PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leo Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mister Birchum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Melo
vs
Birchum

188 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

197 cm
23
192 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leo Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mister Birchum!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birchum throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Melo shoots for a takedown but Birchum saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Melo gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Melo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Birchum's guard.
Melo wanted to stand there but Birchum had control of the position.
Melo passes Birchum's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Melo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Melo wants to stand up but Birchum is controlling the position.
Birchum tries to get to full guard but Melo has control of the leg.
Melo is trying to control. Birchum wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Melo is looking for a kimura here.
Melo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Birchum does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Birchum avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Melo.

Melo 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.

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.
Melo wants to pass the guard but Birchum is defending well.
Birchum trying to hold on to Melo's head to control him but Melo postures up.

Melo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Birchum has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Melo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Birchum defending well though.
Melo trying to control the pace.
Birchum tries to get to full guard but Melo has control of the leg.
Melo thows a huge punch but Birchum dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Melo seems to be working for a kimura but Birchum defends the submission attempt.
Melo 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.
Birchum wants to improve his position but Melo is controlling well.

Melo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Birchum scores with a jab to the jaw.

Melo gets a takedown into half guard.
Melo wants to control but Birchum is keeping him busy.

Melo wants to work for an arm triangle but Birchum is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Birchum avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Melo.
Melo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Melo tries to pass to full mount but Birchum defends it.
Birchum tries to get to full guard but Melo has control of the leg.
Melo tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Birchum.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Melo seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melo wants to free his trapped foot but Birchum is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Melo trying to control the action but Birchum is working from the bottom.
Birchum wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Birchum wants to improve his position but Melo is controlling well.

Melo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Birchum has managed to free his arm - good work.

Melo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Birchum is just riding it out for now. Melo eventually gives up the hold.
Birchum really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Melo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Melo throws a strike but Birchum avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

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.
Melo looking to sit in guard and control but Birchum gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Melo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Birchum doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Birchum manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Melo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Birchum stuffs the takedown attempt from Melo. Melo gets slowly back to his feet.
Melo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Birchum as he avoids it easily.
Birchum connects with a jab.
Birchum jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Melo walks into a jab.
Melo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Birchum lands a left and a right that send Melo crashing to the mat, dazed. Birchum thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Melo is rocked!

It looks like Leo Melo has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Birchum's waist but Birchum gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Melo off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Melo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Birchum gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Birchum managing to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Birchum is on top in guard.
Birchum throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birchum stays in close to Melo's body and controls the position.

Melo isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Birchum stacks Melo on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Birchum!

Birchum decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birchum displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Melo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Birchum avoids it really well and circles away.
Birchum lands a jab-cross combination.
Birchum moves into range and connects with a jab.
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!
Birchum uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Melo has time to react.
Melo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birchum works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Birchum lands a left and a right that send Melo crashing to the mat, dazed. Birchum thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Oh Melo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Melo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Melo seems to have got his legs back now.
Birchum connects with a nice cross there... Melo is looking wobbly and Birchum recognises it - he's rushed in and lands two more brutal shots that send Melo to the canvas, out cold! A brutal finish to the fight - Birchum jumps onto the cage to celebrate with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Mister Birchum!