PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vang Poulsen (ranked 2370 p4p, 201 weight class) and Ibrahim Mamu Melamies (ranked 1120 p4p, 114 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Poulsen
vs
Mamu Melamies

162 cm
26
152 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

165 cm
29
154 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

CAGED CROW Clothings 50$

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vang Poulsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ibrahim Mamu Melamies!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poulsen ducks under a wild hook from Melamies.
Poulsen checks a leg kick nicely.
A counter left hand to the body from Poulsen misses its target.
Poulsen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Melamies counters with a low kick, right behind Poulsen 's knee.
Melamies staying out of range there.
Nice shot lands for Melamies.
Melamies moves away from the strike by Poulsen.
It seemed like Melamies was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Poulsen misses with a shot to the body
and Melamies counters with a nice body kick.
Poulsen throws a wild body kick that Melamies sees coming a mile off.
Melamies throws a big shot that misses.
Poulsen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Melamies counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poulsen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Poulsen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Poulsen throws a shot from downtown. Melamies moves away and avoids it.
Poulsen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Melamies.
Melamies replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Poulsen blocks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulsen darts in trying to clinch
and Melamies counters with a three punch combo that has Poulsen backing up. Poulsen nods at Melamies to acknowledge the strikes.
Vang Poulsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melamies defending well as Poulsen loads up on a big left hand.
Poulsen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Melamies is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Poulsen.
Poulsen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Poulsen misses with a hook
and Melamies cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Poulsen takes a swing at Melamies's ribcage but misses.
Poulsen lands with a right hand.
Poulsen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Melamies.
Poulsen throws the kick towards the body but Melamies avoids it.
Melamies raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Poulsen misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Poulsen. Beautiful body shot.
Poulsen lands a nice hook to Melamies's body. Melamies takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
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!
Poulsen throws a nice looking combination but Melamies bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Poulsen misses with an uppercut
and Melamies counters with a stiff right hand.
Poulsen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Melamies counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Poulsen thinking.
Poulsen cracks Melamies with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Poulsen scores with a decent looking hook.
Melamies slips under a jab from Poulsen.
Poulsen lands a slapping body shot.
A lazy left from Melamies finds it's target.
Melamies lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Poulsen circles away quickly and effectively.
Poulsen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Melamies swings widly with a right hand
and Poulsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen throws a sloppy body shot
and Poulsen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Poulsen ducks under a wild hook from Melamies.
Poulsen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Melamies tries a quick counter leg kick but Poulsen is wise to it.
Melamies tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Poulsen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Melamies.
Melamies takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Poulsen misses with a wild body shot.
Melamies let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Melamies takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Melamies slips a jab from Poulsen.
Poulsen misses with a hook
and Melamies counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Good work by Poulsen as he checks the leg kick.
Melamies 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.
Poulsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Melamies is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Poulsen had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen throws a poor cross that misses
and Melamies connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Poulsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Melamies moves away.
Poulsen needs to keep his hands up - Melamies had a free shot at his head there.
Melamies moves out of range of the strikes.
Poulsen throws a poor cross that misses
and Melamies counters with a nice uppercut.
Poulsen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Melamies waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Poulsen.
Melamies closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Poulsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Melamies pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Poulsen lands a lovely overhand right.
Poulsen scores with a jab to the head.
Poulsen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ibrahim Mamu Melamies will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Poulsen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Melamies counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Melamies throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Poulsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Melamies uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Poulsen.
Melamies throws a shot from downtown. Poulsen moves away and avoids it.
Melamies throws a jab but it's blocked by Poulsen.
Poulsen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Poulsen misses with a left hand
and Melamies counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Poulsen throws a body punch but Melamies moves out of range.
Poulsen lands a jab to the nose.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poulsen misses with a jab to the body
enabling Melamies to counter with a crisp jab.
Melamies misses with an uppercut.
Melamies moves out of range of the strikes.
Melamies lands a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulsen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Melamies counters with a nice body kick.
Poulsen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Melamies's hands.
Poulsen misses with a looping right.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Poulsen, as that shot connected.
Poulsen throws a looping overhand right but Melamies ducks down to avoid it.
Poulsen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Melamies.
Poulsen throws a sloppy body shot
and Melamies counters with a stiff right hand.
Melamies just misses with a punch to the body.
Poulsen thinks about countering with a body kick.
Melamies misses with an uppercut.
Melamies throws a series of punches but Poulsen moves out of range.
Poulsen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Melamies counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Poulsen lands a jab to the head.
Poulsen throws a hook but Melamies blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Poulsen. Melamies does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poulsen slips a straight right by Melamies.
Poulsen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Poulsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Melamies manages to avoid it.
Poulsen misses with a right hand
and Melamies counters with a body kick.
Poulsen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Melamies can pounce on him.
Melamies throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Poulsen scores with a nice right hand.
Poulsen with a nice cross.
A low kick from Melamies misses
letting Poulsen counter with a right hand.
Poulsen swings widly with a right hand
and Melamies counters with a nice uppercut.

