PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderson Machado (ranked 172 p4p, 766 weight class) and Paulo Blikstein (ranked 22 p4p, 125 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Machado might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to El Barrio. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Machado
vs
Blikstein

175 cm
27
187
17 - 4 - 0

187 cm
27
200
12 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

New Standard
Vegan Gains

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wanderson Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Blikstein!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Machado.

Blikstein feints and as Machado raises his hands in defense, Blikstein changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Blikstein throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Machado has his hands on Blikstein's head, controlling the position.
Blikstein trying to control the position from guard on top but Machado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machado wants to sweep but no luck.
Blikstein distracts Machado with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Blikstein has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blikstein chips away with some ground and pound.
Blikstein wants to control from the top but Machado keeps moving.
Blikstein showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Machado is trying to keep Blikstein in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado has control of Blikstein's left arm, preventing Blikstein from doing any damage.
Blikstein working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machado seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Machado throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Blikstein counters with a nice low kick that buckles Machado's knee momentarily.
Machado keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blikstein.
An attempted straight right counter from Machado misses the target.
Machado keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blikstein.
Machado swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Machado lands a jab to Blikstein's midsection.
Machado throws a body shot but no joy.
We've been informed that Blikstein has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Machado.

It looks like Wanderson Machado has been cut.

Blikstein rushes Machado and presses him up against the cage.
Blikstein taking a breather.
Blikstein lands with a left to the head.
I was talking to Machado's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A short right from Blikstein.
Blikstein is trying to stall.
Machado blocks a body shot from Blikstein.
Machado fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Machado misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Machado misses with a body punch.
Machado scores with a hook to the body.
Blikstein tries a body shot but Machado blocks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machado lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Blikstein misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blikstein blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado can't find room to land a body shot as Blikstein controls the action.
Machado doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Blikstein lands a left hand that snaps the head of Machado backwards.
Blikstein tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Machado takes a shot to the head.
Blikstein goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Blikstein lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Blikstein tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Machado's elbow.
Machado working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Blikstein swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Blikstein misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Machado works on Blikstein's body with a couple of short punches.
Machado misses with a hook from the clinch.

Machado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blikstein is looking to chop away at Machado's legs.
Machado moves out of range as Blikstein strikes.
Machado throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Blikstein goes for a double leg but Machado avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Machado continues to drive forward.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blikstein looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Machado throws a big shot that misses.
Blikstein keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Machado takes the fight into the clinch.
Machado softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Blikstein has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Machado regains guard immediately.
Machado working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blikstein.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paulo Blikstein will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wanderson Machado's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Machado throws a shot from downtown. Blikstein moves away and avoids it.
A clash of legs there as Blikstein blocks the low kick.
Machado changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Machado dodges the punch combination from Blikstein.
Blikstein connects with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Machado fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Blikstein.
A low kick from Machado misses
letting Blikstein counter with a right hand.
Blikstein tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Machado swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blikstein slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Blikstein misses with a hook
and Machado counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Machado throws a lazy uppercut
and Blikstein counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Machado uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Blikstein.
Blikstein shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Machado as he avoids it easily.
Machado thuds a left hand into Blikstein's body.
Blikstein missing with a left hand there. Machado was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blikstein connects with a good right hand that stumbles Machado. Machado circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Machado cracks a nice hook into Blikstein's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Machado swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Machado throws a nice outside leg kick.
Blikstein throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Machado to counter with a crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blikstein displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Machado throws out the jab.
Blikstein throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Machado misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blikstein misses with a right hand
and Machado cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A good leg kick by Machado.
Blikstein on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Machado, right into the meat of the thigh.
Machado avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Machado stuns Blikstein with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Machado lands a body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Blikstein.
Wanderson Machado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Blikstein.
Machado throws a lazy body kick

and Blikstein counters with a single leg into guard. Machado didn't expect that.

Machado is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Blikstein presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machado works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A hook to the body from Blikstein.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blikstein gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Blikstein is trying to control the action in half guard but Machado is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Blikstein takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Blikstein throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Blikstein landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Machado tries to get to full guard but Blikstein has control of the leg.
Machado is working hard here to advance position.
Machado holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Machado gets back to full guard.
Blikstein looking to sit in guard and control but Machado gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderson Machado dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wanderson Machado's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Machado is looking to slow Blikstein down with leg kicks.
Machado misses with a straight right.
A nice inside leg kick there by Machado. That's going to slow Blikstein down.
Machado misses the shot to the body.
Machado has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Blikstein finds it's way round the side to connect with Machado's head.
Machado throws a looping overhand right but Blikstein ducks down to avoid it.
Wanderson Machado is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado thuds his right hand into Blikstein's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Machado throws a lazy uppercut
and Blikstein counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Machado moves away from the strike by Blikstein.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blikstein throws a leg kick that is checked
and Machado counters with a body kick.
Machado avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Machado swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Machado takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Blikstein slips under a jab.
Machado fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Blikstein checks it well.
Machado's corner calls for a 1-2. Machado obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Blikstein misses with a combination
and Machado cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Blikstein.
Machado throws an off balance right hand
letting Blikstein counter with a right hand.
Blikstein misses with a combination
enabling Machado to counter with a crisp jab.
Machado connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Machado lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machado just misses with a punch to the body.
Machado tests Blikstein's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Blikstein throws a low kick but it's checked well by Machado.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Blikstein finds it's target.

Wanderson Machado's cut is getting worse.
Blikstein checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Machado lands a slapping body shot.
Machado misses with a body shot.
Blikstein takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Blikstein throws a left and a right that both miss
and Machado makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Machado. Blikstein does a little dance to reset his feet.
Machado scores with a push kick.
Blikstein takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Machado throws a body kick that misses.
Blikstein swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Machado - that will leave a mark!
Machado lands with an uppercut that bounces Blikstein off the cage and back into range.
Blikstein throws a right hand that misses
and Machado counters with a leg kick.

Blikstein drives through with a takedown into guard.
Machado might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Machado holds on and takes a little breather.
Machado manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blikstein manages to get himself to full guard.

Machado wants to control from the top but Blikstein keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderson Machado showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Machado has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderson Machado!
After winning the bout, Wanderson Machado thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.