PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jefferson Mello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mello
vs
Silva

170 cm
18
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

156 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jefferson Mello!
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, Manuel Silva!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Silva lands.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mello tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Silva throws a chopping leg kick but Mello manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Silva misses with a double jab.
Mello tries to counter by clinching up but Silva breaks away and moves out of range.
Silva dives in and grabs Mello's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mello pushes down on Silva's head and hops out.

Mello moves into the clinch successfully.
Mello is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Silva misses with a punch on the inside.
Mello prevents a body shot from Silva.

Mello has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Silva regains guard immediately.
Mello looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mello seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Silva for as long as he can get away with.

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mello has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Silva wants to sweep here but Mello controlling him for the moment.
Mello content to stall in guard here.
Mello pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mello is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

Mello moves into range and clinches up with Silva.
Mello just leaning against Silva, taking a breather.

Mello's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva tries to clinch but Mello is having none of it.

Mello closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Silva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Mello breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mello shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Mello keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Mello clinches with his opponent.
Mello scores with a hook to the body.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Mello.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Silva jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking for a sweep. Not yet Silva, not yet.
Mello tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva working a defensive guard here.

Mello stands up from Silva's guard - Mello perhaps looking for a knockout.
Silva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mello manages to avoid it.
Mello scoring well with a low kick there.
Mello is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Mello shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jefferson Mello. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mello.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jefferson Mello dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mello looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Mello persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva scores with a jab to the jaw.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mello avoids it really well and circles away.
Mello appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mello fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Silva clobbers Mello with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Silva looks to land a combination but Mello avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mello walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mello goes for a double leg but Silva avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Silva continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jefferson Mello. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva with a poor takedown

and Mello counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva is breathing heavily.
A bit of stalling here from Mello.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mello's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mello fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Mello tries to sprawl out of it but Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mello manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva throws a right hand that Mello ducks under and follows up with a left that Mello also avoids with ease.
Manuel Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mello throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva misses with a left hand
and Mello counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Silva drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silva should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Mello working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mello has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Mello's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Mello gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mello will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Silva looking to control.
Mello looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mello's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position.
Mello works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mello wants to stand but Silva has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Mello is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Silva wants to control but Mello is keeping busy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Mello is working for a submission of some sort.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Mello.
Silva lands a jab-cross combination.
Mello slaps away a takedown attempt from Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mello is looking for a counter combo.
Silva works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Mello sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mello will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva missing with a left hand there. Mello was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mello lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mello tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mello somewhat.
Mello tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Mello shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jefferson Mello. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mello fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mello shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Manuel Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mello shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mello moves forwards but Silva connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mello swivels and escapes.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Silva scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mello doesn't seem bothered though.
Silva scores with a decent looking hook.
Silva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mello defends well and Silva ends up having to push Mello into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mello throwing a counter right hand but Silva manages to avoid it.

Mello clinches.
Mello scores a nice knee to the body.
Mello is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mello blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mello is trying to drag Silva to the mat but Silva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Silva is looking to control Mello's arms but Mello gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Mello wants a takedown.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Mello is trying to pull guard but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva pushes Mello back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Silva on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva lands with a right to the head.
Silva working aggressively here.
Mello wants to take the fight to the mat but Silva manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mello is trying to pull guard but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Mello.
Silva is looking to control Mello's arms but Mello gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Mello.
Mello is trying to pull guard but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mello fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Silva tries to bum rush Mello with a series of wild strikes but Mello uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mello tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A lazy left from Silva finds it's target.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mello's waist but Mello gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
Mello throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Silva's head.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.
Silva misses with a kick to the body.

Mello clinches up with Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Silva stops a takedown attempt from Mello.
Mello wants to take the fight to the mat but Silva manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mello wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mello.
Silva tries to work over Mello's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manuel Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel Silva!
Manuel Silva thanked the fans post fight for their support.