PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renan Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barack Obama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melo kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Fireball - Pitbull. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Melo
vs
Obama

159 cm
26
145 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

170 cm
25
142 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

On Tap (160Q & Laundry)

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Renan Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barack Obama!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Obama moves into the clinch.
Melo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Melo is trying to break the clinch but Obama has him pressed against the cage.
Obama tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Melo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Melo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Melo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Melo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Melo pulls guard successfully.

Melo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Melo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Obama has passed into side control.

Obama is trying to get an arm triangle but Melo is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Obama tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
My spies in Bullet Proof Dungeon inform me that Obama has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Obama is trying to get an arm triangle but Melo is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo tries to bench press Obama off him but Obama keeps the position.
Melo can't do much from the bottom here.

Obama goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Melo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Obama's guard! Nice work there by Melo!
Melo trying to control but Obama is working from the bottom.
Melo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Melo postures up in Obama's guard and throws a big left but Obama blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Obama's guard.

Melo is working for a kimura but Obama is defending it quite comfortably.
Melo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Obama gets back to full guard.
Obama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melo is one step ahead there.
Melo trying to control but Obama is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Obama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Melo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Melo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Melo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Obama has his foot on Melo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Melo works his way back into a safe position though.
Melo wants to control from the top but Obama keeps moving.

Obama had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Melo defends it easily.

Obama is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Melo is aware though and is defending well.
Melo won't allow Obama to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo tries to free his leg and advance position but Obama is retaining full guard.
Melo won't allow Obama to sweep him here.
Melo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Melo trying to control the position but Obama is working away.
Melo has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Obama!
Melo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Melo wants to take Obama's back here but Obama is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Obama is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Melo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Obama is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Melo 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.

Melo connects with a leg kick. Obama looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Melo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Melo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Obamas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Nice sprawl there from Melo as Obama shoots in.
Melo tries to counter with a takedown but Obama is quick to defend against it.
Obama throws a series of punches but Melo avoids them all with ease.
Obama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Melo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Obama misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Obama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Melo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Obama throws out the jab.
Obama is looking to clinch.
Obama tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Melo swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Melo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Melo lands with a good body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Melo.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Obama checks a leg kick.
Melo misses with a straight left.
Melo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Obama checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Melo scores with a punch to the head.
Melo throws a hook but Obama avoids it easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Melo.
Melo lands with an uppercut that bounces Obama off the cage and back into range.
Melo scores with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Obama shoots in but Melo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Renan Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barack Obama.

Obama closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Melo did well to prevent Obama getting side control.
Melo is positioning himself well to prevent Obama advancing to mount.
Melo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Obama stands and throws Melo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Melo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Obama can do to turn this around?
Melo gets back to half guard.
Melo tries to roll over but Obama keeps him under control.
Melo gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Obama doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Obama manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Melo has a closed guard, preventing Obama from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Obama trying to move into half guard but instead Melo has managed to sweep!

Obama looking for a guillotine here but Melo defends easily.

Obama looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Melo passes into side control.
Melo passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Obama!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obama bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Obama stands and throws Melo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Melo is trying to get back to half guard.
Melo manages to get back to half guard.

Obama is looking for a kimura here.

Melo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Melo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Obama doesn't manage to clinch there - Melo circles away.
Obama throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Melo's waist but Melo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Obama off to one side.
Obama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Melo lunges at Obama with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Obama's hand.
Obama gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Melo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Melo scores with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melo scores with a jab.
Melo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Obama ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Obama misses with an uppercut. Melo saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama tries to clinch up.
Obama shoots in looking for a takedown. Melo tries to sprawl out of it but Obama keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Melo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Renan Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barack Obama.
Obama misses the shot to the body.

Melo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Obama sneaks back into half guard.

Melo seems to be looking for submissions.
Obama won't allow Melo to pass to mount.

Melo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Obama doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Melo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obama wants to get back to full guard.
Melo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Melo trying to mount his opponent but Obama defends it.

Melo is trying to work for a kimura but Obama is defending well.
Obama slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obama manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Melo manages to get himself to full guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Melo is on top in guard.

Obama is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Melo defends well.
Melo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Obama 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.
Obama lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Obama thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Melo wants to sweep here but Obama controlling him for the moment.
Obama advances position into side control!
Renan Melo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Melo struggling a bit here.
Obama wants to stand but Melo has his arm trapped.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melo can't do much from the bottom here.
Barack Obama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Obama.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renan Melo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Melo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renan Melo!
A victorious Renan Melo thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.