PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marc Spector (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machado has chosen Arcade Fire - Power Out as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Spector
vs
Machado

166 cm
34
143 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

185 cm
29
145 lbs
12 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marc Spector!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodrigo Machado!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spector throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Spector lands a nice shot to the body.
Spector takes a swing at Machado's ribcage but misses.
Spector thows a leg kick but Machado checks it

and Machado counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Machado thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Spector's head.
Machado tries to pass to full mount but Spector defends it.
Machado thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Spector's head.
Machado takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado working the head and body with strikes.
Spector moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Spector might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Spector wants to stand but Machado is controlling the position.
Spector utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spector controls Machado momentarily but Machado frees himself.
Machado prevents Spector from getting back to his feet.
Machado throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spector works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Machado keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Spector's head.
Machado working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Spector pushes Machado off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Spector looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Spector throws a nice outside leg kick.
Spector misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Machado.
Spector misses with a right hand

so Machado counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Machado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spector kicks Machado off and gets to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machado on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Spector. Spector obviously looking to wear him down.
Machado avoids the body shot from Spector.
Machado is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Machado keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spector.
Spector throws a low kick but it's checked well by Machado.
Machado with the counter takedown but Spector avoids it easily.
Spector throws an off balance right hand

and Machado counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Machado.
Machado blocks an uppercut.
Machado is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Spector is defending well.
Spector working aggressively here.
Machado blocks a body shot from Spector.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Machado.
Still in the clinch, Spector scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spector misses with a short punch on the inside.
Machado has Spector pressed against the cage, preventing Spector from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Spector takes a shot to the head.

Spector pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spector lands with a nice combination. Machado backs away looking to recover.
Good shot there by Spector.
Spector misses the shot to the body.
Machado wants to counter with a clinch but Spector pushes him away.
Spector swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Machado tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Spector scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Spector is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Machado.
Spector misses with a body punch

and Machado counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Spector!

Spector throws Machado to one side and escapes!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spector throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Machado counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Machado with a nice head shot there.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Machado working his ground and pound in the gym.
Machado wants to control from the top but Spector keeps moving.
Machado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spector swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spector wants to get back to his feet but Machado is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Machado scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Spector seems keen to control Machado's posture.
Machado preventing the sweep.
Machado postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Machado lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Spector wants to get back to his feet but Machado is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Machado working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Spector keeping moving, preventing Machado from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Spector 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.

Spector's jab looks to have found its range, popping Machado under the eye.
Machado uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Spector.
Spector moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Marc Spector seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spector lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Machado takes one to the side of the head.
Spector misses with a wild body shot.
Spector misses with a leg kick

and Machado counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Spector wriggles free and stands up.
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!
Spector clobbers Machado with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Spector fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machado manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spector attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Spector lands with a straight right. Machado didn't see that one coming.
Spector is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Machado can do to turn this around?
A slow jab from Spector misses its intended target.
Machado wants to counter with a clinch but Spector pushes him away.
Spector misses with a wild body shot.
Machado is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Spector throws a nice looking combination but Machado bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Machado is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Spector lands a nice leg kick that just misses Machado's sensitive parts.
Spector looks to land a left hand but Machado moved out of range nicely.
And Machado tries to counter it with a takedown but Spector pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Spector connects with a right hand. Machado shakes it off.
Machado is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Machado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spector.
Spector looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Spector throws a looping overhand right but Machado ducks down to avoid it.
Spector sets himself, and Machado steps forward looking for the clinch! Spector avoids it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado checks a leg kick nicely.
Machado wants to counter the offense by Spector and move into the clinch position.
Marc Spector is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Spector lands with a shot to the body.
Spector feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Machado's calf.
Spector thows a leg kick but Machado checks it

and Machado counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machado looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Spector is avoiding damage well.
Machado works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Machado working away.
Spector manages to get back to half guard.
Machado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Machado seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Spector avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machado.
Machado sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Spector defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spector tries to get to full guard but Machado has control of the leg.
Spector wants to get back to full guard but Machado has passed into side control.
Machado in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Machado looking to control but instead Spector has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Ground and pound from Machado.
Machado missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Spector looks like he's trying to stand up.
Machado missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spector is not content to let Machado control the position.
Machado thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Spector with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Machado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Spector is trying to stand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A bone on bone clash there as Machado blocks the leg kick.
Machado changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Spector scores with a jab.
Spector digs a good body shot into Machado's ribs.
Spector throws a leg kick that misses.
Machado with the counter takedown but Spector avoids it easily.
Spector walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Machado checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Machado wants to counter with a clinch but Spector pushes him away.
Spector takes a swing at Machado's ribcage but misses.
Machado drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Spector defends it well.
Spector throws a looping overhand right but Machado ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Spector dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Spector throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spector connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Spector throws a lazy right hand but Machado sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Spector throws the left hand but Machado avoids the punch easily.
Spector sets himself, and Machado steps forward looking for the clinch! Spector avoids it this time.
Machado blocks a jab.
Machado drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Spector defends it well.
Spector misses with a looping right.
And Machado tries to counter it with a takedown but Spector pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Machado blocks the body kick.
Machado with the counter takedown but Spector avoids it easily.
Spector throws a left and a right that both miss

and Machado counters with a takedown into side control.

Spector throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machado keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spector.
Machado moves out of range of the body kick from Spector.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado blocks a head kick by Spector.
A nice leg kick lands there from Spector.
Spector misses with the body kick

and Machado counters with a single leg into guard. Spector didn't expect that.
Machado trying to control the position from guard on top but Spector is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machado throws an elbow that misses. Spector uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Machado's guard. Nice move by Spector!

Machado is working an open guard so Spector takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Spector misses with a body kick.
Machado steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Spector.
Marc Spector is winning the standup battle so far.
Spector misses with a looping left.
Machado wants to counter with a clinch but Spector pushes him away.
Spector looks to land a right hand but Machado moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Spector.
Spector misses with a kick to the body.
Spector is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Machado.
Spector throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Spector thows a leg kick but Machado checks it

and Machado counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Machado.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machado stands up over Spector, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Spector preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Spector is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Machado presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Machado just misses with a elbow thrown towards Spector's brow.
A short uppercut from Machado.
Machado is looking for a takedown.
Nice elbow from Machado.

Machado has picked Spector up - he's going for a ride! Machado dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Spector tries to kick Machado off but Machado keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Machado missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Machado missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Spector avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machado.
Machado landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Machado there.

Spector pushes Machado off and gets back to his feet.
Machado blocks a leg kick.
Machado tries to counter by closing the distance.
Spector throws a leg kick which misses Machado's front leg but catches the back leg as Machado tries to avoid it.
Spector throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Machado steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Spector.
A low kick from Spector misses

and Machado decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Spector's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado working some strikes from top position.
Machado stops Spector from standing up.
Machado throwing strikes but missing.
Machado throwing strikes from guard but Spector blocks nicely.
Spector preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rodrigo Machado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machado is in close to Spector's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Spector preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Machado throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spector works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Machado trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machado working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Spector's head.
Machado postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marc Spector showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Spector, 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marc Spector!
An out of breath Marc Spector thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.