming looks to land a combination. Machida sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Machida misses with a two punch combination.
Machida thows a body shot but no joy.
Ming takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ming tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Machida throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ming.
Machida is looking to wear down Ming with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ming walks into a stiff left hand from Machida.
Machida scores with a shot to the body.
Machida lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Ming sprawling to the canvas. Machida follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Ming hang on?

Ming is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ming is looking to improve his position.
Ming is still in real trouble! Can Machida finish him?
Ming seems to have recovered his senses.
Ming is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Machida escapes and gets back to his feet.
Machida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Machida throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Horrible takedown by Ming or perhaps it was just good defense by Machida which made him look bad.
Machida misses with an uppercut. Ming saw that one coming.
Ming lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Ming has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ming throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machida blocks it with crossed arms.
Machida wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ming tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ming tries to land a knee to the head but Machida blocks with his arms.
Ming throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ming throws an elbow but it misses.

Machida breaks from the clinch.
Ming wants to clinch.
Ming tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.
Machida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ming moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida tries to bum rush Ming with a series of wild strikes but Ming uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ming landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ming prevents Machida from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ming shoots in but Machida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ming.
Ming shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Ming keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Machida fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ming manages to avoid it.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Machida here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Machida scoring well with a low kick there.
Machida swings for the body but Ming moves out of range.
Ming will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Helio Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yao Ming.
Ming rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Machida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Ming closes the distance and clinches.

Ming escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Helio Machida is winning the standup battle so far.
Ming avoids the head kick by Machida.
Machida throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
No joy there for Machida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ming is trying desperately to land a takedown but Machida is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Ming.
Ming dodges the punch combination from Machida.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Ming.
Ming is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Ming walks into a stiff left hand from Machida.
Ming blocks a head kick by Machida.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida scores with a nice right hand.
Ming tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.
Ming shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Ming keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ming avoids the head kick by Machida.
Ming tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ming wants to clinch up but Machida keeps it at a distance.
Ming tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.
Ming takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Ming moves out of range easily.
Ming blocks the body kick.
A big left from Machida misses.
Ming changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Machida tries to avoid it but Ming manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Machida to the ground. Machida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ming wants to clinch up but Machida keeps it at a distance.
Ming tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.
Ming tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Machida jabs at Ming's body.
Machida misses with a two punch combination.
Ming wants to clinch.

Ming fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Machida, pushing him back against the cage.
Machida is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ming misses with a knee to the head.
Ming landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ming using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ming tries to land a knee to the head but Machida blocks with his arms.

Ming has hold of one of Machida's legs. Machida is fighting the takedown attempt but Ming gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Ming trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ming throws a big right hand that misses.
Machida pulls Ming in to control the position.
Ming is working Machida over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ming stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ming lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ming is looking to work some ground and pound but Machida has wrist control.
Machida is looking to stand up but Ming isn't so interested in that idea.
Machida keeping full guard, as Ming tries to pass.
Machida looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ming tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Ming throws and elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ming's guard. Nice move by Machida!
Ming wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ming is looking to clinch.
Ming doesn't manage to clinch there - Machida circles away.
Ming blocks a head kick by Machida.
Ming shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Ming keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Machida throws a right hand that Ming ducks under and follows up with a left that Ming also avoids with ease.
Ming is looking to clinch.
Machida misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Machida throws a shot from downtown. Ming moves away and avoids it.
Ming blocks a head kick by Machida.
Ming tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.

Ming gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ming tries to land knees in the clinch but Machida avoids the damage to the body.
Machida managing to block the knees to the body from Ming.

Machida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ming is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Helio Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Machida.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ming moves into the clinch successfully.
Ming looking to throw knees to the head but Machida is blocking nicely.

Ming escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ming looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ming working Machida over with strikes.
Ming looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Machida blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ming.
Machida wants to improve his position but Ming is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yao Ming 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!

Ming clinches up with Machida and pushes him back against the cage.
Ming with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ming connects with a nasty looking knee right to Machida's face.

It looks like Helio Machida has been cut.
Ming drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Machida gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ming tries to land a knee to the head but Machida blocks with his arms.
Ming lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Machida manages to break the clinch.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ming fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ming gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ming tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ming misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Machida.
Ming with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ming using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ming tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Machida is looking to break free of the clinch but Ming has double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ming misses with a knee to the head.
Ming throws an elbow that misses.
Machida has had enough of the clinch but Ming keeps him there for the moment.
Ming tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida has had enough of the clinch but Ming keeps him there for the moment.
Ming looking to throw knees to the head but Machida is blocking nicely.
Ming tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Ming manages to break the clinch.
Ming wants to clinch.
Ming is looking to clinch.
Ming 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 Ming off to one side.
Helio Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yao Ming.
Ming changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Machida tries to avoid it but Ming manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Machida to the ground. Machida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Ming is just out of range.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ming tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ming closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Machida dodges the ground and pound from Ming.
Ming tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Ming goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Machida rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ming's guard! Nice work there by Machida!

Machida gets to his feet. Ming looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ming tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida swats away the attempt to clinch by Ming.

Ming instigates a clinch.
Ming has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Machida avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Machida trying to land knees to the body.
Ming using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ming with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Ming manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ming striking off his back.
Ming 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 gets to his feet. Ming looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ming moves in looking to clinch but Machida pushes him off.
Some wild striking there from Machida.
Machida misses with a looping right.
Machida throws a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ming looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machida throws a body kick that misses.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.
A choreographed right hand from Machida misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ming avoids a punch combination nicely.

Ming clinches with his opponent.
Ming misses with a knee to the head.
Machida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ming tries a knee to the head but Machida blocks it.
Ming fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ming misses with a knee strike.
Ming trying to land knees to the body.
Ming misses with a knee strike.

Machida breaks the clinch.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ming.
Ming is looking to clinch.
Machida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ming tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.
Machida misses with a jab, cross combination.

Ming clinches up with Machida and pushes him back against the cage.
Machida managing to block the knees to the body from Ming.
Ming keeps control of Machida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Machida breaks from the clinch.
Machida takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Machida connects with a single shot there.
Machida throws a series of punches but Ming avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Ming moves out of range easily.
Machida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Machida misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ming is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Ming tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Machida throws a head kick but Ming moves out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Machida.
Machida looks for the body kick but Ming saw that one coming.
Ming shoots in but no luck this time.
Machida walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ming.
Ming dodges the punch combination from Machida.
Ming wants to clinch up but Machida keeps it at a distance.

Ming moves into range and clinches up with Machida.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ming throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ming misses with a knee strike.
Knees to the body from Ming.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Machida lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Helio Machida.
I think Machida has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Helio Machida!