PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jokke Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mela has chosen Da Rockwilder as his entrance music. Michael Matthews has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matthews
vs
Mela

175 cm
27
140 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

170 cm
29
144 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Valhalla Fight Wear
Valhalla Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jokke Mela!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews just misses with a punch to the body.
Mela displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matthews throws out the jab.
Mela thuds a left hand into Matthews's body.
Mela swings widly with a right hand
and Matthews counters with a one-two to the body.
Matthews throws a nice looking combination but Mela bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matthews uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mela.
Mela showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matthews.
Mela dives in and grabs Matthews's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matthews pushes down on Mela's head and hops out.
Matthews missing with a left hand there. Mela was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Matthews gets caught napping as Mela dives in and scores a takedown. Matthews manages to retain guard.
Mela trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Mela from controlling successfully.
Matthews is looking to stand up but Mela isn't so interested in that idea.
Mela wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jokke Mela hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Matthews moves out of range as Mela strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Mela misses the target.
Matthews wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Matthews connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mela scrambles back to his feet.
Matthews slips under a jab from Mela.
Mela uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mela just misses with a punch to the body.
Mela scores with a hook to the body. Matthews takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Matthews slips a straight right by Mela.
Matthews throws a right hand that Mela ducks under and follows up with a left that Mela also avoids with ease.
Mela wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Matthews misses with a two punch combination.
Mela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.
Mela scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Mela avoids the body shot from Matthews.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mela.
Mela on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Matthews throws a big shot that misses.
Matthews punishes Mela's body with a nice straight punch.
Mela throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big right from Matthews misses.
Mela throws a big shot that misses.
Mela looks for a takedown but Matthews sprawls well.
Michael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jokke Mela.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews lands a body shot.
Matthews with a jab.
Mela misses with a body shot.
Matthews gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matthews. Mela does a little dance to reset his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthews missing with a left hand there. Mela was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mela looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Matthews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jokke Mela will probably get the nod.
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.

Mela misses with a hook.

Mela throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Matthews tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mela is in Matthews's guard.
Matthews utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews keeping full guard, as Mela tries to pass.
Mela stays in close to Matthews's body and controls the position.
Mela pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matthews is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews wants to stand up but Mela is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Matthews.
Matthews stuffs the takedown.
Matthews connects with a jab.
Matthews falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mela counters with a nice body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Mela as he connects with a hook.
Matthews slips under a jab from Mela.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throws out a loose jab but Mela uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matthews looks to land a combination but Mela avoids it well.
Mela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matthews moves away.
Matthews uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mela.
Matthews tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mela was well out of range. Poor timing from Matthews.
Matthews lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Matthews misses the jab.
Mela lands a nice hook to Matthews's body. Matthews takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Michael Matthews is winning the standup battle so far.
Mela looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthews is just out of range.
Michael Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mela thuds a left hand into Matthews's body.
Mela lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mela swings away with a body shot that misses
and Matthews connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A slow jab from Matthews misses its intended target.
Mela stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mela misses with a wild body shot.
Matthews misses with a hook.
Mela connects with a jab.
Matthews lands with an overhand left.
Matthews misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mela.
Matthews tests Mela's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Matthews.
Matthews slips a straight right by Mela.
Mela lands with a cross.
Mela misses with a right hand
and Matthews connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mela uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matthews.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mela uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matthews.
Mela moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mela misses with a hook.
Mela bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Matthews's head.
Mela takes one on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jokke Mela will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mela tries to move into range but Matthews moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Matthews uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mela.
Mela scores with a jab to the head.
Matthews connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mela's hands.
Matthews blocks a jab.
Mela fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Matthews throws a jab but it's blocked by Mela.

Mela manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Matthews on his heels. He'll look to pass Matthews's guard now, I'm sure.
Mela pushing down on Matthews's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mela throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela trying to control from half guard but Matthews is working away.
Mela is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mela might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Matthews kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Jokke Mela has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mela tests Matthews's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jokke Mela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mela throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matthews's waist but Matthews gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mela off to one side.
Jokke Mela is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Mela misses the target.
Mela avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matthews lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mela circles away quickly and effectively.
Matthews throws a body punch but Mela moves out of range.
Matthews takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Matthews throws out a loose jab but Mela uses good head movement to avoid it.
Decent striking displayed by Mela there.
Matthews slips under a jab.
Matthews stuffs the takedown attempt from Mela. Mela gets slowly back to his feet.
Michael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jokke Mela.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela ducks under a wild hook from Matthews.

Mela closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mela is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mela stops Matthews from getting back to his feet.
Michael Matthews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela trying to control the action but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Jokke Mela has got the better of the ground game so far.

Michael Matthews has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Matthews takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Mela throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mela staying out of range there.
Matthews works the jab nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matthews throws out a loose jab but Mela uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mela looks to land a left hand but Matthews moved out of range nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jokke Mela comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mela 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jokke Mela!
After winning the bout, Jokke Mela thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.