PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Astolfo de Mello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Galvao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

de Mello
vs
Galvao

183 cm
22
177 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
28
169 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid 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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Astolfo de Mello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Galvao!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
de Mello darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

de Mello drives through and clinches with Galvao against the ropes.

de Mello escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

de Mello has taken the fight to the clinch.
de Mello holding his opponent close, against the ropes.

de Mello manages to break the clinch.

de Mello gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

de Mello works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
de Mello is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
de Mello has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Galvao is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and de Mello defends well.

de Mello got a little sloppy there for a moment and Galvao has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, de Mello has managed to get both his arms back between Galvao's legs - danger averted.
de Mello wants to control from the top but Galvao keeps moving.
de Mello controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Mello trying to control the position from guard on top but Galvao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
de Mello is looking to work some ground and pound but Galvao has wrist control.
de Mello pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Galvao is keeping the position for now.
de Mello knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Galvao on the ground.

Galvao is looking for a triangle but de Mello pushes his legs off easily.

Galvao looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
de Mello advances to half guard.
Galvao is refusing to be controlled, as de Mello sits in half guard.
de Mello will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
de Mello slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Mello's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Galvao looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

We're going to have a standup here because Astolfo de Mello wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
de Mello throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Galvao avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

de Mello pushes Galvao up against the ropes in a clinch.

de Mello is trying to trip Galvao. He has hold of a leg but Galvao is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. de Mello persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Galvao escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. de Mello gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Galvao has his foot on de Mello's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. de Mello works his way back into a safe position though.
de Mello's corner is telling him to maintain position.
de Mello working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Galvao's head.
de Mello's corner is telling him to maintain position.
de Mello wants to control from the top but Galvao keeps moving.
Galvao being controlled here, momentarily.

We're going to have a standup here because Astolfo de Mello wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Galvao fails with a takedown attempt.

de Mello moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

de Mello has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Galvao regains guard immediately.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
de Mello trying to control but Galvao is working from the bottom.
Galvao keeping full guard, as de Mello tries to pass.
Galvao being controlled here, momentarily.
de Mello throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
de Mello stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Galvao swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Galvao keeping moving, preventing de Mello from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Astolfo de Mello has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
de Mello tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

de Mello throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Galvao tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. de Mello is in Galvao's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Astolfo de Mello dominated that round.
That's time! de Mello's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

de Mello throws a right and a left that both miss.

Galvao gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows de Mello to score an easy takedown into full guard.
de Mello trying to control but Galvao is working from the bottom.

Galvao working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. de Mello doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. de Mello manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Astolfo de Mello overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Galvao has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but de Mello can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Galvao can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as de Mello controls the pace.
Galvao keeping moving, preventing de Mello from controlling successfully.

Galvao has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but de Mello can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Mello is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Astolfo de Mello.

de Mello bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Galvao is looking for a sweep.
de Mello wants to lay and pray for a moment but Galvao keeps working.
de Mello is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Galvao will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Galvao is looking to regain half guard here but de Mello keeps moving and retains side control.
de Mello staying calm.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
de Mello wants to lay and pray for a moment but Galvao keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Astolfo de Mello wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

de Mello moves into range and clinches up with Galvao.

de Mello pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
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!

de Mello takes the fight into the clinch.

de Mello has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Galvao regains guard immediately.
Galvao looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
de Mello looking to pass the guard.
de Mello trying to control but Galvao is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Astolfo de Mello wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Galvao gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and de Mello counters with a series of strikes. Galvao will be more careful next time no doubt.
A bone on bone clash there as Galvao blocks the leg kick.

de Mello scores with a takedown into Galvao's guard.
Galvao is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
de Mello looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

de Mello stands up from Galvao's guard - de Mello perhaps looking for a knockout.
Galvao fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

de Mello rushes Galvao and presses him up against the ropes.

de Mello has picked Galvao up - he's going for a ride! de Mello dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
de Mello is taking a breather. Galvao says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Galvao makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Galvao.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
de Mello stands and throws Galvao's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Astolfo de Mello dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

de Mello has closed the distance and engaged Galvao in a clinch.

de Mello breaks the clinch.
de Mello slaps away a takedown attempt from Galvao, before circling back to the center of the mat.
de Mello dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

de Mello shoots in and gets a takedown into Galvao's guard.
de Mello wants to control from the top but Galvao keeps moving.

Galvao throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
de Mello is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Galvao can do to turn this around?
de Mello sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Galvao is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
de Mello not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Astolfo de Mello wasn't doing enough on the ground.
de Mello is looking to land body kicks.
Galvao fails with a takedown attempt.

de Mello forces Galvao back against the ropes and clinches.

de Mello's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Mello misses with a body kick.

de Mello pushes Galvao up against the ropes in a clinch.

de Mello has clasped his hands together around Galvao's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
de Mello trying to control the position but Galvao is working away.
de Mello controlling the position.
de Mello wants to control but Galvao is keeping him busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
de Mello is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Galvao is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked de Mello off and has taken his back!
de Mello avoids the strikes from Galvao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Mello controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Galvao is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Galvao is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Galvao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Galvao has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, de Mello has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
de Mello is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
de Mello holding both Galvao 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Even with his hooks in, Galvao manages to miss with strikes from the back.
de Mello manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from de Mello.
Galvao preventing the sweep.
de Mello is looking to stand up but Galvao isn't so interested in that idea.
de Mello utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Astolfo de Mello is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Galvao in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Galvao with a flurry of punches that miss.
de Mello wants to stand but Galvao is controlling the position.
Andre Galvao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Astolfo de Mello.
Well de Mello 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Astolfo de Mello!