PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raf Camora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Camora comes to the cage accompanied by Eskimo Brothers-Joe Lajoie. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Manny Machado was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Camora
vs
Machado

179 cm
29
169 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

175 cm
33
164 lbs
22 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Revolution Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raf Camora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manny Machado!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Camora misses with a takedown
enabling Machado to counter with a crisp jab.
Camora misses with a hook. Machado ducked under it nicely.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Machado.
Machado moves out of range as Camora strikes.
Machado scores with a nice strike.
A punch lands to the side of Camora 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Camora tries a head kick but it misses.
Camora looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Machado bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Camora's head.
Camora throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machado connects with the punch.
Camora throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Camora shoots in and bounces Machado off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Machado working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Camora throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machado works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Camora passes Machado's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Machado avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Camora.
Camora throwing shots but Machado is blocking nicely.
Camora looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Camora is thwarting Machado's attempts to control the position.
Camora controlling the action here.
Machado wants to control but Camora is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Machado is staying active underneath Camora, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Machado wants to control but Camora is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Machado tries to roll over but Camora keeps him under control.
Machado is still trying to improve position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machado manages to get to full guard.
Camora in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Camora slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Machado trying to control the position here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado lands a nice looking body shot.
Camora looks to land a combination but Machado avoids it well.
Camora moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Machado's coach down at Heart Cave (8 elites, 4 double-elites, 1 triple) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Machado's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Machado blocks a jab.
Camora doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Machado fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Machado takes the fight into the clinch.
Camora drops down looking for an ankle pick but Machado pulls his leg out and moves away.
Machado lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Camora misses the target.
Camora pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A punch combination from Machado misses.
Machado swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Machado throws a low kick but Camora avoids it.
Machado fails with an attempt to clinch.
Camora throws a head kick but Machado moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Machado.
Camora pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machado punishes Camora's body with a nice straight punch.
Machado dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Machado lands a two punch combo.
A big right from Machado misses.
Camora lands a jab to Machado's midsection.
Camora misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Machado.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Manny Machado will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Machado misses with a body shot.
Camora throws a big counter combination but Machado scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
No joy there for Camora, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As Camora backs off Machado throws a huge counter combo but Camora manages to avoid it all.
Manny Machado seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Camora takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Machado fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Camora gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Machado counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Machado walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Camora checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Camora takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Machado takes a swing at Camora's ribcage but misses.
Camora throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Camora throws out a powerful jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado tries to clinch but Camora moves out of range.
Camora connects with a jab.
Machado with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Camora misses with a wild body shot.
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!
Camora falls off balance throwing a combination
and Machado counters with a series of strikes. Camora will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Machado defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Camora.
Machado dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Camora takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Camora throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Machado sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Camora misses with an uppercut.
Camora misses with a series of wild punches.
Machado feints a counter leg kick.
Good work by Camora as he checks the leg kick.
Machado displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Camora.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raf Camora. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Machado pushes Camora up against the cage in a clinch.
Machado lands with a left to the head.
Camora blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Machado.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Machado.
Camora drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
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!
Machado throws a punch but it's blocked by Camora.
Machado tries a knee to the head but Camora blocks it.
Our sources have told us that Camora has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Camora looking for a takedown.
Camora drops down looking for an ankle pick but Machado pulls his leg out and moves away.
Camora throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Machado counters with a low kick, right behind Camora 's knee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice sprawl there from Machado as Camora shoots in.
Camora misses with a lunging right hand
and Machado counters with a good low kick that Camora was not able to check.
Machado closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Machado has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Camora checks the leg kick.
Machado sizes up Camora with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Machado.
Machado digs a good hook to Camora's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Camora pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Camora walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Machado throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Machado tries to close the distance and clinch up but Camora swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Machado scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Camora misses with a head kick.
Camora throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Machado! But no joy.
Camora fails to land with a series of punches.
Machado wants to land a leg kick but Camora is out of range.
Machado fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Machado lands with a right hand.
Machado with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Raf Camora is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machado tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Camora is able to avoid easily.
Machado lands a nice shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Camora throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Machado sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Machado swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Camora shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Machado sprawls well. Machado wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Camora gets slowly back to his feet.
Machado lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Machado changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Machado connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Camora ducks right into an uppercut from Machado.
Machado connects with a jab.
Camora looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Camora lands a nice looking body shot.
Machado throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Machado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Camora throws a sloppy head kick and Machado moves out of range easily.
Camora is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Machado lands with a hook. Camora tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Some bone on bone action there as Camora checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Camora connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Machado blocks a head kick by Camora.
The fight stays on the outside here - Machado looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Camora throws a hook but Machado blocks it.
Camora tries to score a power double leg takedown but Machado sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Camora somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Camora.
Camora closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nice body punch from Machado.
Camora throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Machado cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Machado lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Camora misses with an uppercut. Machado saw that one coming.
A shot to the liver by Machado. Beautiful body shot.
Machado looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Machado throws a solid leg kick but Camora takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Machado.
A head kick by Camora misses
letting Machado counter with a right hand.
The fighters circling - Camora throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Some bone on bone action there as Camora checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Machado.
Machado connects with a leg kick. Camora looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Camora takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Camora misses with a few strikes there.
Machado connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Camora throws a head kick that misses
enabling Machado to counter with a crisp jab.
Machado looks to land a combination. Camora sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Machado enables Camora to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Machado manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Machado seems keen to control Camora's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Camora controls from within his opponent's guard.
Machado bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Camora's guard.

Camora not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Machado looking to pass the guard.
Machado slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Machado throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machado sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Machado in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Camora wants to get back to his feet but Machado is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Raf Camora has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Machado digs a good body shot into Camora's ribs.
Machado uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Camora.
Manny Machado is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Camora dives in and grabs Machado's left leg, looking for a takedown. Machado pushes down on Camora's head and hops out.
Camora throws a poor cross that misses
and Machado counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Machado pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Camora back to the cage. Machado follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Machado throws a leg kick that misses.
Machado moves away from the strike by Camora.
Camora takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Camora looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Machado stalks Camora and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Camora's face. Camora staggers backwards, shaken.
Machado with a jab.
Camora shoots for a takedown but Machado saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raf Camora. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machado is looking to slow Camora down with leg kicks.

Machado drives through and clinches with Camora against the cage.
Machado lands on the inside with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Machado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Machado winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

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