PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ibrahim Mamu Melamies (ranked 2248 p4p, 214 weight class) and Watsz Mawe (ranked 1024 p4p, 113 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mamu Melamies
vs
Mawe

165 cm
26
154 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

170 cm
28
160 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars
RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ibrahim Mamu Melamies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Watsz Mawe!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melamies lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Melamies stuffs the takedown attempt from Mawe. Mawe gets slowly back to his feet.
Mawe throws a right and a left that Melamies avoids nicely.
Mawe takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Melamies scores with a one two! Mawe had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mawe wants to clinch.
Melamies connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Melamies stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Melamies lands a jab to the nose.
Mawe is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Melamies.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mawe shoots in looking for a takedown. Melamies tries to sprawl out of it but Mawe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Melamies manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mawe scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Melamies doesn't seem bothered though.

Melamies has managed to clinch.
Mawe is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ibrahim Mamu Melamies has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Watsz Mawe.
Melamies is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Melamies is working Mawe over against the cage.
Melamies throws a head punch that misses.

Mawe is trying to trip Melamies. He has hold of a leg but Melamies is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mawe persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Melamies definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Melamies has his hands on Mawe's head, controlling the position.
Mawe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melamies swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mawe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mawe thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Melamies keeping moving, preventing Mawe from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Melamies holds on and takes a little breather.
Melamies lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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

Mawe looking for a guillotine here but Melamies defends easily.
Mawe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mawe keeping moving, preventing Melamies from controlling successfully.

Melamies got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mawe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Melamies has managed to get both his arms back between Mawe's legs - danger averted.
Melamies knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mawe on the ground.
Melamies controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mawe keeping moving, preventing Melamies from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Mawe has his foot on Melamies's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Melamies works his way back into a safe position though.

Mawe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Melamies can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mawe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melamies is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mawe throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Melamies escapes and throws Mawe's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibrahim Mamu Melamies dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Melamies throws the left hand but Mawe avoids the punch easily.
Melamies scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Mawe darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mawe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mawe is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Melamies is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mawe's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mawe's back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melamies controls the action.
Mawe is trying to break free.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mawe looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Good control from Melamies.
Mawe can't escape the position.
Melamies is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mawe can do to turn this around?
Melamies biding his time, controlling Mawe.
Mawe tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Melamies trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mawe is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mawe tries to lock up and control but Melamies gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Melamies sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mawe is working to get back to half guard.
Melamies tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mawe tries to reverse the position but Melamies maintains control.
Mawe keeps trying to improve his position.
Melamies controlling his opponent.
Mawe wants to hold on but Melamies pushes him away.
Watsz Mawe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mawe is looking to improve his position but Melamies isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Melamies can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mawe is looking to escape.
Mawe is wriggling around trying to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mawe tries to lock up and control but Melamies gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mawe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibrahim Mamu Melamies dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mawe gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Melamies walks into a jab.
Mawe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Melamies sprawls well. Melamies wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mawe gets slowly back to his feet.
Mawe on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Melamies throws a leg kick which misses Mawe's front leg but catches the back leg as Mawe tries to avoid it.
No luck for Mawe with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melamies keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ibrahim Mamu Melamies has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Watsz Mawe.
A decent looking cross lands there for Melamies.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mawe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice defenses there by Mawe.
Mawe dives in and grabs Melamies's left leg, looking for a takedown. Melamies pushes down on Mawe's head and hops out.
Melamies fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mawe has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Melamies keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Watsz Mawe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melamies moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Melamies connects with a looping right hand.

Mawe closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Melamies to the mat! Melamies manages to get full guard.
Melamies controls Mawe momentarily but Mawe frees himself.
Melamies looking for a sweep. Not yet Melamies, not yet.
Mawe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mawe tries to free his leg and advance position but Melamies is retaining full guard.
Melamies preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mawe wants to control from the top but Melamies keeps moving.
Melamies trying to control the position here.
Melamies has momentary wrist control but Mawe slips an elbow through the middle.
Melamies is trying to keep Mawe in close.
Mawe stopping the sweep attempt from Melamies.
Melamies is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mawe wants to control from the top but Melamies keeps moving.
Melamies keeping full guard, as Mawe tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mawe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Mawe drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Melamies manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mawe has Melamies in his guard.

Mawe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Melamies is aware though and is defending well.

Mawe is looking for a triangle but Melamies pushes his legs off easily.

Melamies avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mawe being controlled here, momentarily.
Watsz Mawe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mawe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Melamies showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Melamies got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mawe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Melamies has managed to get both his arms back between Mawe's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ibrahim Mamu Melamies showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Melamies, 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ibrahim Mamu Melamies!
After the fight, Ibrahim Mamu Melamies was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.