PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dript Henriques (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henriques comes into the arena with Maguila - Vida de Campeão blaring out of the sound system. Fabio Melo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Henriques
vs
Melo

175 cm
21
168 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Likes ground

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dript Henriques!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Melo!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henriques shoots in for a takedown but Melo shows good takedown defense.

Melo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Melo tries to pass to full mount but Henriques defends it.
Melo works his way into full mount!
Henriques wants to control but Melo is having none of it.
Henriques sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Melo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Henriques knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Henriques wants to improve his position but Melo is controlling well.

Melo is looking for a kimura here.
Melo tries to pass to full mount but Henriques defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henriques has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Melo is working away from the top position though.
Melo passes to side control.
Henriques is breathing heavily.
Melo tries to move to mount but Henriques blocks the move with his legs.

Melo swings around for an armbar but Henriques sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Melo's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Melo has his foot on Henriques's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Henriques works his way back into a safe position though.

Melo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Henriques is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Melo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Henriques's back instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henriques trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Melo is looking for the choke from the back position but Henriques is controlling his hands well.

Melo looking for the choke from the back.
Melo is trying to stick to Henriques's back but Henriques is turning into Melo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Melo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Henriques.
Henriques trying to control but Melo is working from the bottom.

Melo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Melo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Henriques is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Melo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Henriques's back instead.
Melo is trying to stick to Henriques's back but Henriques is turning into Melo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Melo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Henriques.

Melo working for a triangle but Henriques defends it easily.

Melo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Henriques is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Melo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo is looking to reverse the position.
Henriques in side control, throwing shots but Melo defends.
Melo gets back to half guard.
Henriques is keen to just control but Melo is a slippery customer.
Melo moves into full guard.

Melo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melo patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Henriques is trying to shake Melo off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Melo won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Melo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Henriques counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Henriques with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Melo has Henriques pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Henriques manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Melo looking for a takedown.
Dript Henriques has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Melo.
Melo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Henriques pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Henriques gets a trip takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fabio Melo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Henriques fails in his attempt to clinch.
Henriques has his takedown stuffed

and Melo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Henriques won't be happy with that.
Henriques stops Melo from passing to mount.

Melo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Henriques, who protects the arm well.
Melo has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Henriques!
Henriques tries to hold on but Melo postures up.
Melo prevents Henriques from getting the reversal.

Melo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melo seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Henriques is holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo moves to the back position.

Melo looking for the RNC.

Melo looking for the choke from the back.
Henriques might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Henriques just trying to survive but Melo is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Melo tightening his grip on Henriques, looking for the choke.
Melo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Henriques. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Henriques turns into Melo and is now in his guard.
Melo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henriques controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Melo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Henriques is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Melo gets his way!
Melo doesn't have the hooks in and Henriques manages to turn into his guard.

Henriques stands up and waves to Melo to follow him.
Henriques has his takedown stuffed

and Melo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Henriques's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo tries to free his leg and advance position but Henriques is retaining full guard.

Henriques looking for a guillotine here but Melo defends easily.
Melo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Henriques is keeping the position for now.
Melo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Henriques tries to strike from the bottom.
Melo wants to pass the guard but Henriques is keeping the position.

Henriques working for a triangle but Melo defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Henriques keeping full guard, as Melo tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Henriques shoots and misses

and Melo counters with a single leg into guard. Henriques didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dript Henriques. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henriques keeping full guard, as Melo tries to pass.
Melo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Henriques's guard.
Henriques regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melo advances position into side control!
Henriques throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Henriques manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Melo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Henriques gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Melo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Henriques!
Melo is looking to work his way around to Henriques's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Henriques working to try and regain half guard.
Melo moves to the back.

Melo working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Melo working for the choke.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Melo goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Henriques escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Henriques prevents Melo from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henriques missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Henriques seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Melo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Henriques is looking for a kimura here.

Melo is defending against the submission attempts here by Henriques.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Melo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Henriques looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Melo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Henriques knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Melo prevents Henriques from escaping the position.
Henriques tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fabio Melo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melo tries to advance to mount but can't.
Henriques can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henriques is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Henriques is trying to get back to half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Melo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Melo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Henriques is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Melo tries to advance to mount but Henriques instead regains half guard.
Henriques regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henriques escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Melo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Henriques keeping full guard, as Melo tries to pass.
Melo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Henriques is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Melo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Melo is trying for a kimura here. Henriques looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Melo wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Fabio Melo!