PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Moriarty (ranked 4320 p4p, 4327 weight class) and Fabio Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Moriarty
vs
Melo

180 cm
23
260
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
220
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Moriarty!
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, Fabio Melo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy left from Moriarty finds it's target.

Melo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Melo lands in his opponent's guard.

Moriarty throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Moriarty really is a fat lump.
Moriarty utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Melo trying to control but Moriarty is working from the bottom.
Melo looking to sit in guard and control but Moriarty gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moriarty trying to control but Melo is working from the bottom.
Moriarty looking to pass the guard.
Moriarty trying to move into half guard but instead Melo has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moriarty looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Melo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Moriarty is looking to improve his position.
Moriarty on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Moriarty tries to get out of the position.
Melo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Melo is keen to just control but Moriarty is a slippery customer.

Moriarty with the active half guard here but Melo passes nicely into side control.
Moriarty is looking to reverse the position.
Moriarty knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Melo on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo trying to control the action but Moriarty is working from the bottom.
Melo gets to mount! Moriarty was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Melo avoids the attempt from Moriarty to control.
Moriarty gets back to half guard.
Moriarty tries to roll over but Melo keeps him under control.
Moriarty wants to control the action here but instead Melo manages to pass to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moriarty can't escape the position.
Moriarty gets back to half guard.
Melo is looking to take a break and control but Moriarty is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Moriarty wants to control the action here but instead Melo manages to pass to full mount!
Moriarty looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Melo keeps control of the position as Moriarty tries to break free.
Well, with Melo on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Moriarty is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Moriarty turns into Melo and is now in his guard.
Moriarty looking to sit in guard and control but Melo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Moriarty throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Melo escapes and throws Moriarty's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moriarty is looking to regain half guard here but Melo keeps moving and retains side control.
Moriarty manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Melo is thwarting Moriarty's attempts to control the position.
Moriarty moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Moriarty working for a triangle but Melo defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Moriarty is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Melo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Moriarty fails in his attempt to clinch.
James Moriarty seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Moriarty connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Melo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Moriarty counters with a single leg into guard. Melo didn't expect that.

Melo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Moriarty doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Moriarty manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Moriarty works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Moriarty is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Melo.
Melo keeping full guard, as Moriarty tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo 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.
Moriarty trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Moriarty is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Moriarty wants to control from the top but Melo keeps moving.
Moriarty passes into half guard.

Moriarty is working for a submission of some sort.
Moriarty seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Moriarty wants to control but Melo is keeping him busy.
Fabio Melo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Moriarty is looking for a kimura here.
Melo is looking for a sweep. Moriarty is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moriarty wants to control but Melo is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Moriarty throws the left hand but Melo avoids the punch easily.

Moriarty closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Melo quickly recovers to half guard.
Moriarty controlling the pace.

Moriarty looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Moriarty is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo trying to control here.

Moriarty is working for a submission of some sort.
Melo is looking to control Moriarty's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Melo avoid being mounted?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Moriarty seems to be working for a kimura but Melo defends the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Moriarty dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Moriarty swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Melo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Moriarty looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Moriarty is working for a kimura but Melo is defending it quite comfortably.
Moriarty sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Moriarty is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Melo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Moriarty.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moriarty wants to advance to full mount but Melo doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Melo keeping moving, preventing Moriarty from controlling successfully.
Moriarty stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Melo keeping moving, preventing Moriarty from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Moriarty is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Melo is trying to control the position but Moriarty postures up.
Moriarty looking to pass the guard.
Moriarty looking to sit in guard and control but Melo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Moriarty working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Melo has passed into half guard!

Melo moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Moriarty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moriarty manages to get back to half guard.

Moriarty looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Moriarty looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Moriarty wants to improve his position but Melo is controlling well.

Moriarty looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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.
Moriarty has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Melo is working away from the top position though.

Moriarty looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Moriarty looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Melo pushes past his half guard into mount!
Moriarty is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melo trying to control but Moriarty is having none of it.
Moriarty blocking the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabio Melo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Melo 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabio Melo!