PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theodore Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Theodore Smith is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Melo
vs
Smith

177 cm
25
228 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

220 cm
19
275 lbs
0 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Knockout power

Valhalla Fight Wear

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Theodore Smith!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith tries to sprawl but Melo drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Melo stands up out of the half guard.
Melo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Melo dives in and scores a takedown into Smith's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melo stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Smith throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Melo stands and steps away. Smith gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Melo shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Melo is breathing heavily.
Melo is stalling in the full guard.
Melo tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Melo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melo wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is trying to control the position but Melo postures up.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Theodore Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Melo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Smith wants to sweep here but Melo controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith is trying to hold Melo in close to prevent damage but Melo has managed to pass into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Melo in particular looking to stall.
Smith has a hand on Melo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Melo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Melo controlling the position easily from mount.
Melo takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Melo gets his way!
Smith tries to escape the position.

Melo is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Smith is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smith is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Smith trying to control the position but Melo manages to sink in the hooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melo biding his time, looking for the opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Melo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Melo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Melo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Melo content to control rather than advance.

Melo decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Melo scores with a one two! Smith had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Melo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Melo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Melo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melo prevents Smith from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Melo is working away from the top position though.

Melo decides to stand and escape the position.

Melo takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Melo blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Melo has clasped his hands together around Smith's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Melo working away.
Melo misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Melo advances nicely into full mount.
Melo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Smith can't escape the position.

Melo is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melo gets a double leg takedown into Smith's guard.
Melo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Smith is working an open guard so Melo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Melo moves into the clinch.

Melo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Melo.

Melo drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Melo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Fabio Melo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith wants to sweep here but Melo controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Melo dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Melo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Melo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Smith throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Melo stands and steps away. Smith gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Melo throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Melo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Melo stands and steps away. Smith gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Melo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Smith is trying to control Melo's posture but Melo avoids it.
Smith is letting Melo control him for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo working away.
Melo blocks the strikes from Smith.
Melo is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Smith looks to move to half guard but instead Melo has passed into mount! Damn!

Melo is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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!
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Melo here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Melo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Melo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smith manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to control the position but Melo postures up.
Melo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Melo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Theodore Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fabio Melo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Melo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabio 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:24
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:24
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabio Melo!
A relieved looking Fabio Melo thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.