PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ken Maddox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apollo Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maddox
vs
Machida

180 cm
30
178 lbs
14 - 6 - 2

190 cm
24
180 lbs
8 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BioPharm Nutrition

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 14 - 6 - 2, fighting out of New York, Ken Maddox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Apollo Machida!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Dean Styles and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maddox sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Machida misses with a low kick.
Machida scores with a jab. Maddox acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Maddox lands with a nice combination. Machida backs away looking to recover.
Maddox avoids the head kick by Machida.
Maddox shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Machida pinned against the cage. Machida gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Machida clinches.
Machida misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Machida controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maddox's efforts to push away.
Machida is pushing Maddox up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Machida can't find room to land a body shot as Maddox controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maddox blocks a body shot from Machida.
Maddox working hard to break the clinch.
Maddox wants a takedown but no success here.
Machida tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Machida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maddox.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Maddox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maddox shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Machida as he jumps to the side.

Maddox gets tackled into the cage by Machida. Machida maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Maddox.
A bit of stalling here from Machida.

Maddox lands a takedown into guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Maddox trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida trying to control the position.
Machida wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maddox not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Machida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maddox. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ken Maddox has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Maddox shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maddox shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machida defends it nicely.
A good leg kick by Machida.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida lands a leg kick that knocks Maddox off balance momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Apollo Machida will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Maddox scores with a three punch combo!
Maddox keeps the fight on the outside.
Machida looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Maddox on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Machida. Machida obviously looking to wear him down.
Machida feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maddox's calf.
Maddox throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A good leg kick by Machida.
Machida connects with a leg kick. Maddox looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Maddox takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice shot by Machida.
Machida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Machida wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Maddox dives in and scores a takedown into Machida's guard.
Machida wants to get back to his feet but Maddox passes into half guard.
Maddox thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maddox sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Machida defending well though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Machida can do anything to dispel that myth.
Maddox throwing shots but Machida is blocking nicely.
Maddox throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Machida is trying to maintain the position but Maddox is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to improve his position but Maddox is controlling well.
Machida keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Maddox is trying to control. Machida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Maddox not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Machida is refusing to be controlled, as Maddox sits in half guard.
Maddox slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Machida darts in trying to clinch
and Maddox counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maddox thows a body shot but no joy.
Machida feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maddox's calf.
Machida scoring well with a low kick there.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Machida connects with a leg kick. Maddox looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Machida throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maddox tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Maddox takes one to the side of the head.
Maddox will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Machida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maddox moves away.
A head kick misses from Machida.
Maddox closes this distance looking for a takedown but Machida circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maddox moves out of range as Machida throws a body kick.
Maddox throws a right hand that Machida ducks under and follows up with a left that Machida also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Machida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Machida fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maddox, pushing him back against the cage.
The referee calls for Machida to work.
Machida keeps control of Maddox as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Machida tries to work over Maddox's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Machida lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Machida misses with a punch to the body.
Maddox has had enough of the clinch but Machida keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida stalling in the clinch.
Maddox is trying to push Machida away but Machida has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Machida prevents the takedown attempt.
Machida controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd are getting on Machida's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Maddox blocks a body shot from Machida.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maddox drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Machida gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Machida misses with a body punch.
Machida stops a takedown attempt from Maddox.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Maddox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machida gets underhooks to prevent Maddox's takedown attempt.
Machida stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Machida misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maddox is working for takedown but Machida is calmly controlling the position for now.
Maddox is trying to drag Machida to the mat but Machida just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Machida breaks the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Maddox.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida ducks under a wild hook from Maddox.
Maddox takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Machida wants to clinch.
Machida lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Maddox dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Maddox tries to score a power double leg takedown but Machida sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Maddox somewhat.
Ken Maddox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maddox.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apollo Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Machida winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Machida!