PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell Stehling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renzo Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stehling kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Turmion Kätilöt - Minä MÄÄRÄÄN!. Machida is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by No more Shadows for the Past- NARNIA. Renzo Machida has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mitchell Stehling's chin.

Stehling
vs
Machida

191 cm
33
261 lbs
47 - 19 - 0

193 cm
33
243 lbs
28 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!
KAISER Nutrition (160!)

Heisenberg
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 47 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mitchell Stehling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renzo Machida!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stehling throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A low kick from Machida is predictable there

and Stehling counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machida's guard now.
Machida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stehling's guard.
Machida stopping the sweep attempt from Stehling.
Machida wants to control from the top but Stehling keeps moving.
Stehling has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Machida has passed into side control.
Stehling tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Machida wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Machida trying to control the position but Stehling is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stehling sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Stehling tries to roll over but Machida keeps him under control.
Stehling holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Machida is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Stehling reverses the position - he's now on top in Machida's guard.
Machida wants to control the position but Stehling says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Machida controlling the position for now.
Machida blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stehling.
Stehling is keen to just control but Machida is a slippery customer.
Stehling works his foot free and advances to mount.
Stehling has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Machida's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stehling tries to control but Machida wriggling away.
Stehling is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Machida can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Stehling looking to finish with strikes here!
Stehling throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Machida regains half guard.
Stehling tries to pass to full mount but Machida defends it.
Stehling keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stehling not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Machida is trying to maintain the position but Stehling is very close to passing his half guard.
Stehling throws a strike but Machida avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
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!
Stehling in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Stehling from controlling successfully.
Stehling sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stehling trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stehling controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Stehling dominated that round.
That's time! Stehling's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stehling ducks under a wild hook from Machida.
Nice defenses there by Stehling.
Stehling keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Machida waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stehling.
Machida has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Stehling is landing a low percentage of strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stehling looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machida throws a looping overhand right but Stehling ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida throws a lazy uppercut

and Stehling counters with a shoot takedown. Machida fights it but they end up in guard.
Stehling slips nicely into half guard.
Machida tries to roll over but Stehling keeps him under control.
Stehling wants to control but Machida is keeping him busy.
Stehling keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Stehling misses with a head shot. Machida uses the momentum to regain guard.
Stehling tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling looking to sit in guard and control but Machida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stehling is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Machida has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stehling is proving hard to escape from.
Stehling controls Machida momentarily but Machida frees himself.
Stehling has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Stehling manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stehling landing strikes from the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stehling throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Stehling raining down hammerfists from mount.
Stehling looking to ground and pound but Machida is blocking nicely.
Stehling lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stehling misses with a head shot.
Stehling throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stehling avoids the attempt from Machida to control.
Machida is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stehling unloading with bombs!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stehling trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Stehling dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stehling pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stehling displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Machida throws out the jab.
Stehling moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Machida rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Stehling counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stehling postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Stehling passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Machida is not content to let Stehling control the position.
Machida avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Stehling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stehling in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Stehling wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.
Machida dodges the ground and pound from Stehling.
Stehling in side control, throwing shots but Machida defends.
Stehling connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Machida some visible discomfort.
Stehling creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Machida sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Machida defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling lands some shots froms side control.
You can see the frustration on Machida's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stehling advances to mount.
Machida is looking to get to half guard.
Machida is squirming around, avoiding Stehling's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stehling throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Stehling scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Stehling controlling the position easily from mount.
Machida tries to reverse the position but Stehling maintains control.
Stehling lands a heavy elbow.
Machida slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Machida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stehling thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Stehling seems content to control.
Stehling missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stehling is trying to control the action in half guard but Machida is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stehling with the ground and pound but Machida uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Stehling throws an elbow that misses. Machida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stehling's guard. Nice move by Machida!
Machida wants to control from the top but Stehling keeps moving.
Stehling looking for a sweep. Not yet Stehling, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stehling is working hard here to advance position.
Stehling is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Stehling clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stehling lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Stehling throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Machida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Machida throws a chopping leg kick but Stehling manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Machida scores with a punch to the head.
Stehling fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Machida.
Stehling shoots in looking for a takedown but Machida manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stehling's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stehling takes a swing at Machida's ribcage but misses.
Stehling throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Machida cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stehling shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Stehling throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Machida takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Stehling fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Machida on the side of the head.
A low kick from Machida misses

and Stehling counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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!
Stehling sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida trying to control the position.
Machida is pulling down on Stehling's head to control his posture.
Stehling throwing strikes from guard but Machida blocks nicely.
Stehling controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mitchell Stehling has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Stehling lands with a shot to the body.
Jab, jab by Machida - just one landing.
Stehling tries to score a power double leg takedown but Machida sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stehling somewhat.
Machida takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Machida takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Machida waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stehling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Machida misses with an uppercut

and Stehling counters with a shoot takedown. Machida fights it but they end up in guard.
Stehling has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stehling wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.
Stehling advances position into side control!
Stehling tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stehling is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Stehling had his way with Renzo Machida in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stehling tries to clinch up.
Stehling is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Machida checks the leg kick.
Stehling scores with a jab to the head.
Stehling tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Machida was well out of range. Poor timing from Stehling.
Stehling keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Machida.
Mitchell Stehling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stehling attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Machida staying out of range there.
Stehling fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Stehling.
Stehling dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big left from Machida misses.
Stehling throws a head kick that misses.
Machida on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Machida slips under a jab from Stehling.
Machida throws a right hand that misses

and Stehling counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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 is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mitchell Stehling is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mitchell Stehling overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stehling tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Machida being controlled here, momentarily.
Stehling'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.
Renzo Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mitchell Stehling.
Machida on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a poor cross that misses

and Stehling counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Stehling content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Stehling not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stehling wants to control but Machida is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mitchell Stehling wasn't doing enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stehling looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machida scores with a head kick. Stehling tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Renzo Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stehling lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mitchell Stehling is winning the standup battle so far.
Machida misses the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitchell Stehling showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stehling has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 50:45
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 50:45
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitchell Stehling!
After winning the bout, Mitchell Stehling thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Renzo Machida was interviewed post fight and said 'So bad'.