PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barney Noble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabio Melo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Barney Noble's chin.

Noble
vs
Melo

210 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

177 cm
25
228 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barney Noble!
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, Fabio Melo!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Melo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Melo trying to control the action but Noble is working from the bottom.
Melo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Melo stands up from half guard.

Melo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Melo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Noble looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noble tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Noble is looking to sweep but instead, Melo has passed into half guard.
Melo throws a strike but Noble avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Melo wants to stand but Noble has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Noble looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Melo passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noble tries to buck Melo off but Melo is having none of it.
Noble is not content to let Melo control the position.
Noble struggling a bit here.
Noble tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Melo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Melo decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Melo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Melo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Melo advances to mount.
Noble throws some wild strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noble tries to reverse the position but Melo maintains control.
Noble is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Melo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Melo throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Noble because Melo loaded up on that one.
Noble is wriggling around trying to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Melo stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

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

Fabio Melo dominated that round.
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.

Melo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Noble manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Noble tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Noble striking off his back but it's not causing Melo any problems.
Noble will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Melo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Melo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Melo decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Melo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Noble napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Melo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Noble to his feet.
Noble avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Noble looking for a sweep but Melo has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Noble is wriggling around trying to escape.
Melo throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Noble because Melo loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Melo controlling the position easily from mount.
Melo trying to control but Noble is having none of it.
Noble is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Noble slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Melo. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Noble wants to get back to full guard.

Melo postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Noble to stand up.
Melo stalks Noble and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Noble's face. Noble staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Barney Noble has been cut.

Melo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Noble sprawls well initially but Melo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Melo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo is thwarting Noble's attempts to control the position.
Noble wants to get back to full guard but Melo has passed into side control.

Melo stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Melo fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Melo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Melo stands and throws Noble's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The strikes coming from Melo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Melo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Barney Noble's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Melo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Noble was covering up waiting for the punch and Melo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Noble is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Melo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Noble swats away the attempt to clinch by Melo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Noble gets caught napping as Melo dives in and scores a takedown. Noble manages to retain guard.

Melo stands up and waves to Noble to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Noble's half guard.

Noble is rocked!

Melo decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Oh Noble is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Melo gets a big slam - oh, Noble is out! Noble is out! That's a nasty KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Slam). Fabio Melo!