PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hitmon Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes into a darkened arena with his song building. For Whom The Bell Tolls kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Hitmon Lee has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lee
vs
Machida

195 cm
39
222 lbs
36 - 23 - 0

185 cm
47
205 lbs
37 - 37 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 36 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hitmon Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 37 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Machida swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lee counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Machida ducks right into an uppercut from Lee.
Machida throws a one two combo.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lee circles away quickly and effectively.
Lyoto Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Machida duly obliges.
Machida swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lee counters with a shoot takedown. Machida fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lee throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lee postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Machida keeping full guard, as Lee tries to pass.
Lee throws a big elbow that misses.
Lee looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lee won't allow Machida to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lee postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lee controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lee stays in close to Machida's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.
Machida is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lee is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Machida throws a head kick that misses

and Lee counters with a shoot takedown. Machida fights it but they end up in guard.
Lee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lee working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lee works over Machida with some ground and pound from guard.
Lee pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lee. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lee passes into half guard.
Lee not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lee working the head and body with strikes.
Lee 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.
Lee trying to mount his opponent but Machida defends it.
Lee not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lee not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lee throwing shots but Machida is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lee controlling from the full mount.
Machida is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Lee with the ground and pound from mount.
Lee throwing strikes here but Machida is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Lee thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Machida has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Lee's lack of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitmon Lee dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Machida misses with a hook
and Lee counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lee avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lee feinted with a counter takedown.
No joy there for Machida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lee slips a jab and a cross from Machida.
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Machida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Lee feints and as Machida raises his hands in defense, Lee changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lee trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lee trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Lee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lee throwing strikes but missing.
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!
Lee throwing strikes from guard but Machida blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lee tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Lee working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lee.
Lee pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.
Lee slips nicely into half guard.
Lee thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lee is stalling here. Machida is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lee seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Machida has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Lee manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Lee is trying to work for a kimura but Machida is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lee is trying to control. Machida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lee misses with a head shot. Machida uses the momentum to regain guard.
Lee won't allow Machida to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Lee slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lee throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Lee wants to control but Machida is keeping him busy.
Lee in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Lee fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lee throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Lee wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.

Lee looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Lee goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Machida has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lee but great work by Machida.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lee is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lee regains full guard. Nicely done.

Lee is looking for a triangle but Machida pushes his legs off easily.

Lee is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitmon Lee dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lee takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Some wild striking there from Machida.
Lyoto Machida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Machida misses with an uppercut
and Lee counters with a slapping leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Machida misses the target.
Lee tries to counter with a takedown but Machida is quick to defend against it.
A combination from Machida does no damage.
Lee jabs at Machida's body.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lee circles away quickly and effectively.
A big right from Machida misses.
Lee appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Lee connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lee counters with a nice leg kick.
Machida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Machida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lee cracks Machida with a good jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lee manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Machida on his heels. He'll look to pass Machida's guard now, I'm sure.
Lee stands and throws Machida's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee taking a breather here.
Lee wants to control but Machida is keeping him busy.
Lee throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Machida works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

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.
Lee 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.
Machida avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lee.
Lee missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Machida regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Lee.
Machida wants to stand but Lee is controlling the position.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
Lee controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida keeping full guard, as Lee tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hitmon Lee is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lee wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lee circles away quickly and effectively.
Good exchange - Machida coming out on top.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lee.
Lee is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Machida can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Machida jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lee fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Machida looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lee scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A head kick by Machida misses

and Lee counters with a nice double leg into side control. Machida won't be happy with that.
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 takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Machida takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lee wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.
Sloppy strikes there by Lee.
Lee scores with punches from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hitmon Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lee, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hitmon Lee!
Hitmon Lee thanked the fans post fight for their support.