PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rizoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Stratus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machida
vs
Stratus

178 cm
22
174 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
21
189 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Reaper Combatwear

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rizoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jay Stratus!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Machida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Stratus looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stratus throws a big elbow that misses.
Machida looking for a sweep. Not yet Machida, not yet.
Stratus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stratusis looking to pass into half guard but Machida pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Machida is in guard.
Machida sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Machida postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stratus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machida defends it nicely.
Stratus misses with a takedown attempt

and Machida counters with a takedown into side control.
Stratus is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Machida content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Rizoto Machida has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Stratus lands a glancing blow to the side of Machida's head.
Jay Stratus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Machida shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stratus napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stratus tries to escape but Machida is in control.
Stratus is being controlled here.
Machida is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stratus is being controlled here.
Machida's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Machida prevents Stratus from escaping the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Rizoto Machida wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Machida takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Machida shoots for a takedown but Stratus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stratus wants to land a leg kick but Machida is out of range.
Stratus throws a right and a left that Machida avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Stratus.
Stratus looks gassed!
Stratus falls off balance throwing a combination

and Machida counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Machida.
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 slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rizoto Machida has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Stratus fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rizoto Machida dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stratus wants to clinch

so Machida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Machida won't allow Stratus to get back to his feet.
Machida seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Machida works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Stratus tries to roll over but Machida keeps him under control.
Machida looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rizoto Machida has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Machida shoots in looking for a takedown. Stratus tries to sprawl out of it but Machida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stratus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jab, jab by Stratus - just one landing.
Stratus tries a low kick but Machida avoids it.
Machida checks the leg kick.
Stratus just misses with a punch to the body.
No joy there for Stratus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Machida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stratus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
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.
Stratus tests Machida's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stratus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stratus sprawls well initially but Machida persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Machida frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stratus is breathing heavily.
Machida sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stratus is trying desperately to improve position.
Machida controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rizoto Machida.
Machida on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Stratus. Stratus obviously looking to wear him down.
Stratus misses with an attempted mid kick.
That kick from Stratus tenderised Machida's leg. Machida is trying to keep his angry face on.
Stratus attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stratus.
Stratus throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Stratus stuffs the takedown attempt from Machida. Machida gets slowly back to his feet.
Stratus shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Machida eats them both and turns towards Stratus to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Stratus misses the shot to the body.
Stratus lands with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stratus has his takedown stuffed

and Machida counters by clinching up.

Machida turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Machida manages to end up in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida controlling from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rizoto Machida dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Machida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stratus throws a head kick that misses.
Machida shoots in looking for a takedown but Stratus manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Machida's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stratus displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Jay Stratus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Stratus throws a head kick that misses.
Stratus misses with a few strikes there.
Stratus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stratus tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.
Stratus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Machida.
Stratus tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.
Jay Stratus seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stratus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stratus lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Stratus.

Machida darts in and clinches Stratus up against the cage.

Machida is trying to trip Stratus. He has hold of a leg but Stratus is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Machida persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Machida decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stratus, up you get!
Stratus stuns Machida with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stratus's jab looks to have found its range, popping Machida under the eye.
Stratus tries to land a leg kick but Machida saw it coming and moves away.

Stratus gets caught flat footed, as Machida shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stratus can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Machida controls the pace.
Rizoto Machida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rizoto Machida just wasn't active enough.
Stratus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stratus throws a looping overhand right but Machida ducks down to avoid it.
Stratus throws a low kick but Machida moves out of range easily.
Machida blocks a head kick by Stratus.
A left and a right from Stratus both land. Nice combination.

Stratus gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Machida content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a big right hand that misses.
Stratus is looking to stand up but Machida isn't so interested in that idea.
Machida showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Rizoto Machida wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Machida shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stratus tries to hold on but Machida pushes him away.
Machida takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jay Stratus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rizoto Machida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rizoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

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