PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Black Zach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Aint no sunshine. Black Zach is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Machida
vs
Zach

185 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Black Zach!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zach stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zach wants it to stay on the feet.

Machida bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Machida wants to control but Zach is keeping him busy.
Zach struggling a bit here.
Machida is looking to take a break and control but Zach is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machida controls the position.
Zach is trying to get back to half guard.
Zach is not content to let Machida control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida tries to move into full mount but can't pass Zach's legs.

Machida stands up and beckons Zach to his feet.
Zach fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zach moves out of range of the body kick from Machida.
Zach shoots for a double leg takedown but Machida sprawls well. He's pushed Zach's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zach tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Machida or perhaps it was just good defense by Zach which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyoto Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida stuffs the takedown attempt from Zach. Zach gets slowly back to his feet.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zach. Machida shrugs it off though.
Zach looks for a takedown but Machida sprawls well.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Machida stuffs the takedown attempt from Zach. Zach gets slowly back to his feet.

Machida darts in and clinches Zach up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Zach successfully pulls guard.
Machida throws a big right hand that misses.
Machida is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Lyoto Machida has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Machida doesn't manage to clinch there - Zach circles away.

Zach gets caught napping as Machida dives in and scores a takedown. Zach manages to retain guard.
Machida postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Zach is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zach tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Machida looking to pass the guard.
Machida throws a strike but Zach rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zach wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Black Zach's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zach tries to sprawl but Machida drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Machida is looking to advance position but Zach won't allow it.
Lyoto Machida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zach is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zach is trying to maintain the position but Machida is very close to passing his half guard.
Machida is controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zach manages to get to full guard.
Zach is pulling down on Machida's head. It's preventing any offense from Machida, at least for the moment.

Zach working for a triangle but Machida defends it easily.
Machida throws an elbow that misses. Zach uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Machida's guard. Nice move by Zach!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zach can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zach stopping the sweep attempt from Machida.
Zach wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.

Machida has his feet on Zach's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zach dives in and grabs Machida's left leg, looking for a takedown. Machida pushes down on Zach's head and hops out.
Zach throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A jab from Machida finds it's way through Zach's defenses.
Machida stuffs the takedown.
Machida wants to clinch

and Zach counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Zach's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Machida falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zach counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zach manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd are getting on Zach's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Machida throws a knee to the head but misses.

Machida turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zach trying his best to control but Machida has mounted him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zach's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Zach can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Machida dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Black Zach's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zach shoots in looking for a takedown. Machida tries to sprawl out of it but Zach 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.
Zach misses with a low kick as Machida jumps back.

Machida closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zach's guard.
Machida looking to pass the guard.
Machida wants to control from the top but Zach keeps moving.
Machida stays in close to Zach's body and controls the position.
Machida throwing strikes from guard but Zach blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lyoto Machida wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Machida tries to clinch up but Zach circles away and keeps his distance.
Zach swats away the attempt to clinch by Machida.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zach shoots in for a double leg but Machida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zach moves in looking to clinch but Machida pushes him off.
Zach scores with a jab to the body.

Machida closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zach did well to prevent Machida getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zach is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Machida trying to control from half guard but Zach is working away.
Machida stalling away here and it's allowed Zach to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Zach keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Zach working a defensive guard here.
Zach keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lyoto Machida wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Machida throws a head kick that misses.
Zach throws a head kick but Machida moves out of range.
Machida shoots in looking for a takedown. Zach tries to sprawl out of it but Machida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zach manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zach paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyoto Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zach throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zach lands a head kick!
Nice sprawl there from Machida as Zach shoots in.
Zach throws a leg kick but Machida moved away.
Lyoto Machida is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Machida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zach tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zach shoots in but Machida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zach tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Machida, 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Machida!
Post fight, Lyoto Machida stared into the camera and said 'The dragon is back!'.