PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renan Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Larusso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melo comes into the arena with Fireball - Pitbull blaring out of the sound system. Larusso has chosen Glory of love as his entrance music. Daniel Larusso will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Melo
vs
Larusso

159 cm
30
145 lbs
24 - 14 - 0

170 cm
32
144 lbs
30 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Renan Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Larusso!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Melo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Melo.
Larusso throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Nice body punch from Larusso.
Larusso fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Melo.
Larusso misses with a wild body shot.
Larusso swings widly with a right hand
and Melo counters with a straight right hand.
Larusso delivers a nice body kick.
Larusso feints and then cracks Melo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Melo down.
Melo moves out of range of the body kick.
Melo connects with a crisp jab.
Melo swings for the body but Larusso moves out of range.
Larusso feints a counter leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Larusso looks to land a right hand but Melo moved out of range.
Larusso lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've been hearing reports that Melo has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Melo cracks Larusso with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melo closes the distance and pushes Larusso back into the cage.
Larusso stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Larusso scores with a shot to the side of Melo's head.
Larusso misses with a knee to the head.
Melo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Larusso.
Melo jumps guard but Larusso stands there with Melo around his waist. Melo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Larusso fails to land.
Melo misses with a hook to the ribs.
The referee is keeping an eye on Larusso - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Melo is looking to break free of the clinch but Larusso has double underhooks.
Melo is trying to force a seperation but Larusso has the dominant position.
Melo jumps guard but Larusso stands there with Melo around his waist. Melo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Melo tries a body shot but Larusso blocks it.
Melo misses with the head strike.
Larusso lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Melo.
Larusso leaning against his opponent.
Larusso lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Melo misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Larusso escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Melo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Larusso moves away.
Larusso misses with an uppercut.
Melo was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Melo misses with an uppercut.
Larusso tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Melo was well out of range. Poor timing from Larusso.
A little feinted left hand from Melo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Melo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Larusso to counter with a crisp jab.
Larusso tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circling - Larusso throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Daniel Larusso is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Melo lands a jab to Larusso's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Melo misses with a hook
and Larusso counters with a thumping low kick.
Larusso lands with a nice body punch.
Larusso looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Larusso throws a leg kick
enabling Melo to counter with a crisp jab.
Larusso misses with a body kick.
Melo needs to keep his hands up - Larusso had a free shot at his head there.
A bone on bone clash there as Melo blocks the leg kick.
Larusso lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Larusso digs a good hook to Melo's body.
Larusso misses with a leg kick

and Melo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Larusso is on top in guard.

Larusso stays in close to Melo's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larusso is continuing to stall.

Larusso stands up and waves to Melo to follow him.
Larusso misses with a wild body shot.
Larusso tries a head kick but it misses.
Larusso throws a lazy uppercut
and Melo counters with a right hand to the body.
Larusso throws a hook to the side of Melo's head but Melo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Larusso dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Larusso misses with a head kick.
Daniel Larusso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Melo misses with a wild body shot.
Larusso is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Melo with a body shot.
Larusso throws the left hand but Melo avoids the punch easily.
It looked like Melo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Larusso connects with an inside leg kick.
Larusso misses with a straight left.
Larusso lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Larusso throws a push kick but Melo slaps the foot to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larusso chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Melo can pounce on him.
Larusso takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Larusso throws a wild body kick that Melo sees coming a mile off.
Larusso throws a right hand that misses
and Melo counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Larusso misses

and Melo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Larusso's guard.
Melo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Larusso is keeping the position for now.
Melo trying to control but Larusso is working from the bottom.
Larusso has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melo wants to pass the guard but Larusso is keeping the position.
Melo wants to control from the top but Larusso keeps moving.
Melo passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melo works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larusso is squirming around, avoiding Melo's attempts to control the action.
Melo moves to his opponent's back but Larusso bucks him off and ends up in guard. A bit of a disaster there for Melo.
Larusso is stalling in the full guard.

Melo is working an open guard so Larusso takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Larusso feints and then cracks Melo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Melo down.
Larusso throws a poor cross that misses
and Melo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Larusso throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Melo feinted with a counter takedown.
Larusso misses with a shot to the body
and Melo counters with a stiff right hand.
Melo moves forwards but Larusso connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Melo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Larusso connects with an inside leg kick.
Melo throws a lazy uppercut
and Larusso counters with a nice uppercut.
Larusso scores with a leg kick.
Melo takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melo moves out of range of the strikes.
Larusso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Melo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Larusso is fending him off so far but Melo persists. Nope, Larusso circles away and we're back to standing.
Larusso throws a leg kick
and Melo counters with a good low kick that Larusso was not able to check.
Larusso tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Melo is able to avoid easily.
Larusso misses the shot to the body.
Melo tries to counter with a takedown but Larusso is quick to defend against it.
Larusso feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Melos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Larusso lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Larusso uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Melo.
Larusso connects with a right hand. Melo shakes it off.
A nice leg kick lands there from Larusso.
Larusso throws a half hearted mid kick.
Larusso chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Larusso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Melo moves out of range of the body kick from Larusso.
Larusso avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Melo motions for Larusso to come forward. Melo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Melo. That's going to slow Larusso down.
Melo throws a predictable looking body shot
and Larusso counters with a nice low kick that buckles Melo's knee momentarily.
A head kick by Larusso misses
and Melo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Melo misses with an uppercut
and Larusso counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Larusso digs a good body shot into Melo's ribs.
Larusso throws an off balance right hand
and Melo counters with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good leg kick by Larusso there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A swing and a miss from Larusso.
Sloppy strikes from Melo. Those never looked like landing.
Melo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Larusso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Melo.
Larusso throws a right hand that misses
and Melo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Larusso throws a half hearted mid kick.
Melo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Melo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Melo or perhaps it was just good defense by Larusso, which made it look bad.
Larusso lands a glancing blow to the side of Melo's head.
Larusso lands with a good body shot.
Melo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Larusso throws a push kick but Melo slaps the foot to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Larusso.
A low kick from Larusso is predictable there
and Melo counters with a stiff right hand.
Melo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Larusso is able to avoid easily.
Larusso looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larusso fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Melo.
Larusso jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
That kick from Melo tenderised Larusso's leg. Larusso is trying to keep his angry face on.
Melo defending well as Larusso loads up on a big left hand.
Melo takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Larusso lands a nice leg kick that just misses Melo's sensitive parts.
Larusso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
An inside leg kick lands from Larusso.
Larusso throws a jab but it's blocked by Melo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Melo as he checks the leg kick.
Larusso jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Melo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Melo throws a hook to the side of Larusso's head but Larusso sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Melo backing away here, and Larusso unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
An inside leg kick from Larusso misses.
Renan Melo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larusso lands a big head kick that sends Melo to the canvas! Larusso follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Daniel Larusso!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Daniel Larusso waved his t-shirt featuring Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)'s logo in front of the cameras.