PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Gracio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryann Melebo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Gracio
vs
Melebo

190 cm
24
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonio Gracio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bryann Melebo!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracio fails to land with a series of punches.

Gracio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Melebo's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracio sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Melebo defending well though.
Gracio sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Melebo defending well though.
Gracio wants to take a breather but Melebo is having none of it.

Gracio decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A punch combination from Gracio misses.
Gracio tries to clinch but Melebo is having none of it.
Melebo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracio defending well as Melebo loads up on a big left hand.
Gracio shoots in for a double leg but Melebo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracio throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Melebo's waist but Melebo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracio off to one side.

Gracio shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Melebo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The strikes coming from Gracio are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gracio cracks Melebo with a big elbow.
Gracio controls the position from side control.
Melebo is trying to buck Gracio off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracio is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Melebo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracio scores with punches from side control.
Melebo looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracio working the head and body with strikes.
Gracio working the head and body with strikes.

Gracio decides to stand up, so the ref orders Melebo to his feet.
Melebo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracio.
Gracio moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gracio throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracio scores a takedown into full mount!
Gracio wants to control the pace but Melebo is squirming around nicely.
Melebo is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracio lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracio lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracio falls off balance throwing a combination
and Melebo makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Gracio really felt that one!
Melebo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracio.
Melebo misses with a takedown

and Gracio counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Melebo's guard now.

Gracio stands and steps away. Melebo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gracio fails with the takedown

and Melebo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracio wants the takedown. Melebo is fighting it off but Gracio persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Melebo's guard against the cage.
Melebo is breathing heavily.
Gracio passes into half guard.
Gracio sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Melebo defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracio looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracio slips a nice elbow through Melebo's hands, connecting with Melebo's forehead.
Gracio wants to take a breather but Melebo is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracio decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Gracio fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Gracio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Melebo's half guard.
Gracio throwing shots but Melebo is blocking nicely.
Gracio with the ground and pound but Melebo uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Gracio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracio forces his way into half guard.
Gracio stalling.
Gracio looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Melebo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Gracio stands up and beckons Melebo to join him on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracio moves in looking to clinch but Melebo pushes him off.

Gracio closes the distance and clinches.

Gracio jumps into guard, dragging Melebo to the mat.

Gracio throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Melebo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gracio is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Melebo is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracio throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Melebo looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Gracio dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gracio drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracio in side control lands a decent elbow.

Gracio thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Melebo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Melebo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melebo takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gracio is looking to take a break and control but Melebo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracio cracks Melebo with a big elbow.

Gracio stands up and beckons Melebo to his feet.

Gracio feints and as Melebo raises his hands in defense, Gracio changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracio connects with a couple of short punches.
Melebo keeping moving, preventing Gracio from controlling successfully.
Melebo wants to stand but Gracio is controlling the position.
Gracio cracks Melebo with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracio landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracio lands a couple of digs.

Gracio decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Melebo, up you get!
Gracio throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Melebo avoids the head kick by Gracio.
Gracio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Melebo can do to turn this around?

Gracio has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracio has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Melebo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Gracio breaks from the clinch.
Gracio is looking to clinch.
Antonio Gracio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracio fails with a takedown attempt.
Melebo dodges the punch combination from Gracio.
Bryann Melebo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracio is looking to clinch but Melebo is avoiding it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Gracio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gracio has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Gracio!