PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eliézer Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludwig Manres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machado comes into the arena with Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Manres's choice of entrance music: Aqualung - Jethro Tull. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Machado
vs
Manres

184 cm
35
177 lbs
22 - 21 - 0

182 cm
39
187 lbs
29 - 30 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eliézer Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ludwig Manres!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Manres.
Manres is looking for the big counter here.
Machado scores with a nice head shot.
Manres stalks Machado and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Machado's face. Machado staggers backwards, shaken.
Machado lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Machado jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Machado stuffs the takedown attempt from Manres. Manres gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice uppercut there from Machado.
Manres dives in and grabs Machado's left leg, looking for a takedown. Machado pushes down on Manres's head and hops out.

Machado clinches.
Nice elbow from Machado.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Machado works on Manres's body with a couple of short punches.
A frustrated look appears on Manres's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Manres is trying to pull guard but Machado turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Eliézer Machado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludwig Manres.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manres's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Machado lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Manres is looking for a takedown.
Manres tries to pull guard but Machado forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Manres tries to pull guard but Machado won't allow it.

Manres successfully pulls guard.
Machado is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Manres wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Manres looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Machado works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manres tries to get to full guard but Machado has control of the leg.
Manres trying to control here.
Machado is looking to take a break and control but Manres is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Manres is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado stuffs the takedown attempt from Manres. Manres gets slowly back to his feet.
Manres looks to land a combination but Machado avoids it well.
Machado bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Manres fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Machado.

Machado clinches.
Machado misses with a body punch.
Machado misses with a hook from the clinch.
Manres tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manres jumps guard and drags Machado to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Manres tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Machado controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Manres striking off his back but it's not causing Machado any problems.
Machado advances position into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manres is trying to control Machado's posture but Machado avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eliézer Machado dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Manres looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Machado!
Manres misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Manres trying to control the action but Machado is working from the bottom.
Manres throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Machado works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manres is trying to control. Machado wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manres working over Machado with some ground and pound. Machado looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Manres working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Machado is looking to improve his position.
Manres thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Machado tries to roll over but Manres keeps him under control.
Machado regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Manres.
Manres is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Manres throwing strikes from guard but Machado blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Machado utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Manres landing some decent shots from guard.
Manres is looking to work some ground and pound but Machado has wrist control.
Manres distracts Machado with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Manres throws a strike but Machado rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado trying to control the position from guard on top but Manres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machado pushes down on Manres's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Machado is just content to waste time from the top position. Manres takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Manres controls Machado momentarily but Machado frees himself.
Machado tries to stand but Manres is controlling from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Machado throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Machado takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice takedown defense from Machado. No joy for Manres on that attempt.
Machado stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Machado throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Manres counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Manres.
Manres trying to control the position from guard on top but Machado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Machado wants to sweep here but Manres controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Manres showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Machado throws a hook to the side of Manres's head but Manres sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Manres fails with a takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Machado enables Manres to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Machado manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Manres missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Machado keeping moving, preventing Manres from controlling successfully.
Machado utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Manres wants to pass the guard but Machado is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manres with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Manres tries to free his leg and advance position but Machado is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Manres throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Machado swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A combination from Machado does no damage.
Manres avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Manres with the counter takedown but Machado avoids it easily.
Manres takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Machado throws a hook but Manres avoids it easily.
Manres is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Machado tries to close the distance and clinch but Manres swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado lands a jab to Manres's midsection.
Machado throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Machado has Manres up against the cage in a clinch.
Machado misses with a punch on the inside.
Machado tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Manres's elbow.
Machado misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Machado fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Machado throws a punch but it's blocked by Manres.
A head punch on the inside from Machado fails to land.
Manres fails to pull guard.
Manres fails to pull guard.
Eliézer Machado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludwig Manres.
Manres gets through Machado's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A frustrated look appears on Manres's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Machado is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manres can do to turn this around?
Machado lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Manres tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Machado's elbow.
Machado lands a body punch in the clinch.
Machado lands with a left to the head.
Machado misses with a hook to the ribs.
Manres tries to pull guard but Machado holds him up against the cage and eventually Manres drops back down to his feet.
Manres is trying to break the clinch but Machado is controlling him.

Manres manages to break the clinch.
Eliézer Machado is winning the standup battle so far.
Machado misses with a body shot

and Manres counters with a takedown into side control.
Manres wants to take a breather but Machado manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Manres.
Manres trying to control the position from guard on top but Machado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manres throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ludwig Manres has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manres looking to pass the guard.
Manres with a flurry of punches that miss.
Manres wants to control from the top but Machado keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machado wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Eliézer Machado.
I think Machado has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!