PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chistian Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Sotomayor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machado comes into the arena with This Fire Burns blaring out of the sound system. Chistian Machado has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Machado
vs
Sotomayor

185 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
18
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chistian Machado!
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, Bruno Sotomayor!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado shoots in but Sotomayor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bruno Sotomayor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sotomayor shoots in looking for a takedown. Machado tries to sprawl out of it but Sotomayor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Machado manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Machado keeps the fight on the outside.

Sotomayor feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sotomayor content to stall in guard here.
Machado pulls Sotomayor in to control the position.
Sotomayor trying to control the position from guard on top but Machado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sotomayor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machado swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sotomayor with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sotomayor trying to control but Machado is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sotomayor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sotomayor misses with a takedown attempt

and Machado counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sotomayor's guard now.
Sotomayor scores with a nice shot.
Sotomayor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Machado!
Machado keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Machado tries to lock up and control but Sotomayor gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machado really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado is bucking up trying to escape but Sotomayor cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Machado is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Machado is breathing heavily.
Machado is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Machado is working hard here to advance position.
Sotomayor breaks from Machado's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Sotomayor gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Sotomayor drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sotomayor trying to control the position but Machado is working away.
Machado is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sotomayor has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Sotomayor misses with a takedown
and Machado counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sotomayor thinking.
Chistian Machado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Sotomayor.

Sotomayor feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Machado is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Machado trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Machado can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sotomayor controls the pace.
Sotomayor won't allow Machado to get back to his feet.
Machado looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sotomayor is one step ahead there.
Sotomayor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotomayor stands and throws Machado's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Machado prevents Sotomayor from moving into mount.
Sotomayor is looking to take a break and control but Machado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machado looking for a sweep but Sotomayor has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sotomayor fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Machado wants to control but Sotomayor is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Sotomayor dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sotomayor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sotomayor trying to pass the guard but Machado defending well.
Sotomayor trying to control the action but Machado is working from the bottom.
Machado wants to get back to full guard.
Sotomayor not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Machado controlling the position well.
Sotomayor is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sotomayor drops an elbow to the side of Machado's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sotomayor decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Machado tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sotomayor just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sotomayor has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Machado avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Machado avoiding damage as Sotomayor throws knees to the body.

Sotomayor jumps guard.
Sotomayor can't keep his opponent in guard - Machado advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sotomayor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sotomayor trying to hold on to Machado's head to control him but Machado postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotomayor keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Sotomayor is looking to escape.

Sotomayor looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Machado is looking to take a break and control but Sotomayor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sotomayor trying to control but Machado postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Machado gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sotomayor counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sotomayor manages to pull guard.

Sotomayor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sotomayor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sotomayor trying to control the position here.
Machado looking to sit in guard and control but Sotomayor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sotomayor looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Machado trying to keep a closed guard but Sotomayor is proving a slippery customer.
Machado keeping moving, preventing Sotomayor from controlling successfully.
Machado tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sotomayor postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Machado is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sotomayor is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sotomayor is looking to clinch but Machado is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Sotomayor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sotomayor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machado counters by clinching up.

Machado ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Machado no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Machado keeping moving, preventing Sotomayor from controlling successfully.
Bruno Sotomayor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sotomayor throws a big right hand that misses.
Sotomayor scoring with some ground and pound.
Sotomayor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sotomayor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Machado's guard.
Machado with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Sotomayor can't handle though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sotomayor trying to control but Machado is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sotomayor thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sotomayor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Machado circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sotomayor closes the distance but Machado moves to the side
and Machado counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Machado scores a takedown into full mount!
Sotomayor wants to control but Machado is having none of it.
Sotomayor tries to reverse the position but Machado maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotomayor wants to hold on but Machado pushes him away.
Sotomayor swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Sotomayor working to try and regain half guard.
Sotomayor is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sotomayor wants to control but Machado is having none of it.
Sotomayor tries to reverse the position but Machado maintains control.
Machado is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado wants to control the pace but Sotomayor is squirming around nicely.
Sotomayor tries to hold on but Machado postures up.
Sotomayor is desperately trying to improve his position but Machado has a good base and remains in mount.
Machado avoids the attempt from Sotomayor to control.
Sotomayor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sotomayor tries to lock up and control but Machado gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sotomayor is in all sorts of trouble here.
Machado in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Machado lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sotomayor hang on?
Machado prevents Sotomayor from getting the reversal.
Machado looking to finish with strikes here!
Sotomayor tries to hold on but Machado postures up.
Machado content just to control the position here.
Sotomayor tries to lock up and control but Machado gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Chistian Machado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruno Sotomayor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Machado is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sotomayor has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sotomayor!

And that's the end of the fight!
Chistian Machado showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sotomayor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Sotomayor!