PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahmoud Izrani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Machida might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to For Whom The Bell Tolls. Mahmoud Izrani has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Lyoto Machida's chin.

Machida
vs
Izrani

185 cm
32
205 lbs
21 - 14 - 0

190 cm
22
220 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 21 - 14 - 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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mahmoud Izrani!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Izrani wants to clinch.

Izrani gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees to the body from Izrani.
Izrani misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knees in the clinch landing for Izrani.
Machida is breathing heavily.
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!
Izrani taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Izrani continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Machida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Izrani has him pressed against the cage.
Machida takes a shot to the head.
Izrani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Izrani scores a nice knee to the body.
Izrani unloads a knee to the mid-section. Machida lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izrani's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Machida avoiding damage as Izrani throws knees to the body.
Machida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Izrani putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Machida in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Izrani misses with a knee strike.
Come on Izrani - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Machida takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Lyoto Machida has been cut.
Machida working hard to break the clinch.
Izrani tries to land knees in the clinch but Machida avoids the damage to the body.
Izrani misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to break free but Izrani has control.
Izrani tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Machida avoids it.
Izrani missing with knees to the body.
Izrani is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Machida is defending well for now.
Izrani tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Izrani throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machida blocks it with crossed arms.
Izrani leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machida blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izrani working Machida over with knees to the body.
Izrani misses with a knee strike.
Izrani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Izrani lands a knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Izrani.
A knee to the head by Izrani.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Izrani slowing the pace effectively.
Izrani throws a head punch that misses.
Izrani throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Machida blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A bit of stalling here from Izrani.
Izrani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Izrani just leaning against Machida, taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Izrani misses with a knee strike.
Izrani taking a breather.
Izrani with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Machida trying to stall but Izrani improves his position.
Izrani lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Izrani takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Izrani connects with a nasty looking knee right to Machida's face.
Izrani putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Machida in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahmoud Izrani dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Machida's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Machida circles away from the clinch attempt
and Machida counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Izrani is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Izrani tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Machida counters with a slapping leg kick.
Machida throws a low kick but Izrani avoids it.
Izrani is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Izrani tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Machida paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Machida gets tackled into the cage by Izrani. Izrani maintains the clinch.
Izrani scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Izrani content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida takes a knee right on the jaw!
Izrani throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machida blocks it with crossed arms.
Izrani is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Izrani dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Izrani throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machida blocks it with crossed arms.
Izrani prevents Machida from breaking the clinch.
Izrani tries a knee to the head but Machida blocks it.
Izrani misses with a knee strike.
Izrani has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Izrani trying to land knees to the body.
Machida blocks a body shot from Izrani.
A knee to the head by Izrani.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Izrani keeps control of Machida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Machida managing to block the knees to the body from Izrani.
Izrani lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Izrani.
Izrani with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Machida is trying to break free.
Machida is trying to push Izrani away but Izrani has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Izrani throws a punch but it's blocked by Machida.
Machida takes a shot to the head.
Machida wants to break free but Izrani has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Izrani missing with knees to the body.
Izrani looking to throw knees to the head but Machida is blocking nicely.
Machida is trying to break the clinch but Izrani is controlling him.
Izrani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Izrani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Izrani throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machida blocks it with crossed arms.
Izrani keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Machida's efforts to push away.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Izrani misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Izrani pressing his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Izrani's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Izrani tries a knee to the head but Machida blocks it.
Izrani stalling.
Izrani connects with a nasty looking knee right to Machida's face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida wants to break the clinch but can't.
Machida is trying to break the clinch but Izrani has him pressed against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Izrani just misses with a elbow thrown towards Machida's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahmoud Izrani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Machida's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Machida moves into range and connects with a jab.
Izrani misses with a straight right.
Mahmoud Izrani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Izrani tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.
Izrani is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Izrani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Izrani takes the fight into the clinch.
Machida takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knees to the body from Izrani.
Izrani misses with a knee to the head.
Izrani tries to work over Machida's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izrani tries to land knees in the clinch but Machida avoids the damage to the body.
Machida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Izrani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Izrani throws a head punch that misses.
Machida being controlled against the cage.
Izrani tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Machida avoids it.
Izrani throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machida blocks it with crossed arms.
Izrani tries to land knees in the clinch but Machida avoids the damage to the body.

Machida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Izrani on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Well,Machida is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.

Izrani fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Machida, pushing him back against the cage.
Machida wants to break the clinch but can't.
Machida blocks a body shot from Izrani.
Izrani misses with a knee strike.
Machida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Izrani trying to land knees to the body.
Izrani crunches a lovely knee into Machida's ribcage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Izrani has Machida pressed against the cage, preventing Machida from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Machida managing to block the knees to the body from Izrani.
Izrani misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida can't break the clinch.
Izrani keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Machida's efforts to push away.
The referee calls for Izrani to work.
Machida is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Machida is trying to break the clinch but Izrani has him pressed against the cage.
Izrani with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Izrani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Machida tries to break the clinch but Izrani is controlling the position.
Izrani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Izrani misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Izrani manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Izrani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mahmoud Izrani is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Machida trying to control the position but instead, Izrani has worked for underhooks and has pushed Machida into the cage.
Machida missing with knees to the body.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida is trying to break the clinch but Izrani has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mahmoud Izrani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Izrani 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 Seu Braga scores the fight for Mahmoud Izrani!
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Mahmoud Izrani!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Mahmoud Izrani!

Mahmoud Izrani wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Mahmoud Izrani thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.