PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Renan Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Doyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Melo
vs
Doyle

159 cm
19
137 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

171 cm
19
149 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

Darkness

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Renan Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Doyle!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Doyle.
A slow jab from Melo misses its intended target.
Melo backing away here, and Doyle unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Doyle fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Melo misses the jab.
Melo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Doyle avoids the body shot from Melo.
Doyle feints and then cracks Melo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Melo down.
Doyle misses with a leg kick.
Melo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Doyle throws a head kick that half lands.
Melo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Melo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melo works Doyle's body with a nice hook.
Melo avoids the body shot from Doyle.
Melo feinted with a counter takedown.
Melo misses with a body shot.
Melo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doyle throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Doyle closes the distance and clinches.
Doyle lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Melo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Doyle is struggling to control the position.
Melo tries to break free but Doyle pushes him back against the cage.
Melo tries to work over Doyle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Doyle prevents a body shot from Melo.
Doyle blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Doyle manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Melo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Melo prevents a body shot from Doyle.
Melo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doyle blocks an uppercut.
Melo avoids a wild elbow strike from Doyle.
Melo misses with the head strike.
Doyle blocks a body shot from Melo.
Doyle pressing his opponent against the cage.
Doyle swings wildly with an uppercut but Melo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Melo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Doyle creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Melo's defenses.
Doyle lands a nice elbow.
Melo blocks an elbow strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Doyle creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Melo's defenses.
Doyle tries to throw a body punch but Melo avoids it by throwing Doyle back against the cage.
Doyle will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Melo up against the cage.
Doyle comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo throws a head punch that misses.
Melo avoids a wild elbow strike from Doyle.
Nice elbow from Doyle.
Doyle lands an elbow that stopped Melo in his tracks for a moment.
Melo avoids a wild elbow strike from Doyle.
Doyle prevents a body shot from Melo.
Doyle struggles to land a body shot inside as Melo controls his hands.
The referee calls for Doyle to work.
Melo tries to work over Doyle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Melo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Melo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Melo struggles to land a body shot inside as Doyle controls his hands.
Doyle lands a damaging elbow.
Doyle lands an elbow that stopped Melo in his tracks for a moment.
Melo misses with a body punch.
Doyle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Doyle misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doyle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Melo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Doyle's elbow.
Doyle stalls.
Melo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Doyle leaning against his opponent.
Doyle throws an elbow that misses.
Melo takes an elbow to the temple.
Doyle has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Melo seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Doyle can turn it around.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Doyle.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Melo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Melo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Doyle walks away with a smile on his face. Melo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renan Melo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Doyle fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Melo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Doyle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Melo.
Doyle takes a swing at Melo's ribcage but misses.
Melo feinted with a counter takedown.
Melo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Doyle moves away.
Doyle counters with a body kick.
Jimmy Doyle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Doyle moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Doyle dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Doyle digs a good body shot into Melo's ribs.
Doyle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Melo.
Doyle lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Doyle scoring well with a low kick there.
Melo staying out of range there.
Doyle tries to close the distance and clinch up but Melo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Doyle tried to score with a low kick but Melo checks it.
Melo takes a swing at Doyle's ribcage but misses.
Melo ducks under a wild hook from Doyle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doyle scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Doyle throws a body punch but Melo moves out of range.
Doyle wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doyle just misses with a punch to the body.
Jimmy Doyle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Doyle looks to score with a jab to the body but Melo is just out of range.
Doyle throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Melo.
Melo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Doyle.
Jimmy Doyle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Melo misses with a hook.
Doyle fakes the leg kick and cracks Melo in the body.
Doyle takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Doyle is looking to slow Melo down with leg kicks.
An inside leg kick lands from Doyle.
Melo misses with a wild body shot.
Melo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Doyle can pounce on him.
Melo looks to score with a jab to the body but Doyle is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo misses with a hook. Doyle ducked under it nicely.
Doyle lands a head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Doyle scoring well with a low kick there.

Melo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Doyle looking for subs from the bottom but Melo mounts him!
Doyle tries to reverse the position but Melo maintains control.
Doyle keeps trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doyle sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Melo wants to work for an arm triangle but Doyle is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Melo uses his free foot to push down on Doyle's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Doyle.

Melo with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Doyle is trying to escape the mount.
Doyle wants to control but Melo is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doyle regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melo controlling the pace.
Doyle is not content to let Melo control the position.
Doyle is looking to improve his position.
Doyle has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Melo is working away from the top position though.

Melo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Doyle defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jimmy Doyle will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Melo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Doyle manages to avoid it.
Melo is looking to wear down Doyle with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Doyle tries to close the distance and clinch but Melo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Doyle looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Good leg kick by Doyle there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Melo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Doyle buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Doyle connects with a solid leg kick.
Doyle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melo swings for the body but Doyle moves out of range.
Doyle throws a chopping leg kick but Melo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doyle swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Melo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Doyle misses with an attempted mid kick.
Doyle scoring well with a low kick there.
Doyle throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doyle tries to clinch there but Melo circles away.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Melo crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Doyle - the referee stops the clock and Melo gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Doyle. Melo manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Melo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Doyle lets loose with a powerful body kick. Melo will feel that in the morning.
Doyle throws a hook to the side of Melo's head but Melo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Melo.
Melo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Doyle lands a leg kick that knocks Melo off balance momentarily.
Doyle throws a low kick but it's checked well by Melo.
Melo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Doyle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo throws a hook but Doyle avoids it easily.
Melo is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Doyle's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Doyle lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Melo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Doyle moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Doyle misses the target.
Doyle is looking to slow Melo down with leg kicks.
Nice defenses there by Doyle.
Doyle is trying to counter with his kicks.
Renan Melo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Doyle throws a big shot that misses.
Melo throws a hook but Doyle blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Doyle lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Doyle throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Doyle connects with a high kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Doyle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doyle throws a quick inside leg kick.
Doyle is looking to land body kicks.
Melo takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Doyle keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Doyle throws a front kick that sends Melo stumbling back into the cage.

Doyle clinches.
Doyle gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Melo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Melo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Melo swings wildly with an uppercut but Doyle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Doyle blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Doyle as the two fighters clinch.
Doyle lands a damaging elbow.
Melo prevents a body shot from Doyle.
Melo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Doyle is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Melo is keeping busy.
Melo will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Melo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melo blocks the elbow strike.
Doyle lands an elbow just above Melo 's eye.
Melo can't find room to land a body shot as Doyle controls the action.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Doyle.
Doyle lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Doyle lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Melo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Melo.
Doyle lands an elbow inside that Melo shrugs off.
Melo prevents a body shot from Doyle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Doyle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Doyle winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

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