PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Mello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rommel Tan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rommel Tan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mello
vs
Tan

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Mello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rommel Tan!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mello scores with a takedown into Tan's guard.
Tan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mello trying to control but Tan is working from the bottom.
Tan pulls Mello in close to prevent any damage.
Let's hope that Tan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

We're going to have a standup here because Rafael Mello wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mello tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mello displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tan throws out the jab.
Tan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mello is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Tan enables Mello to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Tan manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mello loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mello in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tan seems keen to control Mello's posture.
Mello stopping the sweep attempt from Tan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mello trying to control but Tan is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tan has a takedown stuffed.
Tan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mello swivels and escapes.

Mello drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mello trying to control the action but Tan is working from the bottom.
Tan regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mello seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Mello stalling away here and it's allowed Tan to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Tan controlling the position.
Mello wants to stand and escape but instead Tan has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Tan is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mello working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tan.
Tan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mello's head.

Mello isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tan stacks Mello 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 Tan!
Mello is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tan is putting a hurting on Mello here, landing some big shots from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tan working the head with strikes.
Tan working the ground and pound.
Tan working the ground and pound from side control.

Tan tries for a kimura but Mello is defending well.
Mello takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tan is chipping away with strikes.
Mello takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tan tries to sprawl but Mello drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Tan is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Mello thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tan's head.
Tan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tan trying to control here.
Tan preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rommel Tan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mello dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tan. That did some damage!

Mello shoots in and gets a takedown into Tan's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tan wants to sweep but no luck.

Tan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mello doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mello manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mello!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mello tries to hold on but Tan pushes him away.
Tan with a couple of short strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tan lands a big elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Mello is rocked!
Tan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Oh Mello is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tan postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Mello bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Tan and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rommel Tan!