PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Melekh David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

David
vs
Calzaghe

170 cm
24
154 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

185 cm
33
158 lbs
19 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Mango Nutrition (90% Laundry)

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Melekh David!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Calzaghe!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calzaghe fails to land with a series of punches.

David closes the distance and pushes Calzaghe back into the cage.
Calzaghe drops down looking for an ankle pick but David pulls his leg out and moves away.
Calzaghe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Calzaghe shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. David manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
David wants to get back to his feet but Calzaghe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Calzaghe trying to control the position from guard on top but David is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
David pulls Calzaghe in close to his closed guard and prevents Calzaghe from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
David misses with a looping left.
Sloppy strikes from David. Those never looked like landing.
David throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
David throws a hook but Calzaghe avoids it easily.
Calzaghe takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

It looks like Joe Calzaghe has been cut.
David misses with an uppercut.
David tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Calzaghe counters with a straight right hand.
David throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Calzaghe on the side of the head.
Calzaghe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. David tries to avoid it but Calzaghe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag David to the ground. David escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
David swinging wildly here.
David doesn't manage to clinch there - Calzaghe circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calzaghe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from David.
Calzaghe throws a series of punches but David moves out of range.
Calzaghe throws a sloppy head kick and David moves out of range easily.
David throws a poor cross that misses
and Calzaghe counters with a three punch combo that has David backing up. David nods at Calzaghe to acknowledge the strikes.
Melekh David seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

David has closed the distance and engaged Calzaghe in a clinch.

Calzaghe successfully pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
David might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
David trying to control the position from guard on top but Calzaghe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
David throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Calzaghe has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. David is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Calzaghe.
Calzaghe struggling a bit here.
David wants to control but Calzaghe is keeping him busy.
David landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Calzaghe is not content to let David control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe avoids any damage from the ground and pound of David.
Calzaghe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on David's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Calzaghe is looking for a sweep. David is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
David wants to take a breather but Calzaghe is having none of it.
David works his foot free and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Calzaghe taking shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
David prevents Calzaghe from getting the reversal.
David working Calzaghe over with strikes here.
Calzaghe is desperately trying to improve his position but David has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melekh David dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Calzaghe's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

David misses with a hook. Calzaghe ducked under it nicely.
David misses the shot to the body.
Calzaghe tries a head kick but it misses.
David looks to throw the jab but Calzaghe is out of range.
David moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Calzaghe with a jab.
Calzaghe shoots in but no luck this time.
David swings and misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
David tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calzaghe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Melekh David is winning the standup battle so far.

David rushes Calzaghe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
David gets through Calzaghe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David prevents Calzaghe from breaking the clinch.
Calzaghe blocks a body shot from David.
David lands with a left to the head.

Calzaghe gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Calzaghe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Calzaghe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Calzaghe postures up in David's guard and throws a big left but David blocks it.
David avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
David wants to sweep but no luck.
Calzaghe wants to control from the top but David keeps moving.
Calzaghe wants to pass the guard but David is keeping the position.
Calzaghe trying to control but David is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
David working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David is pulling down on Calzaghe's head. It's preventing any offense from Calzaghe, at least for the moment.

We're going to have a standup here because Melekh David wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Calzaghe looks to land a combination but David avoids it well.
Decent striking displayed by David there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
David lands an uppercut.
Calzaghe has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. David is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

David lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe wants to get back to full guard.
Calzaghe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
David lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
David scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Calzaghe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
David wants to pass to mount but Calzaghe is defending the position.
David wants to take a breather but Calzaghe is having none of it.
Melekh David overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
David is really struggling to control Calzaghe but he's trying to hold on to the position.
David winds up and cracks Calzaghe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Calzaghe actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from David.
David wants to pass to mount but Calzaghe is defending the position.
David wants to take a breather but Calzaghe is having none of it.
David thows a huge punch but Calzaghe dodges it nicely.
Calzaghe on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
David wants to take a breather but Calzaghe is having none of it.
David tries to pass the half guard into mount. Calzaghe knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
David is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Calzaghe is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
David landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Calzaghe is rocked!
David passes the guard and advances to mount!
Calzaghe regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melekh David dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Calzaghe's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

David drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Calzaghe right on the button. Calzaghe goes down! David follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! David gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Melekh David!
A very excited looking Melekh David made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.