PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Cue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cue
vs
Mela

190 cm
21
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
24
216 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, John Cue!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antero Mela!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mela slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cue misses with a straight right.
Mela avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Cue clinches.
Cue stalling.
Cue stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Cue is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mela is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cue to the mat. Cue regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mela trying to control the position from guard on top but Cue is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mela accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cue is trying to keep Mela in close.
Cue knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mela on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cue pulls Mela in close to his closed guard and prevents Mela from doing any damage or advancing position.
Mela trying to control the position from guard on top but Cue is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cue avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mela lands a couple of digs.
Mela stopping the sweep attempt from Cue.
Mela postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mela throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cue works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cue is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mela preventing the sweep.
Mela wants to control from the top but Cue keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cue. That's going to slow Mela down.
Cue wants to land a leg kick but Mela is out of range.
Cue fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cue takes a swing at Mela's ribcage but misses.
Mela looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cue works the jab nicely.
Mela takes one on the button.
Cue misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mela.
Mela misses with a hook.
Mela tests Cue's chin there with a solid looking shot.
John Cue seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cue throws a poor cross that misses
and Mela counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cue. Mela does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mela walks into a jab.
Cue thows a leg kick but Mela checks it

and Mela counters with a shoot takedown. Cue fights it but they end up in guard.
Mela distracts Cue with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mela drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mela jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mela is pushing down on Cue's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cue is fighting to maintain full guard but Mela has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cue desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Cue is trying to control but can't.
Mela takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cue is looking for a sweep. Mela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four 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.
Mela is looking to advance position but Cue won't allow it.
Mela is looking to take a break and control but Cue is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cue tries to roll over but Mela keeps him under control.
Mela wants to pass to mount but Cue is defending the position.
Mela has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mela scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Cue looking for submissions off his back.
Mela sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cue defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Mela 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.

Mela misses with a few strikes there.
Cue closes the distance but Mela moves to the side

and Mela counters with a takedown into side control.
Mela landing a few strikes.
Mela cracks Cue with an elbow. That is naaassty.
You can see the frustration on Cue's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mela wants to control but Cue is keeping him busy.
Mela is putting a hurting on Cue here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mela tries to move to mount but Cue blocks the move with his legs.

Mela working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela wants to control but Cue is keeping him busy.
Cue is looking for a sweep.
Mela working away.
Mela wants to take a breather but Cue manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Mela.
Mela stopping the sweep attempt from Cue.

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

Mela drops back looking for a leg! Cue is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cue manages to kick Mela off! Mela jumps back into Cue's guard.
Mela content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mela postures up.
Mela has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mela with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mela slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mela lands a few punches from side control.
Mela creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cue sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cue trying to remain calm as Mela controls from the top position.
The strikes coming from Mela are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Mela trying to control the action but Cue is working from the bottom.
Cue sneaks back into half guard.
Mela wants to pass the guard but Cue is defending well.
Cue is trying to get back to full guard.
Mela passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cue!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela tries to control but Cue wriggling away.

Mela is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Cue has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Mela landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mela cracks Cue with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Mela tries to control but Cue wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Mela showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mela slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mela, as that shot connected.
Cue cracks Mela with a good jab.
A shot to the body from Cue misses
and Mela counters with a left to the body.
Mela shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cue eats them both and turns towards Mela to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mela takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cue misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Mela.
Mela unleashes a big counter combination but Cue bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Cue throws a shot from downtown. Mela moves away and avoids it.
Cue misses with a hook to the body
and Cue takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mela moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Cue with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mela to score with a decent uppercut.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cue.
Cue cracks Mela with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mela drops Cue with a left right combo! Mela follows him down to the ground into side control.

Cue is rocked!

It looks like John Cue has been cut.

Mela working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Oh Cue is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
An elbow from Mela crashes against the mat.
Mela lands a huge shot from side control! Cue is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Antero Mela!