PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Inspectah Knuckles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida has chosen One Man Army as his entrance music. Inspectah Knuckles has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Knuckles
vs
Machida

188 cm
19
215 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

212 cm
23
212 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Inspectah Knuckles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Machida!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Knuckles.
Knuckles throws an off balance right hand
and Machida counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Knuckles throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Knuckles lunges at Machida with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Machida's hand.
Machida lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Machida throws a hook to the side of Knuckles's head but Knuckles sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Knuckles fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.
Knuckles feints a jab promting Machida to slip. Knuckles then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Machida slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A jab from Machida finds it's way through Knuckles's defenses.
Machida avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Knuckles misses with a wild body shot.
Knuckles misses with a wild body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida misses with a straight right.
Machida connects with a nice looking jab.
Knuckles throws a hook but Machida blocks it.
Machida tries for a takedown but Knuckles circles away easily
and Knuckles counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Knuckles misses with a looping right.
Machida is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Machida or perhaps it was just good defense by Knuckles which made him look bad.
Knuckles on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Machida slips under a jab from Knuckles.
Machida lands with an overhand left.
Knuckles misses with a body shot.
Knuckles misses with a leg kick.
A slow jab from Machida misses its intended target.
Machida has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Knuckles lands with a good body shot.
A jab from Machida misses.
Machida lands with a straight right. Knuckles didn't see that one coming.
Jab from Machida.
Knuckles throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Machida is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Knuckles throws a body punch but Machida moves out of range.
Knuckles throws a hook but Machida blocks it.
Knuckles waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Machida.
Knuckles walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Knuckles counters with a nice double leg into side control. Machida won't be happy with that.
Inspectah Knuckles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Machida.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Machida gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Machida actively working from the bottom here.
Machida is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Knuckles seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Knuckles takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Knuckles is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Machida defends it well.
Knuckles working Machida over with strikes.
Knuckles throwing shots but Machida is blocking nicely.

Machida looking for submissions off his back.

Machida actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Knuckles is keen to just control but Machida is a slippery customer.
Knuckles working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Knuckles scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Machida is rocked!

Knuckles is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Machida has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida taking some punishment here, with Knuckles in his half guard.
Machida is still in real trouble! Can Knuckles finish him?
Knuckles knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Machida on the ground.
Machida taking some punishment here, with Knuckles in his half guard.
Knuckles lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Knuckles is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Machida is hurt! He's hurt bad - Knuckles fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Machida from any more punishment! Congratulations to Knuckles! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Inspectah Knuckles!
A very excited looking Inspectah Knuckles made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.