PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Amilton Mello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Novaes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mello comes to the cage accompanied by Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse . We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mello
vs
Novaes

190 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Amilton Mello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Novaes!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novaes fails to land the takedown.
Mello shoots in for a takedown but Novaes shows good takedown defense.
Novaes is looking to clinch but Mello is avoiding it.
Mello misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Novaes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Novaes showed some decent athleticism there.
Mello taking some punishment here, with Novaes in his half guard.
Mello is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Novaes scores with a couple of nice shots.
Novaes is looking to take a break and control but Mello is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Novaes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Novaes throwing shots but Mello is blocking nicely.
Mello is refusing to be controlled, as Novaes sits in half guard.
Mello preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Mello is looking for a sweep. Novaes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novaes is tying to control. Mello wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mello is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Novaes with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mello counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mello.
Novaes trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Mello wants to stand but Novaes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Novaes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mello can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mello wants to control from the top but Novaes keeps moving.
Novaes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Novaes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novaes keeping moving, preventing Mello from controlling successfully.
Novaes punching to the body, from the bottom.
Mello is breathing heavily.
Mello preventing the sweep.
Novaes keeping moving, preventing Mello from controlling successfully.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mello trying to stand up but can't free himself from Novaes's guard.
Novaes wants to improve his position but instead Mello has moved into half guard.
Mello prevents Novaes from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Novaes shoots and misses

and Mello counters with a takedown into side control.
Amilton Mello has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Novaes.
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!
Novaes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Novaes tries to strike but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novaes is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Mello is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Novaes is trying to reverse the position but instead Mello has taken his back - oops!
Mello is looking to control Novaes but Novaes is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Mello is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Novaes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Novaes trying to control the hands but Mello breaks the grip.
Novaes turns into Mello and is now in his guard.
Novaes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Novaes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mello is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Novaes tries to close the distance and clinch but Mello swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Novaes tries for a takedown but Mello circles away easily
and Mello counters with a three punch combo that has Novaes backing up. Novaes nods at Mello to acknowledge the strikes.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Mello - that will leave a mark!

Mello closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mello wants to take a breather but Novaes is having none of it.
Novaes gets full guard.
Novaes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Novaes keeping moving, preventing Mello from controlling successfully.
Mello content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mello trying to control but Novaes is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amilton Mello dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Novaes scores with a takedown into Mello's guard.
Mello looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Novaes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mello works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Novaes trying to control but Mello is working from the bottom.
Novaes throws a strike but Mello rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Amilton Mello overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Novaes wants to sweep here but Mello controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mello trying to control the position from guard on top but Novaes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Novaes shoots and misses

and Mello counters with a nice double leg into side control. Novaes won't be happy with that.

Mello tries for a kimura but Novaes is defending well.
Check out the look on Mello's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Novaes is trying to escape the position but Mello is controlling the position.
Novaes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mello's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Novaes manages to get to full guard.

Novaes is looking for a triangle here but Mello uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novaes tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Mello easily slips into full mount!
Novaes is desperately trying to improve his position but Mello has a good base and remains in mount.
Mello fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Mello trying to control but Novaes is having none of it.
Novaes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novaes wants to hold on but Mello pushes him away.
Mello wants to control the pace but Novaes is squirming around nicely.
Novaes wants to hold on but Mello pushes him away.
Novaes is trying to stand.
Novaes is trying desperately to improve position.
Mello lands a big elbow.
Novaes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Mello is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Novaes is just riding it out for now. Mello eventually gives up the hold.
Novaes lands with a few short shots to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Novaes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mello's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mello's back!
Novaes is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Mello is keeping busy.

Novaes is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Mello defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Mello breaks Novaes's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Amilton Mello will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mello closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Novaes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mello's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Novaes trying to control from the bottom.
Novaes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mello wants to take a breather but Novaes is having none of it.
Novaes is looking to control Mello's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Novaes avoid being mounted?

Novaes kicks Mello off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Novaes misses with a takedown

and Mello counters with a single leg into guard. Novaes didn't expect that.
Mello thows a big elbow that misses.
Novaes controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novaes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mello moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mello preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Novaes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Novaes won't allow Mello to get back to his feet.
Novaes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Novaes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mello not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Novaes is in close to Mello's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mello wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mello preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mello 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Novaes shoots and misses

and Mello decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Novaes's guard.
Mello tries to free his leg and advance position but Novaes is retaining full guard.
Mello stays in close to Novaes's body and controls the position.
Mello looking to pass the guard.
Novaes throwing short punches from the bottom.
Novaes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mello has hold of Novaes's hands but Novaes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mello desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Novaes working Mello over with strikes.
Mello taking some punishment here, with Novaes in his half guard.
Mello is not content to let Novaes control the position.
Mello tries to roll over but Novaes keeps him under control.
Bruno Novaes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Novaes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Novaes wants to work for an arm triangle but Mello is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Novaes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Novaes trying to control from half guard but Mello is working away.
Novaes 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.
Novaes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mello!
Mello is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Novaes landing punches.
Mello tries to hold on but Novaes pushes him away.
Mello is trying desperately to improve position.
Novaes lands with some strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Amilton Mello showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mello has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amilton Mello!