PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lyot Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Howard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Machida
vs
Howard

180 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

178 cm
29
192 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lyot Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Howard!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida shoots in but Howard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Howard leaves Machida with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Howard forces Machida back against the ropes and clinches.
Howard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Machida lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Howard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Machida wants to stall.
Machida tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyot Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Come on Howard - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Howard misses with a punch to the body.
Machida landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Howard lands a body shot in the clinch.
Machida is looking to break free of the clinch but Howard has double underhooks.
Machida tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida fails to pull guard.

Machida jumps into guard, dragging Howard to the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Howard postures up.
Howard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Howard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Machida pulls Howard in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lyot Machida.
Howard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard misses the shot to the body.
Machida takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt.

Machida has closed the distance and engaged Howard in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard lands a hook that snaps the head of Machida backwards.
Machida is trying to break free.
Machida is trying to drag Howard to the mat but Howard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Howard has Machida pressed against the ropes, preventing Machida from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Machida tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Howard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Machida backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard leaning against his opponent.
Machida is looking to take this one to the mat.
A shot in the inside from Howard.
A body shot lands from Howard.
Machida wants to get back to striking at distance but Howard won't allow it.
Howard manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Machida is trying to pull guard but Howard turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Howard digs a right hand underneath Machida's ribcage. Machida let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Machida is trying to drag Howard to the mat but Howard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
A right handed body shot lands from Howard.
Machida is breathing heavily.

Howard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Howard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Machida stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida misses the shot to the body.
Howard takes a swing at Machida's ribcage but misses.

Machida closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Howard effectively controlling the action here.
A right handed body shot lands from Howard.
Machida tries to circle away but Howard has him pinned against the ropes.
Machida is trying to stall.
Howard just leaning against Machida, taking a breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body punch from Howard - that landed with a thud.
Howard works on Machida's body with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Howard dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Howard drops Machida with a beautiful combination! Machida stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Howard is looking for the KO!

Machida is rocked!

It looks like Lyot Machida has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Both fighters step back and shake their arms out. Howard engages and cracks Machida with a massive lead left hook - Machida tumbles to the floor, out cold! What a shot! Howard is delighted - all that hard work in training paid off!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:10 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). John Howard!