Poulsen clinches up with Melamies and pushes him back against the cage.
Melamies pushes Poulsen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melamies goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Melamies is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Poulsen is looking to control Melamies's arms but Melamies gets an underhook and turns him. Now Poulsen has his back to the cage.
Nice body punch from Melamies.

Melamies escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sloppy strikes from Melamies. Those never looked like landing.
Good work by Melamies as he checks the leg kick.
Melamies misses with a straight left.
Poulsen throws a lazy right hand but Melamies sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Poulsen backing away here, and Melamies unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Poulsen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Melamies.
A countering left hand to the body from Melamies misses.
Melamies gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Melamies ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Poulsen throws an off balance right hand
and Melamies counters with a three punch combo that has Poulsen backing up. Poulsen nods at Melamies to acknowledge the strikes.
Poulsen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Melamies.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Melamies throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Melamies connects with a solid leg kick.
Poulsen misses with a left hand
and Melamies cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Poulsen closes the distance and clinches.
Poulsen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Melamies goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Melamies is trying to break the clinch but Poulsen has him pressed against the cage.
Melamies swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Melamies escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Poulsen missing with a left hand there. Melamies was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Poulsen looks to throw the jab but Melamies is out of range.
Melamies appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nice shot lands for Poulsen.
Melamies defending well as Poulsen loads up on a big left hand.
Poulsen moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMelamies.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibrahim Mamu Melamies showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Melamies closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Poulsen lands a body shot.
Poulsen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ibrahim Mamu Melamies seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Poulsen checks a leg kick.
Melamies misses with a looping right.
Melamies misses with a straight right.
Melamies is looking to slow Poulsen down with leg kicks.
Poulsen misses the shot to the body.
Poulsen misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poulsen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Poulsen throws a jab but it's blocked by Melamies.
Poulsen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Melamies.
Melamies with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Poulsen to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Poulsen.
Melamies moves away from the strike by Poulsen.
A slow jab from Poulsen misses its intended target.
Melamies ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Poulsen misses with a hook.
Melamies swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Poulsen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Melamies.
Poulsen throws a poor cross that misses
and Melamies cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A lazy body kick from Poulsen
and Melamies makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Poulsen swings widly with a right hand
and Melamies counters with a leg kick.
Poulsen throws a hook to the side of Melamies's head but Melamies sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A nice side step and Melamies releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Poulsen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Melamies.
Melamies throws a looping overhand right but Poulsen ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melamies throws a hook to the side of Poulsen's head but Poulsen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Melamies throws a low kick but Poulsen avoids it.
Poulsen throws a looping overhand right but Melamies ducks down to avoid it.
Poulsen backing away here, and Melamies unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Poulsen lands a nice shot that snaps Melamies's head back.
Melamies takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Melamies has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poulsen misses with a hook
letting Melamies counter with a right hand.
Poulsen swings widly with a right hand
and Melamies counters with a stiff right hand.
Melamies with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Poulsen to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice uppercut lands for Poulsen. That snapped Melamies's head back.
Poulsen throws a shot from downtown. Melamies moves away and avoids it.
Poulsen scores with a nice strike.
Poulsen misses with a left hand
and Melamies makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen looks to land a right hand but Melamies moved out of range.
Poulsen tries to clinch up.
Melamies steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Poulsen.
It seemed like Melamies was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Poulsen misses with a lunging right hand
and Melamies counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Poulsen throws a lazy uppercut
and Melamies counters with a stiff right hand.
Poulsen misses with a body shot.
Melamies scoring well with a low kick there.
Poulsen scores with a decent looking hook.
Poulsen throws a jab when Melamies was well out of range.
Melamies misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Poulsen.
Poulsen connects with a body shot that sends Melamies's belly button to the back.
Poulsen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Melamies.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen lands an overhand right.
Melamies digs a good body shot into Poulsen's ribs.
Melamies throws a sloppy body shot
and Poulsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melamies uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Poulsen.
Poulsen throws a hook to the side of Melamies's head but Melamies sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Poulsen swings for the body but Melamies moves out of range.
Poulsen throws a hook to the side of Melamies's head but Melamies sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Melamies! But no joy.
Poulsen throws a lazy right hand but Melamies sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Melamies fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Poulsen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Melamies circles away quickly and effectively.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Melamies! But no joy.
Poulsen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vang Poulsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Poulsen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vang Poulsen.
I think Melamies has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vang Poulsen!
After winning the bout, Vang Poulsen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.