PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Santos has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Lyoto Machida's chin.

Machida
vs
Santos

183 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

209 cm
23
203 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Santos!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Machida gets the takedown into side control.
Santos is trying to get back to half guard.
Santos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Santos looks to move to half guard but instead Machida has passed into mount! Damn!
Santos really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Machida has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Santos's face.
Machida with the ground and pound from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida landing shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida with good strikes from the mount here!
Machida lands with some strikes.
Santos is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida working Santos over with strikes here.
Santos regains half guard.

Machida postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Santos to stand up.
Machida looks for the body kick but Santos saw that one coming.
Santos is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Santos is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Machida throws a series of punches but Santos moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santos.
Some wild striking there from Machida.
Machida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Machida bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Machida working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A punch combination from Machida misses.
Santos walks into a left hand.
Santos tries to clinch up.
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Machida slips a straight right by Santos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Machida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Santos tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.

Machida shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Santos looking for a guillotine here but Machida defends easily.

Santos has his foot on Machida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Machida works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Machida with a nice cross.
Machida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Machida looks to land a combination but Santos avoids it well.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch but Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida scores with a shot to the body.
Machida misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida drives through with a takedown into guard.

Santos had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Machida is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Santos Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Machida's back instead.

Santos looking to break Machida's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Machida remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Santos will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Santos is breathing heavily.
Machida holding both Santos 's hands and preventing any damage.
Santos is hanging on to Machida's back as he tries to escape.
Machida might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Machida trying to get back to his feet but Santos is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santos has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Machida is trying to stand back up.

Machida is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

Machida gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Machida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Santos gets full guard.
Machida wants to stand but Santos is controlling his posture from full guard.
Machida wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
Lyoto Machida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Santos has an active guard here but Machida has managed to pass into half guard.
Santos is trying to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Machida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto 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. And we move into the final round!

Machida misses with a hook.
Machida throws a series of punches but Santos avoids them all with ease.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida connects with a solid leg kick.

Machida gets a takedown into half guard.
Santos manages to get to full guard.
Machida working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santos's head.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Machida stands up from Santos's guard - Machida perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nice defenses there by Santos.
Machida drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Santos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Machida scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Machida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. Machida darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Machida closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Santos to the mat! Santos manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Machida gets to his feet. Santos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Santos dodges the punch combination from Machida.

Machida shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Machida content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Machida wanted to stand there but Santos had control of the position.
Machida won't allow Santos to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida with a flurry of punches that miss.

Santos throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Machida escapes and throws Santos's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Machida looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Santos tries to buck Machida off but Machida is having none of it.
Rafael Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santos takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Machida 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

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