PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damian Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyoto Machida has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cross
vs
Machida

185 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ White 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Damian Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross tries to land a front kick but Machida steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sloppy strikes from Cross. Those never looked like landing.
Cross moves out of range of the body kick from Machida.
Machida checks a leg kick.
Cross throws a body shot but no joy.
Machida throws a counter combo.
Machida looks to throw a body kick
and Cross counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cross throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cross fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A solid body kick from Cross.
Machida looks to land a body kick but Cross moved away.
Damian Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Machida is out of range.
Machida throws a half hearted mid kick.
As Machida looks to move away, Cross throws a big counter combo but Machida just gets out of the way.
Cross falls off balance throwing a combination
and Machida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Machida back to the cage. Cross follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Machida scores with a spinning back kick!
Cross moves out of range as Machida throws a body kick.
Cross misses with a left hand
and Machida finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
A combination from Cross does no damage.
Machida lands with a good body shot.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Cross moves out of range easily.
Cross jabs at Machida's body.
Machida throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cross takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Machida checks a leg kick.
Cross throws an overhand right that lands on Machida's shoulder, as Machida tries to avoid the shot.
Cross swings for the body but Machida moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cross fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Machida.
Cross goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cross takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Damian Cross has been cut.
Cross connects with an inside leg kick.
Cross pushes Machida away with a front kick.
Donk. Machida catches Cross right on the button with a cross.
Good work by Machida as he checks the leg kick.
Cross swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cross swings widly with a right hand
and Machida makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Machida throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Machida misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws the kick towards the body but Cross avoids it.
Machida misses with a head kick.
Cross swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Machida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cross moves away.
A bone on bone clash there as Machida blocks the leg kick.
Cross connects with a leg kick. Machida looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cross is looking to wear down Machida with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Machida throws a wild body kick that Cross sees coming a mile off.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Cross moves out of range easily.
Cross misses with an attempted mid kick.
Machida throws a right and a left that Cross avoids nicely.
Machida will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cross blocks a head kick by Machida.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida lands a slapping body shot.
Cross fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Machida checks it well.
Cross misses with a body shot.
Machida has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Machida misses with a kick to the body.
Machida looks to land a body kick but Cross moved away.
Machida tries to work over Cross's front leg with a kick but Cross checks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cross cracks Machida with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cross is looking to slow Machida down with leg kicks.
Machida misses with a kick to the body.
Cross lands a slapping body shot.
Cross throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A low kick from Cross is predictable there
and Machida counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lyoto Machida will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Damian Cross's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cross misses the shot to the body.
Machida stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cross.
Cross misses with a low kick.
Machida throws a head kick that half lands.
Sloppy strikes from Cross. Those never looked like landing.
A little jabbing left from Machida on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cross throws a leg kick but Machida sees it coming and moves out of range.
Machida throws a big counter head kick but Cross avoids it with no problem.
Cross dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Machida. That did some damage!
Cross scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Machida throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cross's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross cracks the inside of Machida's front leg.
Cross is looking to chop away at Machida's legs.
A leg kick checked by Cross.
Cross fires out a quick counter leg kick but Machida just manages to avoid it.
Cross looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross scores with a nice body kick.
Cross finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Machida checks the leg kick.
Damian Cross is winning the standup battle so far.
Cross doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A low kick from Cross is predictable there
and Machida counters with a solid body kick.
Machida throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cross connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cross misses with a body punch
letting Machida counter with a right hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cross.
Cross throws a wild body kick that Machida sees coming a mile off.
Damian Cross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cross goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Machida unleashes a big counter combination but Cross bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Some wild striking there from Cross.
Machida appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to bum rush Machida with a series of wild strikes but Machida uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Despite the aggression on Machida's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Machida's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cross moves out of range of the body kick from Machida.
Machida avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Machida throws a half hearted mid kick.
An inside leg kick from Cross misses.
Machida digs a good hook to Cross's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cross misses with a leg kick
and Machida counters with a two punch combo.
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cross was well out of range. Poor timing from Machida.
Machida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Machida has time to react.
Cross finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Machida unleashes a big counter combination but Cross bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A slow jab from Cross misses its intended target.
Cross lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Machida throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cross scores with a nice strike.
Cross looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cross throws out a leg kick but Machida moves out of range and Cross only half commits.
Cross wants to land a leg kick but Machida is out of range.
Machida throws a counter combo.
Some bone on bone action there as Machida checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Machida is looking for the big counter here.
Cross tried to score with a low kick but Machida checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Cross lands an impressive looking overhand right. Machida doesn't seem phased though.
Machida moves out of range as Cross throws a body kick.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cross.
A little feinted left hand from Cross on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida is looking to land body kicks.
Cross throws a series of punches but Machida avoids them all with ease.
Cross fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Machida looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machida with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cross throws a low kick but Machida moves out of range easily.
Machida misses with a head kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cross crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Machida - the referee stops the clock and Cross gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Machida. Cross manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A thudding body kick lands there by Machida!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Damian Cross will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Damian Cross's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Machida misses with a body kick.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cross.
Cross misses with a shot to the body
and Machida makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cross throws a jab when Machida was well out of range.
Cross rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Machida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cross throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Cross.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Machida! But no joy.
Cross throws a leg kick
and Machida counters with a big head kick but Cross shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cross will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Cross is looking to chop away at Machida's legs.
Cross misses with the combination.
Machida steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Machida dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cross paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cross throws a left and a right that both miss
and Machida counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Cross throws out a loose jab but Machida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crunch! Machida slams his shin into Cross's torso.
Machida connects with a solid leg kick.
Cross misses with a series of wild punches.
Cross misses with a right hand
and Machida makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Machida checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Cross.
Cross misses with a right hand
and Cross takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cross blocks a head kick by Machida.
Cross shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cross throws a wild body kick that Machida sees coming a mile off.
Machida appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cross looks to score with a jab to the body but Machida is just out of range.
Machida jabs at Cross's body.
Machida throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cross stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Machida fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cross looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Machida lands a lovely overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is looking to land body kicks.
Cross lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Machida circles away quickly and effectively.
Machida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Machida is looking to land body kicks.
Cross tries to score with a low kick but Machida moves his leg out of the way.
Cross moves out of range as Machida throws a body kick.
As Machida looks to move away, Cross throws a big counter combo but Machida just gets out of the way.
Machida scores with a body shot.
A solid body kick from Cross.
Cross goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cross getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida lands with a good body shot.
A head kick misses from Machida.
Machida works the jab nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross misses with a body kick.
Cross swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jab, jab by Cross - just one landing.
Cross moves out of range of the body kick from Machida.
Cross thinks about countering with a body kick.
Cross blocks a head kick by Machida.
Cross fires out a quick counter leg kick but Machida just manages to avoid it.
Cross dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
No joy there for Cross, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Machida has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

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