PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rock Mellon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rock Mellon has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mellon
vs
Michaels

182 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rock Mellon !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roman Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Bart Greer and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mellon scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Michaels looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Mellon looks to land a combination. Michaels sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Roman Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Michaels shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Michaels showed some decent athleticism there.

Mellon manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Michaels keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Mellon 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mellon shoots in looking for a takedown. Michaels tries to sprawl out of it but Mellon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Michaels manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mellon lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Michaels leaves Mellon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Michaels shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Mellon manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mellon closes this distance looking for a takedown but Michaels circles away.
Michaels unleashes a big counter combination but Mellon bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Mellon . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Michaels has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Mellon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mellon jumps guard.
Michaels throwing strikes but missing.

Mellon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Michaels trying to control but Mellon is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mellon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Michaels is one step ahead there.
Mellon working a defensive guard but Michaels passes into half guard.
Mellon is staying active underneath Michaels, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Still in half guard, Michaels seems content to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mellon pushes Michaels off looking to stand but Michaels dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mellon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mellon looking for a takedown.

Mellon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Mellon forces Michaels back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels prevents a takedown attempt there.
Michaels looking for a takedown.
Mellon is struggling to control the position.
Mellon prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mellon is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Michaels gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Michaels fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mellon tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mellon is trying to drag Michaels to the mat but Michaels just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Michaels tries to pull guard but Mellon holds him up against the cage and eventually Michaels drops back down to his feet.

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.
Mellon unloads a knee to the mid-section. Michaels lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Mellon breaks the clinch.
Mellon shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Mellon as Michaels shoots in.
Mellon shoots in looking for a takedown. Michaels tries to sprawl out of it but Mellon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Michaels manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mellon throws a head kick that misses.
Michaels moves in looking to clinch but Mellon pushes him off.
As Michaels tries to get set, Mellon tries to push him back and clinch up but Michaels manages to avoid the attempt.

Michaels gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Mellon dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mellon lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Mellon drives through and clinches with Michaels against the cage.

Mellon pulls Michaels into guard.
Mellon 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.
Mellon trying to keep a closed guard but Michaels is proving a slippery customer.
Michaels trying to control but Mellon is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mellon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mellon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Michaels can do to turn this around?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mellon throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mellon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Michaels on the ground.
Michaels passes Mellon 's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mellon trying to control here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Michaels gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mellon counters with a one-two to the body.
Mellon scores with a head kick. Michaels tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Mellon rushes Michaels and presses him up against the cage.

Mellon ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mellon no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rock Mellon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mellon keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
Mellon pulls Michaels in close to prevent any damage.
Mellon has a closed guard, preventing Michaels from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mellon trying to control the position.
Mellon is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Michaels trying to control from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Michaels looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mellon throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Michaels.
Rock Mellon is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Mellon .
Michaels stuffs the takedown.
Michaels shoots in for a double leg but Mellon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mellon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Michaels as he avoids it easily.
Nice body kick there by Mellon .
Michaels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mellon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mellon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Mellon . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels darts in trying to clinch
and Mellon counters with a three punch combo that has Michaels backing up. Michaels nods at Mellon to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels looks to land a body kick but Mellon moved away.
Mellon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Michaels as he jumps to the side.

Michaels closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mellon quickly recovers to half guard.
Michaels takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mellon wants to control but Michaels is keeping busy.
Michaels is trying to control the action in half guard but Mellon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michaels landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mellon is trying to stand up here but Michaels is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Mellon dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Michaels misses with a takedown attempt - Mellon sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mellon fails to land the takedown.
Mellon shoots in for a double leg but Michaels sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A thudding body kick lands there by Mellon !
Mellon throws a one two combo.

Mellon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Michaels, pushing him back against the cage.

Mellon successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Mellon keeps moving.
Michaels postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Michaels stopping the sweep attempt from Mellon .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mellon seems keen to control Michaels's posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mellon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Michaels connects with a couple of short punches.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Mellon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michaels keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mellon 's head.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mellon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Mellon . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mellon fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Mellon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mellon jumps guard but Michaels stands there with Mellon around his waist. Mellon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mellon goes for a takedown in the clinch but Michaels prevents it.
Michaels wants to get back to striking at distance but Mellon won't allow it.
Michaels has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mellon avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Mellon jumps guard and drags Michaels to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mellon keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mellon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Michaels defends well.
Michaels tries to free his leg and advance position but Mellon is retaining full guard.
Mellon wants to sweep but no luck.
Mellon is trying to keep Michaels in close.
Michaels works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Michaels tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Mellon as Michaels shoots in.
Michaels takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Michaels shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Michaels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mellon is keeping the position for now.
Michaels won't allow Mellon to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mellon is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Michaels presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Mellon pulls guard effortlessly.
Roman Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rock Mellon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Michaels scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rock Mellon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mellon 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rock Mellon !