PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nolan Sackett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sackett's entrance music is Bad To the Bone. A fine choice. Machida has chosen For Whom The Bell Tolls as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sackett
vs
Machida

190 cm
35
215 lbs
21 - 10 - 1

185 cm
34
205 lbs
23 - 18 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nolan Sackett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sackett blocks a head kick by Machida.
Sackett throws a head kick but Machida moves out of range.
Machida drops his hands momentarily and Sackett takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sackett lands with an uppercut that bounces Machida off the cage and back into range.
Sackett slips a jab and a cross from Machida.
Sackett uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Machida.
Machida misses with a body kick.
Machida catches Sackett with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A head kick by Machida misses
and Sackett counters with a good low kick that Machida was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Machida misses
and Sackett counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sackett throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machida lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sackett backs up against the cage.
Machida dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Machida stalks Sackett and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sackett's face. Sackett staggers backwards, shaken.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida leaves Sackett with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sackett throws a looping overhand right but Machida ducks down to avoid it.
Sackett lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A combination from Sackett does no damage.
Sloppy strikes from Machida. Those never looked like landing.
Sackett throws a right and a left that Machida avoids nicely.
Machida misses with a low kick as Sackett jumps back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Machida can pounce on him.
Sackett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sackett slips a jab and a cross from Machida.
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machida throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Good work by Machida as he checks the leg kick.
Sackett avoids the head kick by Machida.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a jab but it's blocked by Sackett.
Sackett lands a right hook to the body.
Sackett staying out of range there.
A head kick by Machida misses
enabling Sackett to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Machida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sackett.
Lyoto Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Machida moves out of range as Sackett strikes.
Machida thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sackett if he has to take too many more of those.
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 round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Machida slaps away a takedown attempt from Sackett, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sackett checks a leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Machida.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sackett.
Nolan Sackett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sackett fails to land with a series of punches.
Sackett stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Machida.
Sackett fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Machida fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A nice combination there by Sackett.
Machida shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sackett throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lyoto Machida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sackett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A big right from Machida misses.
Nolan Sackett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Machida.
Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Sackett rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Machida counters with a low kick, right behind Sackett 's knee.
Machida plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida throws a lazy head kick
and Sackett counters with a good low kick that Machida was not able to check.
Sackett throws a low kick but Machida avoids it.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Machida throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida misses with a combination
and Sackett counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A punch combination from Machida misses.
Sackett ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sackett fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machida misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sackett fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Machida on the side of the head.
Machida throws a quick inside leg kick.
A big left from Machida misses.
Sackett misses with an uppercut
and Machida counters with a solid body kick.
Machida misses the jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida lands a head kick. Sackett smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sackett throws a leg kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Machida.
Sackett moves out of range of the body kick.
Sackett lands with a nice combination. Machida backs away looking to recover.
Sackett just misses with a punch to the body.
Sackett fails to land the takedown.
Sackett swings for the body but Machida moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida throws a leg kick which misses Sackett's front leg but catches the back leg as Sackett tries to avoid it.
Sackett turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Machida scores with a jab to the body.
Sackett bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Machida uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sackett.
Machida moves out of range of the strikes.
Sackett loads up on a big right hand but Machida slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Sackett lands.
Machida fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sackett has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Machida misses with a head kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Machida. That's going to slow Sackett down.
Machida swings for the body but Sackett moves out of range.
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machida staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Sackett keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sackett tries to bum rush Machida with a series of wild strikes but Machida uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nolan Sackett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida throws the kick towards the body but Sackett avoids it.
Sackett getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Machida throws a head kick that misses
and Sackett counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sackett jabs at Machida's body.
Sackett avoids the head kick by Machida.
A low kick from Machida misses
and Machida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sackett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Machida misses with a low kick.
Machida throws a head kick but Sackett moves out of range.
Sackett slips a straight right by Machida.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lyoto Machida.
Well Machida has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight for Lyoto Machida!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Lyoto Machida!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Lyoto Machida!

Lyoto Machida wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Lyoto Machida started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.