PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joao Goulart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goulart comes to the cage accompanied by Shaggy - Mr. Boombastic. Melendez has chosen El Coo Cooi as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Xavier Melendez was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Goulart
vs
Melendez

168 cm
27
165 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

165 cm
21
169 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joao Goulart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Xavier Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez blocks a head kick by Goulart.
A big right from Melendez misses.
Goulart avoids the body shot from Melendez.
Goulart slips under a jab from Melendez.
Good leg kick by Goulart there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Melendez throws a right and a left that Goulart avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Melendez misses.
Goulart walks into a straight right hand from Melendez.
Goulart takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Goulart scores with a hook to the body. Melendez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Goulart scores with a nice body kick.
Goulart connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Goulart wants to clinch up but Melendez keeps it at a distance.
Goulart throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joao Goulart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melendez scores with the left hand. Goulart knows he should have avoided that one.
A combination from Goulart does no damage.
Goulart fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Melendez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Goulart wants to clinch.
Goulart fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Melendez manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Goulart's waist but Goulart gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Melendez off to one side.
Goulart tries to clinch up but Melendez circles away and keeps his distance.
Goulart misses with a jab, cross combination.
Goulart dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Melendez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Goulart is looking to score with low kicks.
Jab from Goulart.
Goulart swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Melendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Goulart connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Goulart throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Melendez looks gassed!
Goulart scores with a nice strike.
Melendez digs a good hook to Goulart's body.
Goulart misses with the combination.
Goulart throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goulart keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Good leg kick by Goulart there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Goulart fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Melendez, pushing him back against the cage.
Melendez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Goulart gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Joao Goulart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Melendez.
Melendez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Goulart gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Xavier Melendez has been cut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A right handed body shot lands from Goulart.
Melendez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Goulart gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Melendez takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Goulart blocking some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Goulart takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Goulart.
Goulart stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez avoiding damage as Goulart throws knees to the body.
Goulart lands a right hand that snaps the head of Melendez backwards.
Goulart lands a nice elbow.
Goulart just leaning against Melendez, taking a breather.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Goulart just misses with a elbow thrown towards Melendez's brow.

Melendez has hold of one of Goulart's legs. Goulart is fighting the takedown attempt but Melendez gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Goulart is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Goulart is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Goulart will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Goulart tries to strike from the bottom.
Goulart has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Melendez looking to pass the guard.
Melendez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Goulart looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Melendez is defending well. Goulart quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Melendez has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Goulart celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joao Goulart!