PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Mello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Bassi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Mello might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Eye of the tiger. Leon Bassi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mello
vs
Bassi

180 cm
21
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
23
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Pitt Nutrition 160Q!

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Mello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leon Bassi!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mello throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bassi counters with a straight right hand.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Bassi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Mello with a jab.
Mello misses with the combination.
Mello lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Leon Bassi has been cut.

Bassi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mello was covering up waiting for the punch and Bassi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bassi trying to control but Mello is working from the bottom.
Bassi throwing strikes but missing.
Bassi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mello avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bassi is looking to work some ground and pound but Mello has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bassi won't allow Mello to get back to his feet.

Mello is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Mello wants to break free but Bassi has control.

Bassi pulls Mello into guard.
Bassi pulls Mello in to control the position.
Bassi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Bassi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mello defends well.
Mello stopping the sweep attempt from Bassi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mello tries to stand but Bassi is controlling from the bottom.
Bassi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mello wanted to stand there but Bassi had control of the position.
Bassi has his hands on Mello's head, controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mello looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bassi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mello is fending him off so far but Bassi persists. Nope, Mello circles away and we're back to standing.
Mello seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Luiz Mello seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mello throws a right and a left that Bassi avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mello tries to bum rush Bassi with a series of wild strikes but Bassi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bassi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Good shot there by Mello.
A punch combination from Mello misses.
Bassi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A punch combination from Mello misses.
Mello is breathing heavily.
Bassi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Bassi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bassi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bassi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bassi is nestled in close to Mello, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Bassi.
Bassi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mello's head.
Bassi winds up and cracks Mello with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mello keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bassi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mello with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mello on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mello is refusing to be controlled, as Bassi sits in half guard.
Bassi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mello with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bassi is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luiz Mello will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Leon Bassi's cut.
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.

Bassi moves in looking to clinch but Mello pushes him off.
Mello lands with an uppercut that bounces Bassi off the cage and back into range.
Mello shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bassi eats them both and turns towards Mello to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Bassi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mello misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bassi unleashes a big counter combination but Mello bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A big right from Mello misses.
Bassi throws out a counter right but Mello avoids it with no problem.
Mello swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bassi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bassi with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bassi trying to control the position from guard on top but Mello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bassi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mello keeping moving, preventing Bassi from controlling successfully.
Bassi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Let's hope that Bassi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Bassi wants to control from the top but Mello keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
No luck for Bassi with that takedown attempt.
It looked like Mello wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Bassi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mello tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bassi is in Mello's guard.
Bassi landing with the ground and pound.
Bassi content to stall in guard here.
Bassi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bassi landing with the ground and pound.
Mello keeping moving, preventing Bassi from controlling successfully.
Bassi with a nice head shot there.
Bassi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bassi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mello seems a little lost for a moment, as Bassi dominates the positioning.
Mello wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Bassi scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bassi slows the pace down.
Bassi trying to control the action but Mello is working from the bottom.
Mello gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bassi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mello taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leon Bassi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Leon Bassi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mello misses with a looping right.
Bassi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mello stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mello wants it to stay on the feet.
Mello shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bassi eats them both and turns towards Mello to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

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

Mello manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Bassi shoots in for a double leg but Mello sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bassi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Mello misses with the combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bassi misses with a takedown attempt - Mello sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Luiz Mello has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Bassi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bassi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bassi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Luiz Mello is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bassi slips a jab and a cross from Mello.
It seemed like Bassi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mello throws a right and a left that Bassi avoids nicely.
Bassi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mello throws a nice looking combination but Bassi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A punch combination from Mello misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bassi is defended easily by Mello.
Mello appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bassi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bassi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mello throws a poor cross that misses
and Bassi counters with a left and a right that stings Mello.
Bassi fails with a takedown attempt.
Mello appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bassi gets a takedown into half guard.

Mello has one foot on Bassi's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Mello paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A combination from Mello does no damage.
Bassi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mello.
Bassi takes one to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mello scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bassi.
Mello swinging wildly here.
Mello is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bassi can do to turn this around?

Bassi forces Mello back against the cage and clinches.
Mello tries to circle away but Bassi has him pinned against the cage.
Mello has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mello blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luiz Mello showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mello has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luiz Mello!
Luiz Mello seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.