PBP Commentary

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

Machida
vs
Carioca

185 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Larainzinha Carioca!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Luis Engracia and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carioca shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Carioca looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Carioca shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.

Machida has managed to clinch.
Machida throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Machida breaks from the clinch.

Machida drives through with a takedown into guard.
Machida controls from within his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Machida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machida decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Carioca, up you get!

Machida shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Machida showed some decent athleticism there.
Machida performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Machida stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Carioca to get to his feet.

Machida bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Carioca knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Machida wants to control but Carioca is keeping him busy.
Machida is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Carioca's shoulder. That is not cool.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carioca is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida is trying to get an arm triangle but Carioca is defending well.

Machida has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Carioca tries for a takedown but Machida circles away easily

and Machida decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Carioca's guard.
Lyoto Machida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Larainzinha Carioca.
Carioca is trying to keep Machida in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Machida 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.
Machida wants to pass the guard but Carioca is keeping the position.
Machida knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Carioca on the ground.

Machida gets to his feet - Carioca follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida 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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Machida.
Machida taking a breather here.
Carioca is looking for a sweep.
Machida working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Machida has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Carioca stuffs the takedown.
Larainzinha Carioca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida misses with a few strikes there.
Machida throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Carioca stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Machida throws a leg kick but Carioca sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Carioca takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Carioca tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Carioca won't be happy with that.
Carioca tries to improve position but can't.
Machida working the ground and pound.
Machida working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carioca is looking for a sweep.

Machida stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Machida feints and as Carioca raises his hands in defense, Machida changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Machida trying to move into half guard but instead Carioca has managed to sweep!
Carioca looking to sit in guard and control but Machida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Machida postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is stalling in the full guard.
Carioca keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

Machida stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Machida throws a low kick but it's checked well by Carioca.
Carioca keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Carioca throws a nice head kick!

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.

Machida changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Carioca looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Carioca sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Machida lands a nice short elbow.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Machida is stalling here. Carioca is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Machida seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Carioca has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Machida is not content to let Carioca control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Machida fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Carioca tries for a takedown but Machida circles away easily
and Machida counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Carioca is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Machida 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.
Carioca keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Machida stops Carioca from standing up.
Carioca looking for a sweep. Not yet Carioca, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Machida shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Machida showed some decent athleticism there.
Machida thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Carioca's head.
Carioca wants to get back to full guard.
Machida slows the pace down in half guard.
Machida has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carioca is looking to control Machida's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Carioca avoid being mounted?
Machida takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Machida scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carioca keeps working.
Nice strikes from Machida there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida wants to work for an arm triangle but Carioca is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Machida tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Carioca.
Lyoto Machida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Machida closes the distance and clinches.

Machida jumps guard and drags Carioca to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four 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.

Machida kicks Carioca off and gets to his feet.
Carioca will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Carioca misses with a takedown attempt

and Machida counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Carioca!
Carioca tries to hold on but Machida postures up.
Carioca takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Larainzinha Carioca has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lyoto Machida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Machida content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Machida has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:26
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:26

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