PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renan Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melo's entrance music is Fireball - Pitbull. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Melo
vs
Smith

159 cm
25
145 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

167 cm
25
141 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

On Tap (160Q & Laundry)

Arcticus University: London

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Renan Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Smith!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith slips a straight right by Melo.
Smith lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Melo is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Melo feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Melo avoids it.
Melo tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Melo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Melo is leaning against Smith and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Melo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Melo tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melo tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Melo back against the cage.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Melo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Melo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nice elbow from Smith.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Smith is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo wants to take the fight to the mat but Smith manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Melo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Melo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Melo misses with a punch to the body.
Smith prevents a body shot from Melo.
Melo is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renan Melo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Melo avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.
Melo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Melo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Melo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Melo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith moves away from the strike by Melo.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Melo misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith with a knee to the head.
A right hand to the body from Melo.
Melo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Melo avoids the damage to the body.
Melo misses with the head strike.
Melo is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Melo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Melo dodges an elbow strike from Smith.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section. Melo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Melo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Melo misses.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Melo.
Melo tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Melo back against the cage.
Melo misses with a hook to the ribs.
I was talking to Melo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Smith missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Melo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Melo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Melo breaks the clinch.
Matt Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Melo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Melo.
A jab from Melo misses.
Smith tries to clinch up but Melo circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Smith fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Melo checks it well.
Melo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Melo scores with a punch to the head.
Melo misses with a hook.
Melo is looking to score with low kicks.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Melo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Melo is trying to move to mount but Smith reverses beautifully and ends up in Melo's guard.
Smith is fighting to break Melo's control of his arms but Melo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Melo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith is looking to stand up but Melo won't let him.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Smith gets to his feet - Melo follows without any prompting.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Melo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Melo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith scores with a head kick. Melo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Smith throws a wild body kick that Melo sees coming a mile off.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Jab, jab by Melo - just one landing.
Renan Melo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It looked like Melo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Good work by Smith as he checks the leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Melo blocks a head kick by Smith.
Melo checks a low kick from Smith.
Renan Melo is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melo missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Melo misses with a straight right.

Melo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melo working the ground and pound but Smith is defending the strikes.
Melo throws an elbow but Smith slips to the side and avoids it well.

Smith throws Melo to one side and escapes!
Melo tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with a body kick that stops Melo in his tracks momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith clinches up against the cage.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Melo struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.

Melo lands a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Smith manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Melo tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Melo avoids it.
Smith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.
Melo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Melo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Melo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Melo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Melo throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.

Melo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smith moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Melo throws a solid leg kick but Smith takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Melo.
Decent striking displayed by Melo there.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Melo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Melo throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Melo, as that shot connected.
Melo misses with a hook.
A jab from Melo misses.

Smith pushes Melo up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Melo lands a right hand.
Smith putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Melo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Melo.
Melo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Melo avoids the damage to the body.
Matt Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Melo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Melo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Smith working Melo over with knees to the body.
Smith looking to stall.
A nice right hand lands inside from Melo.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Melo misses with a body punch.
Smith content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Melo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Melo blocks with his arms.
Smith blocks a body shot from Melo.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Melo's brow.
Melo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith prevents a body shot from Melo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Melo avoids the damage to the body.
Melo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Melo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Melo cracks Smith with a nice body shot.
Melo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith with a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Melo's brow.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Melo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Melo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Melo misses with a body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melo lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Melo dodges an elbow strike from Smith.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Melo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Melo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Melo keeps the fight on the outside.
Melo checks a low kick from Smith.
Melo throws a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Smith slips under a jab from Melo.
Smith lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Melo feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.

Smith has Melo up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Melo is defending well for now.
Melo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Melo blocks it.
Melo avoids the elbow strike from Smith, against the cage.
Melo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Melo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Melo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith blocking some punches.
Melo avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Melo avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Melo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Melo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Melo lands a right hand.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Melo is defending well for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Melo's brow.
Melo lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Melo's defenses.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Melo avoids the damage to the body.
Melo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Melo struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Smith lands a knee to the body.
Melo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Melo lands a body shot.
Smith landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Melo is defending well for now.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Melo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smith lands an elbow inside.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith is pushing Melo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Smith lands a good knee to the midsection. Melo won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Melo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Melo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Melo struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Melo avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Melo avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Renan Melo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith prevents a body shot from Melo.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Melo.
Smith leaning against his opponent.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Melo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Melo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Melo avoids it.
Melo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Melo is defending well for now.
Matt Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Melo.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Melo avoids it.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Melo struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Melo tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.
Melo pushes Smith back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Melo.
Melo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Melo.
Melo can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Melo tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Smith landing some nice looking knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Smith!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Matt Smith made sure he mentioned Arcticus University: London, along with how happy he was to win his fight.