PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matheus Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Melo
vs
Ward

177 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
165 lbs
3 - 11 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 Las Vegas, Matheus Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Albert Ward!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ward blocks a leg kick.
Melo misses with a straight right.
Melo thows a body shot but no joy.
Ward staying out of range there.
Ward is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ward throws a right and a left that Melo avoids nicely.
Ward takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A nice inside leg kick there by Melo. That's going to slow Ward down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Melo. Ward does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ward takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Melo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ward.
Ward throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ward takes one on the button.
Melo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Melo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ward on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Melo. Melo obviously looking to wear him down.
A combination from Ward does no damage.
Melo throws a right and a left that Ward avoids nicely.
Ward misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Melo misses its intended target.
Nice uppercut lands for Melo. That snapped Ward's head back.
Matheus Melo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice jab there from Ward.
Melo catches Ward with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ward looks to land a combination but Melo avoids it well.
Melo lands a high kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An inside leg kick lands from Melo.
Sloppy strikes from Ward. Those never looked like landing.
Melo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ward.
Melo throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo lands with a straight right. Ward didn't see that one coming.
Ward takes one to the side of the head.
Ward fails to land with a series of punches.
Ward chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Melo can pounce on him.
Ward swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ward takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Melo scores with a leg kick.
Nice body punch from Melo.

Melo clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ward tries to score a body lock takedown but Melo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Melo misses with a knee to the head.
Melo lands a good knee to the midsection. Ward won't want to take too many of those.
Ward tries to score a body lock takedown but Melo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Matheus Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Ward.
Ward looks winded!
Ward is looking for a takedown.
Melo scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Melo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ward has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Melo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Melo lands a right hand.
Still in the clinch, Melo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Melo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Wards head.
A left hand lands to the body for Melo.
Melo lands with a light punch inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melo prevents the takedown attempt.
Melo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Melo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Melo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Melo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Melo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Melo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ward throws a left and a right that both miss
and Melo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Melo lands with a slapping head kick.
Melo scores with a hook.
Melo misses with a straight right.
Melo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Melo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ward. That did some damage!
A jab lands there for Melo.
Melo is looking to slow Ward down with leg kicks.

Melo has closed the distance and engaged Ward in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ward wants a takedown but no success here.
Ward tries for a takedown. No joy.
Matheus Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Ward.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Ward is working for takedown but Melo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Melo lands with a short shot to the head.
Melo is working Ward over against the cage.
Melo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Melo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Melo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Melo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Melo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ward tries for a takedown but Melo manages to get underhooks.
Melo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Melo.
Melo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Ward is looking to take this one to the mat.
A short left from Melo.
Melo scores with a knee to the head.
Melo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ward up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Melo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ward has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Melo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Melo lands with a left to the head.
Melo lands a hook that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Melo stalling in the clinch.
Melo lands a nice shot to the body.
Melo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ward is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Melo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Melo gets through Ward's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Melo pushes Ward back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Melo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Melo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Melo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Melo scores with a shoulder strike.

Ward is rocked!
Melo scores with a knee to the head.
Ward is still on wobbly legs! Can Melo finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ward or not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Melo.
Melo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Melo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ward or not.
Melo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Melo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Melo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short uppercut from Melo.
A short right from Melo on the inside.
Ward takes a knee right on the jaw!
Melo lands a nice uppercut.
Melo lands with a right to the head.
Melo gets through Ward's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Melo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Melo pushes Ward back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A knee to the head by Melo.
Ward is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Melo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Melo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Melo gets through Ward's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Melo scores with a shoulder strike.
Matheus Melo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A right hook to the body lands for Melo.
Ward takes a knee to the side of the body.
Melo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
Melo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ward.
Melo landing knees to the body.
Melo scores a nice knee to the body.
Melo lands a left hand.
Still in the clinch, Melo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Melo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Melo.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Melo lands a right hand.
Ward goes for a takedown in the clinch but Melo prevents it.
Melo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Melo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ward in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Melo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Melo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Melo.
Melo scores with a knee to the head.
Melo lands a nice uppercut.
Melo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ward backwards.
Melo landing knees to the body.
Melo misses with some punches.
Ward goes for a takedown attempt but Melo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Melo with a hook.
Ward takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ward seems to have recovered his senses.
Ward throws a series of punches but Melo moves out of range.
Melo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Melo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice straight punches there by Melo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Melo.

Melo takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Melo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ward will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Melo lands a really nice looking cross but Ward seems unphased.
Ward takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ward misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Melo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Melo digs a good body shot into Ward's ribs.
Melo misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Melo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Melo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Melo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ward misses with a double jab
letting Melo counter with a right hand.
Ward misses with a double jab.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ward takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ward throws a right hand that Melo ducks under and follows up with a left that Melo also avoids with ease.
Albert Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ward.
Ward throws a left and a right that both miss
and Melo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Melo lands a leg kick that knocks Ward off balance momentarily.
Melo scores with a jab.
Melo works Ward's body with a nice hook.
Melo tries to land a front kick but Ward steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ward swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ward looks to score with a jab to the body but Melo is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Melo scores with a shot to the side of Ward's head.
Ward changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Melo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ward takes one to the chin there.
Matheus Melo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Melo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ward's sensitive parts.
Melo lands a jab to the nose.
A jab from Melo finds it's way through Ward's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melo takes the fight into the clinch.
Melo prevents the takedown attempt.
Ward has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Melo after a bit of a struggle.
Matheus Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Ward.
Melo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ward's face.
Ward's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ward takes a knee right on the jaw!
Melo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ward is trying to drag Melo to the mat but Melo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Melo lands a shoulder strike.
Melo lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Melo lands a body shot.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Melo obliges.
Melo scores with a shot to the side of Ward's head.
Melo lands with a short punch from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matheus Melo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Melo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matheus Melo!