PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aanisan Melchior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodolfo Carvalho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aanisan Melchior had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Melchior
vs
Carvalho

177 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aanisan Melchior !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodolfo Carvalho!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melchior bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Melchior tries to clinch there but Carvalho circles away.
Melchior moves out of range of the strikes.
Melchior shoots for a double leg takedown but Carvalho sprawls well. He's pushed Melchior 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Carvalho lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Melchior circles away quickly and effectively.
Carvalho pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Carvalho misses.
Melchior misses with a straight left.
Carvalho lands with a good body shot.

Carvalho tries to keep at a distance but Melchior has taken the fight into the clinch.

Carvalho pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Melchior slips under a jab.
Carvalho lands a jab to Melchior 's midsection.
Carvalho swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Melchior .
Melchior uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Carvalho.

Melchior looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Melchior is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Carvalho!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melchior content just to control the position here.

Melchior looking to secure an arm triangle but Carvalho defends it well.
Carvalho is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Melchior looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Carvalho wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melchior working for a submission but Carvalho is keeping him at bay.
Melchior controlling his opponent.

Melchior is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Carvalho is surviving well by controlling Melchior 's body position as best he can.
Melchior content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melchior working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Melchior controlling from mount.
Melchior looking to finish Carvalho with some ground and pound. This is bad for Carvalho!
Melchior scoring with strikes but Carvalho is staying in there.
Melchior looking to finish Carvalho with some ground and pound. This is bad for Carvalho!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melchior lands with some strikes.
Melchior unloading with bombs!

Melchior stands up from mount. Strange move.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melchior slips under a jab.
Melchior is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Melchior takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nice defenses there by Melchior .
Melchior is looking to clinch.
Carvalho scores with a shot to the body.
Carvalho looks winded!
Carvalho misses the shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Melchior scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Melchior decides to stand up, so the ref orders Carvalho to his feet.
Melchior shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aanisan Melchior dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Melchior will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Melchior moves out of range of the strikes.
Melchior moves out of range of the strikes.
Carvalho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Melchior moves away.
Melchior shoots in but Carvalho avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Melchior throws an overhand right that lands on Carvalho's shoulder, as Carvalho tries to avoid the shot.

Melchior closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Melchior lands in his opponent's guard.

Melchior thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Melchior 's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melchior content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Carvalho can do anything to dispel that myth.
Carvalho wants to stand up but Melchior is controlling him.
Aanisan Melchior overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Melchior sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Melchior seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Carvalho for as long as he can get away with.
Melchior prevents Carvalho from getting back to his feet.
Carvalho is breathing heavily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Aanisan Melchior .
Carvalho checks a leg kick.
Carvalho stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aanisan Melchior . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melchior on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rodolfo Carvalho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Melchior fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Carvalho, pushing him back against the cage.
Melchior drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Carvalho gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Carvalho can't break the clinch.

Carvalho breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Carvalho lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Aanisan Melchior is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melchior tries to move into range but Carvalho moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Melchior shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Carvalho pinned against the cage. Carvalho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Melchior moves away from the strike by Carvalho.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melchior shoots in and bounces Carvalho off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Melchior has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Melchior passes into half guard.
Melchior not doing much here.
Melchior moves into full mount! Carvalho won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melchior postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Carvalho looks a forlorn figure.
Melchior controlling from the full mount.
Carvalho really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Melchior . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aanisan Melchior dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Carvalho throws a series of punches but Melchior moves out of range.
Rodolfo Carvalho seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Melchior fails with a takedown attempt.
Melchior staying out of range there.
Carvalho misses with a looping right.
Carvalho cracks Melchior with a right hand to the side of the head.
Carvalho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Melchior moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Carvalho swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Carvalho throws a nice looking combination but Melchior bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Melchior finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A combination from Carvalho does no damage.
Carvalho throws a looping overhand right but Melchior ducks down to avoid it.
Carvalho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carvalho throws a nice looking combination but Melchior bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carvalho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Melchior moves away.
Melchior tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melchior shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Carvalho napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Melchior remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Melchior working the body and head with strikes.
Melchior lands some shots froms side control.
Melchior staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melchior in side control lands a decent elbow.

Melchior is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Carvalho is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melchior moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Melchior thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Carvalho wants to get back to his feet but Melchior is dominant here and he's now got Carvalho's back!
Carvalho is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Melchior is landing with strikes from the back.

Carvalho won't enjoy being in this position. Melchior looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Carvalho is tapping - it's over boys! Melchior picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Aanisan Melchior !
A relieved looking Aanisan Melchior thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.