PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Renan Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Melo might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Fireball - Pitbull. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Melo
vs
Bates

159 cm
22
137 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

175 cm
21
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Renan Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Mario Bates!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bates closes the distance and clinches up with Melo, looking for a takedown. Bates pushes Melo against the ropes but Melo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bates dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Melo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bates connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Melo scrambles back to his feet.
Bates steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Melo.
Melo throws a body shot but no joy.
Melo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bates.
Bates with a poor takedown
letting Melo counter with a right hand.

Bates moves into the clinch.
Bates tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've been hearing reports that Melo has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Renan Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Bates.
Melo tries for a takedown but Bates manages to get underhooks.
Bates misses with the head strike.
Melo blocks a body shot from Bates.
Melo blocks a body shot from Bates.
Melo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Melo lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bates.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melo lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Melo gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Melo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bates keeping moving, preventing Melo from controlling successfully.
Bates controls Melo momentarily but Melo frees himself.
Bates has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at R.A.D's Lads. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Melo content to stall in guard here.
Bates bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Melo's guard.

Melo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melo is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Bates rolls with it to try and escape but Melo cranks on the arm and Bates is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Renan Melo!
Renan Melo spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.