PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Melchor Menor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Avvene (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Menor
vs
Avvene

177 cm
22
254 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Melchor Menor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marco Avvene!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Menor throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Menor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Menor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Avvene.
Avvene shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Avvene changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Menor tries to avoid it but Avvene manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Menor to the ground. Menor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Avvene dodges the punch combination from Menor.
Avvene avoids a punch combination nicely.
Menor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Menor.
Menor getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Menor connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Melchor Menor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Avvene shoots in but Menor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Melchor Menor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Avvene.
Menor lands with a nice combination. Avvene backs away looking to recover.

Avvene shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Avvene was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Avvene lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Menor hang on?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avvene looking to finish with strikes here!
Menor could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Avvene has control of Menor's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Menor regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Avvene postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Menor looks a forlorn figure.

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

Avvene working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Avvene tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Avvene is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Menor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Menor throws a right hand that Avvene ducks under and follows up with a left that Avvene also avoids with ease.
Menor throws a right hand that Avvene ducks under and follows up with a left that Avvene also avoids with ease.
Menor is breathing heavily.
Menor loads up on a big right hand but Avvene slips the punch.
A combination from Avvene does no damage.
Menor misses with a two punch combination.
Menor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Avvene counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Menor being controlled here, momentarily.
Avvene trying to control but Menor is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avvene passes into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Avvene stops Menor from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Menor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Avvene.

Avvene has closed the distance and engaged Menor in a clinch.
Avvene doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Avvene breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Avvene closes this distance looking for a takedown but Menor circles away.
Avvene shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Menor defends it nicely.
Avvene dodges the punch combination from Menor.
Menor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Avvene moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Menor misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avvene ducks right into an uppercut from Menor.
Menor fails to land with a series of punches.
Avvene scores with a nice strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Avvene misses with a takedown attempt - Menor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Melchor Menor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Avvene.
Horrible takedown by Avvene or perhaps it was just good defense by Menor which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menor scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Some wild striking there from Menor.
Avvene uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Menor.

Avvene takes the fight into the clinch.
Avvene tries to pull guard but Menor holds him up against the cage and eventually Avvene drops back down to his feet.

Avvene breaks the clinch.
Menor misses with a combination

and Avvene counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Avvene wants to take a breather but Menor is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Avvene decides to return to a standing position.
Avvene avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Melchor Menor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Avvene forces Menor back against the cage and clinches.
Menor stops a takedown attempt from Avvene.
Menor tries to break free but Avvene pushes him back against the cage.
Avvene jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Menor walks away with a smile on his face. Avvene gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Menor circles away from the clinch attempt.
A swing and a miss from Menor.
Avvene misses with a takedown attempt - Menor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Avvene fails to land the takedown.
Avvene looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Menor is fending him off so far but Avvene persists. Nope, Menor circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menor falls off balance throwing a combination

and Avvene counters by clinching up.
Avvene misses with a short punch on the inside.

Avvene breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Avvene avoids a punch combination nicely.
Menor misses with a double jab.
Avvene slips a jab and a cross from Menor.
Avvene looks to score with a jab to the body but Menor is just out of range.
Menor misses with a body shot.
Menor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Melchor Menor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Menor throws a series of punches but Avvene avoids them all with ease.
Avvene shoots in for a takedown but Menor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Menor fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Menor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Avvene tries for a takedown but Menor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Avvene looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Menor lands with an uppercut that bounces Avvene off the cage and back into rage.
Avvene tries to score a power double leg takedown but Menor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Avvene somewhat.
Menor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Avvene.
Nice sprawl there from Menor as Avvene shoots in.
Menor stalks Avvene and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Avvene's face. Avvene staggers backwards, shaken.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Menor!

Avvene feints and as Menor raises his hands in defense, Avvene changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Menor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Avvene is controlling him.
Menor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Avvene trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Avvene showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Menor throws a series of punches but Avvene moves out of range.

Avvene scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Avvene is looking for a kimura but Menor is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Avvene to get the leverage.
Menor is trying to stand.

Avvene seems to be looking for submissions.
Avvene seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Menor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avvene wants to pass the guard but Menor is defending well.
Avvene missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Avvene is trying to control. Menor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Menor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Avvene on the ground.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Menor misses with a two punch combination.

That's two 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.
Menor throws a right and a left that Avvene avoids nicely.
Menor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Avvene shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Menor napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Avvene trying to control the position but Menor is working away.
Avvene prevents Menor from escaping the position.
Menor is not content to let Avvene control the position.
Menor dodges the ground and pound from Avvene.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avvene sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Menor is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Avvene is trying to ground and pound but Menor uses the momentary lack of control by Avvene to regain half guard.
Avvene is keen to just control but Menor is a slippery customer.

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.

Avvene gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Melchor Menor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Menor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Menor looks to land a combination but Avvene avoids it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Menor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Avvene takes one on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Avvene comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Avvene winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Avvene!