PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maynard Keenan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Concrete Schoolyard. Maynard Keenan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Machida
vs
Keenan

185 cm
25
184 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

187 cm
23
183 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wanderlei Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maynard Keenan!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Keenan. Machida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Machida ducks under a wild hook from Keenan.
Machida throws out a loose jab but Keenan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Machida takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Machida digs a good body shot into Keenan's ribs.
Keenan defending well as Machida loads up on a big left hand.
Keenan is looking to clinch.
Keenan jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Keenan is just out of range.
Keenan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Keenan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machida moves away from the strike by Keenan.
Machida misses with an uppercut. Keenan saw that one coming.
Machida walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Good shot there by Keenan.

Machida is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida drives through with a takedown into Keenan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Oh Machida is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Machida throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Keenan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Machida seems to have got his legs back now.
Machida wants to control from the top but Keenan keeps moving.
Keenan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Machida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Machida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Keenan keeping full guard, as Machida tries to pass.
Keenan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Machida.
Machida pushing down on Keenan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Keenan keeps working.
Keenan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Machida.
Machida thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Machida trying to pass the guard but Keenan defending well.
Keenan is refusing to be controlled, as Machida sits in half guard.
Machida stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida is trying to work for a kimura but Keenan is defending well.
Machida looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keenan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Machida thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keenan's head.
Machida wants to pass to mount but Keenan is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Keenan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Machida wants to pass the guard but Keenan is keeping the position.
Machida trying to control but Keenan is working from the bottom.
Machida passes easily into side control. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida wants to control but Keenan is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Keenan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Machida.
Machida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Keenan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Machida thuds a left hand into Keenan's body.
The fighters circling - Machida throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Keenan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Keenan cracks a nice hook into Machida's ribs.
Keenan throws a leg kick but Machida sees it coming and moves out of range.
Machida keeps the fight on the outside.
Keenan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Donk. Machida catches Keenan right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Keenan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Machida scrambles back to his feet.
Keenan tries to clinch up.
Keenan lands with a nice body punch.
Machida takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Keenan throws a combination. Machida tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Machida digs a good hook to Keenan's body.
Keenan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Machida.
Maynard Keenan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Machida throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Keenan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Machida walks into a left hand.
Keenan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Machida drives through with a takedown into Keenan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Machida won't allow Keenan to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Keenan is keeping the position for now.
Machida advances position into side control!
Keenan takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Machida scores with punches from side control.
Machida tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Machida working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Keenan takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to control but Keenan is keeping him busy.
Machida takes a little break here. Keenan wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Keenan stops Machida from passing to mount.
Machida scoring with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Keenan is avoiding damage well.
Keenan manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Machida is pressing down on Keenan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Keenan is holding on for now.
Machida wants to take a breather but Keenan is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Keenan is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Machida dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Keenan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Keenan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Keenan lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Keenan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Machida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Keenan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Keenan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Machida blocks a jab.
Machida lands an overhand right.
Machida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Keenan throws a jab but it's blocked by Machida.
Keenan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Machida. That snapped Keenan's head back.
Keenan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Keenan misses with a body shot
and Machida counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Keenan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Machida cracks a nice hook into Keenan's ribs.
Machida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Machida fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Keenan manages to avoid it.
Keenan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Keenan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A combination from Machida does no damage.
Keenan swings for the body but Machida moves out of range.
Keenan pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Machida back to the cage. Keenan follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A looping hook to the body misses from Keenan. Machida does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan stuffs the takedown.
Keenan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Keenan needs to keep his hands up - Machida had a free shot at his head there.
Keenan misses with the combination.
Keenan fails in his attempt to clinch.

Machida dives in and scores a takedown into Keenan's guard.
Wanderlei Machida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Machida being controlled here momentarily.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is working hard here to advance position.
Machida wants to control from the top but Keenan keeps moving.
Maynard Keenan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Machida wants to control from the top but Keenan keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Wanderlei Machida.
Machida doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan throws a right hand that Machida ducks under and follows up with a left that Machida also avoids with ease.
Machida uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Keenan.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keenan.
Keenan is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.

Machida is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Keenan's half guard.
Machida thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Machida throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida is looking to take a break and control but Keenan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Machida is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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 Wanderlei Machida.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Machida, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Machida!
An out of breath Wanderlei Machida thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.