PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arden Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul O Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul O Connor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Melendez
vs
O Connor

166 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

171 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Arden Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul O Connor!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Topper Green and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

O Connor has closed the distance and engaged Melendez in a clinch.
Melendez looking to throw knees to the head but O Connor is blocking nicely.
Melendez tries a body shot but O Connor blocks it.

Melendez is trying to trip O Connor. He has hold of a leg but O Connor is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Melendez persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Melendez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Melendez is looking to work some ground and pound but O Connor has wrist control.
Melendez postures up in O Connor's guard and throws a big left but O Connor blocks it.
O Connor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Melendez wants to get up but he can't break O Connor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez scoring with some ground and pound.
O Connor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melendez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Melendez wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of O Connor's closed guard. He's half up but O Connor has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! O Connor pivots and extends the arm, Melendez falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by O Connor! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Paul O Connor!
During a confident post fight interview, Paul O Connor thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.