PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herbie Versmellon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Machida could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Herbie Versmellon's chin.

Machida
vs
Versmellon

185 cm
21
180 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Herbie Versmellon!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Versmellon walks into a straight right hand from Machida.
Machida misses with an uppercut. Versmellon saw that one coming.
Machida throws an overhand right that lands on Versmellon's shoulder, as Versmellon tries to avoid the shot.
Machida throws the left hand but Versmellon avoids the punch easily.
Machida throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Machida has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Versmellon.
Versmellon throws a head kick that misses.
Versmellon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Versmellon throws a sloppy head kick and Machida moves out of range easily.
Versmellon explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Machida throws a jab but it's blocked by Versmellon.
Versmellon plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Versmellon throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida misses the jab.

Versmellon has Machida up against the ropes in a clinch.
Versmellon lands an elbow that stopped Machida in his tracks for a moment.
Versmellon lands a damaging elbow.
Versmellon creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Versmellon obliges.
Versmellon cracks Machida with a nice body shot.
Machida tries to break the clinch but Versmellon is controlling the position.
Versmellon lands with a short shot to the head.
Machida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Versmellon has him pressed against the ropes.
Versmellon is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Machida is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Versmellon lands a good knee to the midsection. Machida won't want to take too many of those.
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!
Versmellon works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Versmellon gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Versmellon lands a damaging elbow.
Versmellon lands an elbow inside that Machida shrugs off.
Versmellon misses with an elbow over the top.
Versmellon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Machida is trying to force a seperation but Versmellon has the dominant position.
Machida takes an elbow to the temple.
Versmellon lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Thiago Machida has been cut.
Versmellon lands a nice elbow.
A frustrated look appears on Machida's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to get back to striking at distance but Versmellon won't allow it.
Versmellon leaning against his opponent.
Machida takes a knee to the side of the body.
Versmellon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Versmellon has Machida pressed against the ropes.
Versmellon putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Machida in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Versmellon utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Versmellon lands a left hand that snaps the head of Machida backwards.
Versmellon lands a nice elbow.
Versmellon lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Versmellon lands a left hand.
Versmellon lands a body shot in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Versmellon lands an elbow just above Machida 's eye.
Versmellon landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Versmellon scores a nice knee to the body.
Versmellon landing knees to the body.
Versmellon lands an elbow inside that Machida shrugs off.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A frustrated look appears on Machida's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Versmellon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Machida.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Versmellon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herbie Versmellon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Machida's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Versmellon misses with a head kick.
Versmellon tries to clinch up.
Machida throws an off balance right hand
and Versmellon counters with a big head kick but Machida shrugs it off.
Machida tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Versmellon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Versmellon attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Versmellon in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Versmellon moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Machida.
Versmellon unloads a knee to the mid-section. Machida lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A body shot lands from Versmellon.
Machida blocks the elbow strike.
Machida blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Versmellon trying to land knees to the body.
Versmellon misses with an elbow strike.
Machida wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Versmellon obliges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Versmellon lands a left hand that snaps the head of Machida backwards.
Versmellon gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Versmellon is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
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 takes an elbow to the temple.
Versmellon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Versmellon creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Versmellon scores with a shot to the side of Machida's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Versmellon.
Herbie Versmellon seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Versmellon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Versmellon throws an elbow but misses.
Versmellon lands a right hand.
Machida takes an elbow to the temple.
Machida's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Versmellon throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Versmellon is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Machida is defending well for now.
Versmellon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Machida avoiding damage as Versmellon throws knees to the body.
Versmellon missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Versmellon misses with an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Versmellon throws an elbow but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Versmellon.
Versmellon trying to land knees to the body.
Versmellon gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Machida can't break the clinch.
Versmellon lands a knee to the body.
Machida is trying to break free.
Versmellon landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Versmellon using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Versmellon taking a breather.
Machida takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Versmellon lands an elbow inside that Machida shrugs off.
Versmellon lands a knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machida takes an elbow to the forehead.
Versmellon comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Machida takes a knee to the side of the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Versmellon.
Versmellon gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Versmellon comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Machida is rocked!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Versmellon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herbie Versmellon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thiago Machida's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Versmellon scores with a push kick.
Machida takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Versmellon throws a leg kick but Machida checks it.
Versmellon throws a quick inside leg kick.
Versmellon throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Machida.
Oh Machida is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Versmellon moves out of range as Machida strikes.
Versmellon throws a head kick that misses.
Machida swings widly with a right hand
and Versmellon counters with a low kick, right behind Machida 's knee.
Machida seems to have got his legs back now.
Versmellon misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Machida misses the target.
Versmellon misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Versmellon lands a nice leg kick that just misses Machida's sensitive parts.
Machida throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Machida jabs Versmellon right on the nose. Versmellon blinks but takes it well.

Versmellon has closed the distance and engaged Machida in a clinch.
Machida avoids the elbow strike from Versmellon, against the ropes.
Versmellon missing with knees to the body.
Machida is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Versmellon throws an elbow but it misses.
Versmellon crunches a lovely knee into Machida's ribcage.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Versmellon throws an elbow but misses.
Versmellon lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Versmellon.
Machida takes an elbow to the temple.
Versmellon pushes off an throws an elbow but Machida leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Machida blocks an elbow strike from Versmellon.
Machida takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice elbow from Versmellon.
Well,Machida is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Machida working hard to break the clinch.
Versmellon working Machida over with knees to the body.
Versmellon lands a good knee to the midsection. Machida won't want to take too many of those.
Versmellon throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Versmellon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Versmellon lands a nice elbow.
Versmellon lands an elbow just above Machida 's eye.
Versmellon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Versmellon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Machida's efforts to push away.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Versmellon.
Machida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Versmellon lands an elbow inside.
Versmellon landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Versmellon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Versmellon lands an elbow just above Machida 's eye.
A short body shot lands from Versmellon as the two fighters clinch.
Versmellon working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Versmellon.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Versmellon throws an elbow but it misses.
Versmellon lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Versmellon.
Versmellon lands an elbow that stopped Machida in his tracks for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Versmellon just leaning against Machida, taking a breather.
Thiago Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Machida breaks from the clinch.
Herbie Versmellon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Versmellon throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Machida.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herbie Versmellon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Versmellon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight for Herbie Versmellon!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Herbie Versmellon!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Herbie Versmellon!

Herbie Versmellon wins by unanimous decision!