PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cassio Venas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Mello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Venas's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Rise Against - Black Masks And Gasoline . Cassio Venas looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Venas
vs
Mello

194 cm
20
235 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cassio Venas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Mello!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Venas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Venas looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Venas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mello controls the pace.
Mello trying to control the position from guard on top but Venas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mello postures up in Venas's guard and throws a big left but Venas blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mello is stalling in the full guard.
Mello postures up in Venas's guard and throws a big left but Venas blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mello thows a big elbow that misses.
Mello wanted to stand there but Venas had control of the position.

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.
Mello trying to control the position from guard on top but Venas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mello shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Venas defends it nicely.
Venas walks into a stiff left hand from Mello.

Mello closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Venas to the mat! Venas manages to get full guard.
Mello trying to control but Venas is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mello thows a big elbow that misses.

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

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.

Mello gets to his feet - Venas follows without any prompting.
Venas avoids the head kick by Mello.
Mello thuds his shin into the meat of Venas's side.
Venas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Venas tries to clinch but Mello is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mello shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Venas as he avoids it easily.
Cassio Venas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Mello.
Mello is trying hard to land a takedown here. Venas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Venas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Venas wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Mello dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mello fails with the takedown.

Mello closes the distance and clinches.
Mello managing to block the knees to the body from Venas.
Mello lands an elbow just above Venas 's eye.
Mello crunches a lovely knee into Venas's ribcage.
Mello fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mello breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mello shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Venas's guard.
Mello slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Venas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mello throwing strikes from guard but Venas blocks nicely.
Venas wants to stand but Mello is controlling the position.

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.
Mello is stalling in the full guard.
Venas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mello trying to control but Venas is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mello slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mello trying to control but Venas is working from the bottom.

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.
Venas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mello is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Mello showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mello looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mello is defended easily by Venas.

Mello clinches up against the cage.
Mello connects with a knee to the head.
Venas letting Mello take a breather here.
Mello wants to stall.
Venas misses with a knee to the head.

Mello breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horrible takedown by Mello or perhaps it was just good defense by Venas which made him look bad.
Mello misses with a takedown attempt - Venas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cassio Venas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Mello.
Mello plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Venas looks to clinch
and Mello counters with a two punch combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mello shoots in but Venas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Venas clinches but Mello breaks the clinch

and Mello counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mello wants to control but Venas is keeping him busy.

Mello is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Venas won't allow Mello to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mello is trying to control. Venas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Venas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mello on the ground.
Mello should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Venas tries to kick Mello off but Mello keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mello passes to full mount!

Venas bucks up and throws Mello to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Rafael Mello is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Venas wants to clinch but Mello slips to the side
and Mello counters with a head kick. That will keep Venas thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Venas closes the distance but Mello moves to the side
and Mello counters with a left and a right that stings Venas.
Cassio Venas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Mello closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Venas did well to prevent Mello getting side control.
Mello stops Venas from getting back to his feet.
Mello is stalling here. Venas is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Mello seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Venas has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Cassio Venas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mello tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Venas misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Rafael Mello is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mello can't do much from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Mello comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mello 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Mello!