PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Drake Melfred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Bova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bova has chosen I came to bring the pain! as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Melfred
vs
Bova

175 cm
19
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
24
155 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Drake Melfred!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Bova!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melfred tries to clinch but Bova is having none of it.
Melfred is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Melfred closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Melfred wants the takedown. Bova is fighting it off but Melfred persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bova's guard against the cage.
Melfred slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bova tries to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melfred lands a couple of digs.
Bova being controlled here, momentarily.
Melfred tries to free his leg and advance position but Bova is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melfred sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bova's guard.
Melfred is looking to take a break and control but Bova is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Melfred controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Melfred wants to work for an arm triangle but Bova is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bova blocking the ground and pound attempt from Melfred.

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.
Melfred wants to control but Bova is keeping him busy.
Bova throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bova tries to roll over but Melfred keeps him under control.
Bova wants to control but Melfred is keeping busy.
Melfred prevents Bova from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bova misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Melfred wants to take a breather but Bova is having none of it.

Melfred seems to be working for a kimura but Bova defends the submission attempt.
Bova is in trouble now - Melfred has advanced to mount!

That's four 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.
Bova avoids a series of strikes thrown by Melfred.

Melfred stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Melfred.
Melfred shoots for a takedown but Bova saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melfred throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Melfred moves in looking to clinch but Bova pushes him off.

Melfred instigates a clinch.
Bova tries for a takedown. No joy.
Come on Melfred - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Melfred gets underhooks to prevent Bova's takedown attempt.

Melfred works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Bova isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Melfred stacks Bova on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Melfred!

Melfred wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bova, who protects the arm well.
Melfred wants to take a breather but Bova manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Melfred.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melfred won't allow Bova to sweep him here.
Melfred looking to sit in guard and control but Bova gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bova thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bova throwing strikes but missing.

Melfred has his foot on Bova's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bova works his way back into a safe position though.
Bova makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bova postures up.
Bova throws a big right hand that misses.
Bova loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bova won't allow Melfred to sweep him here.
Bova throws and elbow that misses. Melfred uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bova's guard. Nice move by Melfred!
Melfred won't allow Bova to sweep him here.
Melfred postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melfred trying to control the position from guard on top but Bova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melfred passes into half guard.
Melfred is stalling here. Bova is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Melfred seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bova has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

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.
Melfred manages to get back to half guard.
Bova thows a huge punch but Melfred dodges it nicely.
Melfred regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bova.
Melfred is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Melfred trying to keep a closed guard but Bova is proving a slippery customer.
Bova content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Melfred is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Melfred dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Melfred shoots in but Bova avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Drake Melfred seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bova shoots and misses

and Melfred counters by clinching up.
Bova wants a takedown.
Bova is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Drake Melfred has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Bova.
Melfred is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bova has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Melfred is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Melfred gets underhooks to prevent Bova's takedown attempt.
Bova is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Melfred gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Melfred is leaning against Bova and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Melfred breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melfred shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bova counters with a takedown into side control.
Bova working the strikes but Melfred uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Bova throwing shots but Melfred is blocking nicely.
Bova takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melfred manages to get to full guard.
Bova postures up.
Bova throwing strikes but missing.
Melfred is trying to keep Bova in close.

Melfred has his foot on Bova's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bova works his way back into a safe position though.
Melfred wants to sweep but no luck.
Bova throws a big right hand that misses.

Melfred is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bova trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bova postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Melfred trying to keep a closed guard but Bova is proving a slippery customer.
Bova with a nice head shot there.
Bova landing with the ground and pound.
Melfred pulls Bova in close to his closed guard and prevents Bova from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bova landing some decent shots from guard.
Bova is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova distracts Melfred with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bova throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melfred works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bova must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Melfred pushes Bova off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Melfred fails with the takedown

so Bova counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bova throwing strikes from guard but Melfred blocks nicely.
Bova thows a big elbow that misses.
Bova working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Melfred is trying to control the position but Bova postures up.
Bova working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melfred keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Melfred looking for a sweep. Not yet Melfred, not yet.
Bova postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bova throwing strikes from guard but Melfred blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bova accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Melfred looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bova wants to get up but he can't break Melfred's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bova takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Bova loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tony Bova has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Drake Melfred is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Melfred wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melfred working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Bova comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Melfred has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drake Melfred!