PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rock Machine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yogi Dhamma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machine's entrance music is Hell Yeah. A fine choice. Dhamma has chosen Power Of Soul as his entrance music. Yogi Dhamma has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Machine
vs
Dhamma

180 cm
35
150 lbs
15 - 18 - 0

179 cm
31
145 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rock Machine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yogi Dhamma!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dhamma moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice sprawl there from Machine as Dhamma shoots in.
Machine seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Machine throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Dhamma counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Machine is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Dhamma presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
A knee to the head by Machine.
Machine is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Dhamma goes for a takedown in the clinch but Machine prevents it.
Rock Machine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yogi Dhamma.
Dhamma is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Machine pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Machine lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dhamma backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Machine decides to pull guard.
Dhamma won't allow Machine to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhamma trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Machine is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dhamma trying to control but Machine is working from the bottom.
Dhamma is looking to work some ground and pound but Machine has wrist control.
Dhamma being controlled here momentarily.
Machine keeping full guard, as Dhamma tries to pass.
Machine is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Death Valley Training Facility that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dhamma is still trying to improve position.
Machine looking to control.
My spies in Hard Knocks Training inform me that Dhamma has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Machine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Dhamma gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Machine clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhamma has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Machine avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Machine breaks from the clinch.

Machine feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Machine is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Dhamma working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Machine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Machine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Machine controls from within his opponent's guard.
Machine is working Dhamma over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Machine sitting in guard here, content to control.
Dhamma keeping full guard, as Machine tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machine trying to control the position from guard on top but Dhamma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dhamma looking for a sweep. Not yet Dhamma, not yet.
Machine slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Dhamma thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Dhamma trying to control the position.
Machine slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dhamma throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dhamma trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Machine lands with a nice body punch.
Machine throws a series of punches but Dhamma moves out of range.
Machine missing with a left hand there. Dhamma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dhamma with the counter takedown but Machine avoids it easily.

Machine shoots in and bounces Dhamma off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dhamma throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Machine wants to control from the top but Dhamma keeps moving.
Dhamma throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Machine dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dhamma tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Machine defends well and Dhamma ends up having to push Machine into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Machine looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Machine stays in close to Dhamma's body and controls the position.
Dhamma throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Dhamma looking to hit a scissor sweep but Machine is one step ahead there.
Machine wants to pass the guard but Dhamma is keeping the position.
Machine's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhamma throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Dhamma controls Machine momentarily but Machine frees himself.
Machine controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhamma throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Machine would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Machine darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rock Machine is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machine throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dhamma changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Dhamma uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Machine.
Machine thows a leg kick but Dhamma checks it

and Dhamma holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dhamma tries for a takedown but Machine manages to get underhooks.

Machine gets control of Dhamma's arms and successfully pulls guard. Machine will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dhamma pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machine is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhamma wants to control from the top but Machine keeps moving.
Machine looking for a sweep. Not yet Machine, not yet.
Machine keeping full guard, as Dhamma tries to pass.

Dhamma postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Machine is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dhamma, into his guard.

Machine pushes down on Dhamma's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dhamma flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Machine wants to free his trapped foot but Dhamma is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Machine wants to control but Dhamma is keeping him busy.
Dhamma tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhamma trying to control here.
Machine is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dhamma punching from the bottom.
Machine blocks the strikes from Dhamma.
Machine perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dhamma wants to improve his position but Machine is controlling well.
Machine is keen to just control but Dhamma is a slippery customer.
Dhamma is trying to stand back up but Machine is controlling him
Machine missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dhamma missing with punches from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Machine throwing shots but Dhamma is blocking nicely.
Dhamma is pressing down on Machine's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dhamma doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dhamma is on top in guard.

Rock Machine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machine keeping moving, preventing Dhamma from controlling successfully.
Machine is trying to keep Dhamma in close.

Dhamma drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Machine dives on top into guard.

Machine seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Dhamma working for a triangle but Machine defends it easily.
Machine trying to control but Dhamma is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dhamma is striking from the bottom but Machine uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Machine dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dhamma takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Machine is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dhamma.
Machine throws the kick towards the body but Dhamma avoids it.
Dhamma shoots in but no luck this time.
Machine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dhamma swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And Dhamma tries to counter it with a takedown but Machine pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Machine buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Machine shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machine wants to control from the top but Dhamma keeps moving.
Dhamma throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Machine looking to pass the guard.
Machine sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dhamma's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Machine is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Machine throwing shots but Dhamma is blocking nicely.
Dhamma moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Machine showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dhamma throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Machine throws a big right hand that misses.
Machine is stalling in the full guard.
Machine is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dhamma can do to turn this around?
Machine wants to control from the top but Dhamma keeps moving.

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.
Dhamma trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Dhamma wants to sweep but no luck.
Dhamma keeping full guard, as Machine tries to pass.
Dhamma tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Machine tries to stand but Dhamma is controlling from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rock Machine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machine gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Dhamma counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dhamma.

Machine has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Dhamma has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Machine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Machine throws a body shot but no joy.

Dhamma gets caught flat footed, as Machine shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dhamma trying to keep a closed guard but Machine is proving a slippery customer.
Dhamma throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhamma looking to hit a scissor sweep but Machine is one step ahead there.
Machine working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dhamma can't keep his opponent in guard - Machine advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dhamma tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Machine is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dhamma has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dhamma is looking to improve his position.
Machine missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Machine is trying to control the action in half guard but Dhamma is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dhamma taking some punishment here, with Machine in his half guard.
Dhamma misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rock Machine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Machine controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machine prevents Dhamma from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dhamma manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Machine controls from within his opponent's guard.

Dhamma has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Machine should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Dhamma has tightened it up now! Machine should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Yogi Dhamma!
Yogi Dhamma gave a mention to Spartan Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).