PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Welsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: For Whom The Bell Tolls. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Lyoto Machida was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Welsh
vs
Machida

184 cm
33
218 lbs
12 - 8 - 1

185 cm
35
205 lbs
26 - 19 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

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 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rick Welsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Machida tries to keep at a distance but Welsh has taken the fight into the clinch.
Machida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Welsh has him pressed against the ropes.
Machida is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Welsh is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Machida to keep the fight standing.

Welsh pulls Machida into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Welsh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Machida is one step ahead there.
Machida slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Welsh working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Machida doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Machida manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Welsh wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.
Machida trying to control but Welsh is working from the bottom.

Welsh is looking for a triangle here but Machida uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Machida decides to stand back up.
Welsh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Machida's waist but Machida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Welsh off to one side.
Machida attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Machida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Machida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh throws a lazy right hand but Machida sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Welsh pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Machida back to the ropes. Welsh follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Welsh avoids a kick to the body.
Welsh fails in his attempt to clinch.
Machida avoids the head kick by Welsh.
Lyoto Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Welsh avoids the head kick by Machida.
Welsh is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Machida jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Welsh steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Machida.
Welsh fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Welsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Machida as Welsh shoots in.
Machida throws out a powerful jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rick Welsh will probably get the nod.
That's time! Welsh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Machida misses the jab.
Machida misses with a double jab

and Welsh counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Welsh drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Welsh jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Welsh throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Welsh drops back, looking for a kneebar! Machida looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Machida looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Machida!
Machida trying to control the position but Welsh is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida controlling from side mount.
Welsh regains half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Welsh is looking to improve his position.
Machida tries to stand and escape but Welsh actually recovers to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Machida is looking to work some ground and pound but Welsh has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida is stalling in the full guard.
Machida wants to stand but Welsh has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Welsh working for a triangle but Machida defends it easily.

Welsh isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Machida stacks Welsh on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Machida!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Machida wants to stand but Welsh has his arm trapped.
Welsh is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Welsh looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rick Welsh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida throwing shots but Welsh is blocking nicely.
Welsh tries to get to full guard but Machida has control of the leg.

Welsh actively working from the bottom here.
Welsh gets full guard.
Machida wants to control from the top but Welsh keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida wants to get up but he can't break Welsh's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Welsh dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Welsh shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Machida fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Welsh manages to avoid it.
Welsh is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick

and Welsh counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machida's guard now.
Machida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Welsh. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Welsh passes Machida's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Welsh is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Machida is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Welsh is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Machida is just riding it out for now. Welsh eventually gives up the hold.
Machida is looking to improve his position.
Welsh scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Machida won't allow Welsh to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Machida manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Welsh is one step ahead there.
Welsh advances position into side control!

Welsh goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Machida has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Welsh but great work by Machida.
Machida wants to take a breather but Welsh manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Machida.

Welsh throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Welsh had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Machida defends it easily.
Machida must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Welsh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Machida is one step ahead there.
Welsh throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Welsh is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Welsh there.
Machida is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Welsh seems to be working for a kimura but Machida defends the submission attempt.

Welsh is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida blocking the ground and pound attempt from Welsh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Welsh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Welsh, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Welsh!
In his post fight interview, Rick Welsh started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.