PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nonito Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melo's entrance music is fleetwood mac - the chain. A fine choice. Silva has chosen California Love as his entrance music. Damian Silva is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Melo
vs
Silva

190 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

196 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

HGH Nutrients Q160 Tycoons Best Quality supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nonito Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damian Silva!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Melo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nonito Melo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Melo. Those never looked like landing.
Good exchange - Melo coming out on top.
Melo misses with a double jab

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Silva is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Melo is looking to escape.
Silva is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to pass to full mount but Melo defends it.
Silva not doing much here.
Silva is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Melo!
Silva takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Melo's coaches at Tenacity Elite - 17 Coaches have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Melo wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to control but Melo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Melo somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Melo tries to bum rush Silva with a series of wild strikes but Silva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Melo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Silva's head.
Silva on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Melo. Melo obviously looking to wear him down.
Melo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Silva's guard.
Melo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silva on the ground.
Silva keeping full guard, as Melo tries to pass.
Silva pulls Melo in close to prevent any damage.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Melo won't allow Silva to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Damian Silva has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Melo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Silva's head.
Melo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Silva.
Melo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melo swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nonito Melo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Melo falls off balance throwing a combination

so Silva counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Silva 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.
Silva works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Silva slows the pace down in half guard.
Melo is trying to stand up here but Silva is controlling him well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Damian Silva was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Melo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Melo throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Melo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Melo lands a jab to Silva's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Melo misses.
Melo throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Nonito Melo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melo throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Silva moves out of range of the body kick from Melo.
Silva tries for a takedown but Melo circles away easily
and Melo counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo fails to land with a series of punches.
Melo throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Melo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
No joy there for Melo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Melo works over Silva's head and body with a nice combination.
Melo throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo throws a looping overhand right but Silva ducks down to avoid it.
Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Melo is fending him off so far but Silva persists. Nope, Melo circles away and we're back to standing.
Nonito Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Silva.
Melo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Melo misses with a low kick.
Melo fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melo throws a push kick but Silva slaps the foot to one side.
Silva takes one to the chin there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nonito Melo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Melo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Melo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Melo feints and then cracks Silva's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Silva down.
Silva takes one to the chin there.
Melo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Crunch! Melo slams his shin into Silva's torso.
Melo misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva shoots in and drives through. Melo sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Melo.
Melo misses with a double jab

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Melo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Silva pushing down on Melo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silva trying to pass the guard but Melo defending well.
It looks like Silva is going to stand back up.
Silva content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Damian Silva hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Silva dives in for a single leg takedown but Melo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Melo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
Nonito Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Silva.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Melo.
Melo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo throws a head kick that misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Melo.
Melo throws a sloppy head kick and Silva moves out of range easily.
Melo misses with a series of wild punches.
Melo misses with a few strikes there.
Damian Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nonito Melo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Melo. Melo obviously looking to wear him down.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Damian Silva.
I think Melo 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nonito Melo!
A very excited looking Nonito Melo 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.