PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Blankenhoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida has chosen Reise, Reise- Rammstein as his entrance music. Kyle Blankenhoff has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Blankenhoff
vs
Machida

170 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Gifts of the Rainforest
Fight King 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 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kyle Blankenhoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Machida!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blankenhoff misses with a hook. Machida ducked under it nicely.
Blankenhoff throws a right and a left that Machida avoids nicely.
Machida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Machida closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Machida lands in his opponent's guard.
Machida landing with the ground and pound.

Blankenhoff is rocked!

It looks like Kyle Blankenhoff has been cut.
Machida tries to free his leg and advance position but Blankenhoff is retaining full guard.

Blankenhoff had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Machida is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Blankenhoff Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Machida's back instead.
Blankenhoff trying to control.
Machida manages to reverse the position and now he's in Blankenhoff's guard. Nice work there by Machida.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenhoff is trying to control the position but Machida postures up.
Machida preventing the sweep.

Blankenhoff has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Machida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Blankenhoff might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Machida would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Machida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blankenhoff is keeping the position for now.
Machida wants to control from the top but Blankenhoff keeps moving.
Blankenhoff throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Machida drops back, looking for a kneebar! Blankenhoff looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Blankenhoff looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Blankenhoff!
Machida is looking for a sweep.
Machida is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A lull in the action here.
Machida is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Blankenhoff working the head and body with strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Blankenhoff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.
Blankenhoff landing strikes.
Blankenhoff moves into full mount!
Blankenhoff looking to finish Machida with some ground and pound. This is bad for Machida!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blankenhoff lands a heavy elbow.
Machida is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blankenhoff prevents Machida from getting the reversal.
Blankenhoff looking to control but Machida is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Blankenhoff is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Blankenhoff raining down shots from the mount!
Blankenhoff is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Machida can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenhoff working Machida over with strikes here.
Blankenhoff has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Machida is looking to get to half guard.
Blankenhoff landing punches.
Machida tries to reverse the position but Blankenhoff maintains control.
Machida looks gassed!
Machida tries to lock up and control but Blankenhoff gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The referee warns Machida that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Blankenhoff could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Blankenhoff is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Machida sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Machida makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Machida.
Blankenhoff with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.
Blankenhoff wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Blankenhoff lands a couple of elbows.
Blankenhoff won't allow Machida to sweep him here.
Blankenhoff stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blankenhoff trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Blankenhoff stuffs the takedown attempt from Machida. Machida gets slowly back to his feet.
Blankenhoff misses with a two punch combination.

Blankenhoff closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Blankenhoff seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Blankenhoff lands with a punch from half guard.
Blankenhoff works his foot free and advances to mount.
Machida is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
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 Kyle Blankenhoff will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kyle Blankenhoff's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Royce Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Blankenhoff gets caught flat footed, as Machida shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Machida in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Machida throwing strikes but missing.
Blankenhoff wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.
Blankenhoff bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Machida's guard.
Blankenhoff tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Blankenhoff trying to move into half guard but instead Machida has managed to sweep!
Blankenhoff throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Blankenhoff wants to sweep but no luck.
Machida passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Machida is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenhoff wants to control but Machida postures up.

Machida wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Blankenhoff, who protects the arm well.
Blankenhoff gets back to half guard.
Blankenhoff trying to control but Machida postures up.
Machida is controlling the pace.
Blankenhoff tries to roll over but Machida keeps him under control.
Blankenhoff makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Blankenhoff.
Blankenhoff wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.

Blankenhoff is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Blankenhoff keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenhoff avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blankenhoff trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Blankenhoff is looking for a triangle but Machida pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida trying to control but Blankenhoff is working from the bottom.
Machida postures up.
Machida wants to pass the guard but Blankenhoff is keeping the position.
Machida postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Machida is looking to work some ground and pound but Blankenhoff has wrist control.
Machida postures up in Blankenhoff's guard and throws a big left but Blankenhoff blocks it.
Blankenhoff striking off his back but it's not causing Machida any problems.

Blankenhoff is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blankenhoff not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Machida forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenhoff trying to control from the bottom.
Machida is trying to control the action in half guard but Blankenhoff is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Machida is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Machida frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Blankenhoff taking shots to the head.
Blankenhoff tries to reverse the position but Machida maintains control.
Blankenhoff is squirming around, avoiding Machida's attempts to control the action.

Machida goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Blankenhoff turns into him and now he's in Machida's guard.
Machida tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blankenhoff trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Machida is trying to control the position but Blankenhoff postures up.
Machida manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blankenhoff manages to get himself to full guard.

Machida drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Machida jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenhoff bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Machida's guard.
Machida keeping full guard, as Blankenhoff tries to pass.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Blankenhoff from controlling successfully.
Blankenhoff scoring with punches to the head and body.
Blankenhoff working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Machida's head.
Machida is trying to keep Blankenhoff in close.
Machida doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Blankenhoff lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Machida misses with an uppercut.
Machida shoots and misses

and Blankenhoff counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kyle Blankenhoff will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kyle Blankenhoff's cut.
That's time! Blankenhoff's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Blankenhoff shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense.
Machida with a lazy takedown attempt

and Blankenhoff counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Machida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blankenhoff doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blankenhoff manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Blankenhoff thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Machida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blankenhoff's guard.
Machida wants to pass the guard but Blankenhoff is keeping the position.
Blankenhoff wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.
Blankenhoff can't keep his opponent in guard - Machida advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Machida is trying to control the action in half guard but Blankenhoff is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blankenhoff won't allow Machida to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenhoff wants to improve his position but Machida is controlling well.
Machida moves into full mount! Blankenhoff won't be happy about that!
Machida connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Machida avoids the attempt from Blankenhoff to control.

Machida is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Blankenhoff has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Blankenhoff!
Machida has momentary wrist control but Blankenhoff slips an elbow through the middle.

Blankenhoff avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Machida tries to strike from the bottom.
Kyle Blankenhoff overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Machida is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Machida is looking for a triangle but Blankenhoff pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.
Blankenhoff working some strikes from top position.
Blankenhoff keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Machida's head.
Machida tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Blankenhoff avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Blankenhoff advances to half guard.
Machida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Machida gets back to full guard.
Blankenhoff with a flurry of punches that miss.

Machida is looking for a triangle but Blankenhoff pushes his legs off easily.
Machida pulls Blankenhoff in close to prevent any damage.

Machida is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Machida is trying to keep Blankenhoff in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenhoff postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Blankenhoff pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.
Blankenhoff is working hard here to advance position.
Blankenhoff distracts Machida with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Machida looking for a guillotine here but Blankenhoff defends easily.
Machida is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blankenhoff keeps working.
Machida is looking to advance position but Blankenhoff won't allow it.
Machida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blankenhoff keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Machida is looking to advance position but Blankenhoff won't allow it.
Machida prevents Blankenhoff from improving his position.

Machida decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Blankenhoff fails to land with a series of punches.
Blankenhoff throws a series of punches but Machida moves out of range.
Blankenhoff throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Royce Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida misses the shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Blankenhoff 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Blankenhoff!