PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Li told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Machida
vs
Li

200 cm
28
270 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
230 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Adam Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Li!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Li defends well and Machida ends up having to push Li into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Li can't break the clinch.

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.
Li avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Machida.
Machida 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.
Li tries to improve position but can't.
Li sneaks back into half guard.
Machida throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Li is trying to maintain the position but Machida is very close to passing his half guard.
Li felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Machida working the head and body with strikes.
Machida missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Machida thows a huge punch but Li dodges it nicely.
Machida wants to take a breather but Li is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li gets full guard.
Li working a defensive guard but Machida passes into half guard.
Machida is pressing down on Li's thigh, looking to free his foot. Li is holding on for now.
Li is looking to control Machida's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Li avoid being mounted?
Nice strikes from Machida there.
Li avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machida.
Li is controlling Machida's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Li is looking for a sweep. Machida is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Li is refusing to be controlled, as Machida sits in half guard.

Machida is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is trying is best to control the position here.
Machida is keen to just control but Li is a slippery customer.
Li wants to control but Machida is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Machida is nestled in close to Li, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
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 seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Li does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Machida will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Machida thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Li is refusing to be controlled, as Machida sits in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Li manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Machida in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Machida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Machida throws a big right hand that misses.
Machida is looking to work some ground and pound but Li has wrist control.
Machida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machida throws a big right hand that misses.
Li working a defensive guard but Machida manages to pass into side control anyway.
Machida misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Machida working the ground and pound but Li is defending the strikes.
Machida lands a nice forearm strike.
Machida working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Li sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Li takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Li wants to control but Machida postures up.
Li is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Machida is controlling him well.
Machida working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Machida landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Machida misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Machida throws a strike aimed at the side of Li's head but Li avoids it well.
Machida misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Machida is chipping away with strikes.
Machida creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Li sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Machida dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Machida looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Adam Machida has been cut.
Li throws a hook but Machida avoids it easily.
Machida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Machida looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Li!
Machida throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Machida in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Machida postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Machida throwing strikes but Li manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li happy to just control the position for now.
Machida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Li scoring with punches and elbows.
Machida tries to buck Li off but Li is having none of it.
Machida is not content to let Li control the position.
Li might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Machida haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Li trying to control the position but Machida is working away.

John Li has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Li works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Machida takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machida shoots for a takedown but Li saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A cross from Li lands.

Li drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li got a little sloppy there for a moment and Machida has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Li has managed to get both his arms back between Machida's legs - danger averted.
Li trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Machida working for submissions but it's allowed Li to get to half guard.
Li trying to control the action but Machida is working from the bottom.
Li passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Machida!
Li landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida is in a horrible position here. Li smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machida gets back to half guard.

Machida looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Li wants to take a breather but Machida is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li blocks the strikes from Machida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Adam Machida's cut.
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!

Li with a jab.
Li misses with a jab, cross combination.
Machida with a poor takedown
enabling Li to counter with a crisp jab.

Adam Machida's cut is getting worse.
Machida takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Li connects with a right hand. Machida shakes it off.
Li lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Machida is rocked!
Both fighters step back and shake their arms out. Li engages and cracks Machida with a massive lead left hook - Machida tumbles to the floor, out cold! What a shot! Li is delighted - all that hard work in training paid off!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). John Li!
John Li decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.