PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Billy Walsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikel Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Walsh
vs
Machida

182 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Billy Walsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikel Machida!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Walsh clinches with his opponent.
Walsh tries for a takedown. No joy.
Machida stops a takedown attempt from Walsh.
Walsh stalling against the cage.
Machida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Machida gets underhooks to prevent Walsh's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Walsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Walsh jumps into guard, dragging Machida to the mat.
Machida postures up.
Walsh is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Machida is controlling him.
Walsh looking to control.
Machida looking to sit in guard and control but Walsh gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Walsh trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Machida manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Machida sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Walsh's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida uses his free foot to push down on Walsh's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Walsh.
Walsh tries to hold on but Machida postures up.
Walsh tries to reverse the position but Machida maintains control.
Machida controlling the position easily from mount.
Machida avoids the attempt from Walsh to control.

Machida jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Walsh manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Machida tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Walsh keeps working.
Machida looks gassed!
You can see the frustration on Walsh's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Walsh gets back to half guard.
Machida wants to take a breather but Walsh is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida prevents Walsh from standing back up.

Machida is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Walsh wants to get back to his feet.
Walsh trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Walsh gets a clinch.
Machida takes an elbow to the temple.

Walsh breaks the clinch.
Walsh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Machida wants to clinch

and Walsh counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Machida defending well though.
Walsh is thwarting Machida's attempts to control the position.
Walsh trying to control the pace.
Walsh thows a huge punch but Machida dodges it nicely.
Walsh looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Walsh dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Walsh gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Walsh fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Machida jumps guard.
Walsh sitting in guard here, content to control.
Walsh postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Machida escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Walsh gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Walsh slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walsh slips nicely into half guard.
Walsh is looking to take a break and control but Machida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Walsh is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Machida has managed to free his arm - good work.
Walsh is controlling the pace.
Walsh passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Walsh lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Walsh trying to control but Machida is having none of it.
Machida tries to reverse the position but Walsh maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh looking to control but Machida is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Walsh connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Machida is trying to escape the mount.

Walsh is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Machida can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Machida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Walsh trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Walsh looking to finish Machida with some ground and pound. This is bad for Machida!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Walsh working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Walsh controlling the position easily from mount.
Walsh has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Billy Walsh just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Machida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Walsh preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Walsh dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Walsh fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Machida sprawls well initially but Walsh persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walsh wants to control but Machida is keeping him busy.
Walsh tries to pass to full mount but Machida defends it.

Machida looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Walsh performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida tries to get to full guard but Walsh has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walsh 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Walsh tries to clinch up.

Walsh forces Machida back against the cage and clinches.

Walsh has hold of one of Machida's legs. Machida is fighting the takedown attempt but Walsh gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Walsh postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Machida is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Walsh, into his guard.
Walsh looking to control but Machida passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida prevents Walsh from improving his position.

Walsh has one foot on Machida's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Machida with a poor takedown

and Walsh counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Walsh.
Walsh gets underhooks to prevent Machida's takedown attempt.
A shot in the inside from Walsh.
Walsh lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Walsh gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Walsh lands an elbow just above Machida 's eye.

Walsh pulls guard effortlessly.
Walsh looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.

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

Walsh working for a triangle but Machida defends it easily.
Walsh controls Machida momentarily but Machida frees himself.
Walsh keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

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.
Walsh pulls Machida in close to prevent any damage.
Walsh keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Mikel Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Walsh fails with the takedown

and Machida counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Walsh!
Walsh is in all sorts of trouble here.

Machida stands up from mount. Strange move.
Machida wants to clinch but Walsh slips to the side

and Walsh counters by clinching up.
Billy Walsh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Walsh prevents a takedown attempt there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Walsh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Walsh 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Walsh!