PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcio Melim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Kelso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Michael Kelso enters the cage!

Melim
vs
Kelso

170 cm
23
207 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
217 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Nutrition 101

Alpha-Omega ($18 Clothing)
Deadly Clothing

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcio Melim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Kelso!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Melim 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.
Melim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kelso looking for a sweep. Not yet Kelso, not yet.
Melim might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Melim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kelso is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Melim defends well.

Melim 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.
Kelso looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melim is one step ahead there.
Melim looking to pass the guard.

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

Kelso is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Melim defends well.

Kelso escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Melim gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Melim drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kelso manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Melim has Kelso in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelso thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kelso stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melim swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Melim can't keep his opponent in guard - Kelso advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Melim is not content to let Kelso control the position.
Kelso throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kelso looks gassed!
Kelso tries to pass the half guard into mount. Melim knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Melim looking for submissions off his back.

Melim is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kelso pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kelso is working for a kimura but Melim is defending it quite comfortably.

Kelso is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Melim sees it coming and defends easily.
Kelso is pressing down on Melim's thigh, looking to free his foot. Melim is holding on for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Melim shoots in and bounces Kelso off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelso can't keep his opponent in guard - Melim advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Melim is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Melim is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kelso is just riding it out for now. Melim eventually gives up the hold.

Melim seems to be looking for submissions.
Kelso slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Kelso is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kelso looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melim is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melim thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kelso looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melim is one step ahead there.

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

Melim 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.

Kelso is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Kelso will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Melim shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Melim was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kelso bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kelso stands and throws Melim's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Melim is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melim manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelso moves into full mount! Melim won't be happy about that!
Melim is in all sorts of trouble here.

Kelso working for a submission but Melim is keeping him at bay.

Kelso looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Kelso working for a submission but Melim is keeping him at bay.
Melim is wriggling around trying to escape.

Kelso working for a submission but Melim is keeping him at bay.
Melim is looking to improve his position but Kelso isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kelso wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melim is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kelso thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Melim is wriggling around trying to escape.

Kelso has hold of Melim's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Melim manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Melim sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Kelso is looking for a kimura here.

Melim looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melim tries to get to full guard but Kelso has control of the leg.

Melim looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kelso is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Michael Kelso has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melim won't allow Kelso to pass to mount.
Melim is refusing to be controlled, as Kelso sits in half guard.
Melim won't allow Kelso to pass to mount.

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

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.
Kelso leaves Melim with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kelso scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kelso tests Melim's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Kelso will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kelso loads up on a big right hand but Melim slips the punch.
Kelso lands a right hook to the body.
Kelso uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melim is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kelso sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melim fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kelso scores with a punch to the head.
Kelso looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marcio Melim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melim blocks a jab.

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.
Kelso digs a good hook to Melim's body.
Kelso throws a right and a left that both miss.
Melim on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Melim shoots for a takedown but Kelso saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcio Melim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kelso connects with a right hand. Melim shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelso's corner calls for a 1-2. Kelso obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Melim has a takedown stuffed.
Kelso is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kelso throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Melim takes one to the side of the head.
Michael Kelso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Melim can't get the takedown.

Kelso has clasped his hands together around Melim's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Marcio Melim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kelso blocks the strikes from Melim.

Kelso wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Melim, who protects the arm well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Kelso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kelso has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Kelso!