PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Redbox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Redbox
vs
Melo

195 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

189 cm
27
220 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Redbox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, AJ Melo!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Redbox takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
No joy there for Redbox, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Redbox misses with a jab, cross combination.

Melo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Melo controls the position.
Redbox wants to get back to his feet.
Redbox stops Melo from passing to mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by AJ Melo.
Redbox lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Redbox throws a body punch but Melo moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Redbox tries to avoid it but Melo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Redbox to the ground. Redbox escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Melo stuffs the takedown.

Melo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Redbox is trying to force a seperation but Melo has the dominant position.

Melo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Redbox uses from the top position.
Melo pulls Redbox in close to his closed guard and prevents Redbox from doing any damage or advancing position.
Melo keeping moving, preventing Redbox from controlling successfully.
Melo pulls Redbox in to control the position.
Redbox with a flurry of punches that miss.
Melo controlling Redbox's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

AJ Melo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Redbox falls off balance throwing a combination

and Melo moves into the clinch.
Melo lands a nice shot to the body.
Redbox tries a body shot but Melo blocks it.
Melo is stalling here.
Redbox is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Melo stalling the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Melo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Redbox throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Melo slips a jab and a cross from Redbox.
Melo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Redbox looks to land a combination but Melo avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo ducks under a wild hook from Redbox.
Redbox fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Melo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Melo instigates a clinch.

Melo has hold of one of Redbox's legs. Redbox is fighting the takedown attempt but Melo gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Redbox wants to stand up but Melo is controlling him.
Melo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Melo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Melo moves out of range as Redbox strikes.
Melo connects with a looping right hand.
Redbox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Redbox does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Redbox swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Melo counters by clinching up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bit of stalling here from Melo.
Melo scores with a nice hook to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Redbox's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Melo.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Melo stalling in the clinch.
Redbox is trying to stall.

Melo jumps guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Redbox wants to pass the guard but Melo is keeping the position.

Redbox drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Melo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Redbox has Melo in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Melo gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Melo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Redbox eats them both and turns towards Melo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Redbox thows a body shot but no joy.
Melo shoots in for a takedown but Redbox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Redbox tries to keep at a distance but Melo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Redbox wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Melo has him pressed against the ropes.
Melo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short right from Melo on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Redbox doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Melo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnny Redbox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Melo.
Melo keeps control of Redbox as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Melo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Redbox misses with a straight left.
Redbox tries to bum rush Melo with a series of wild strikes but Melo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnny Redbox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Redbox scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redbox displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Melo.
Melo thuds a left hand into Redbox's body.
Redbox defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Melo.
Melo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Redbox misses with an attempted mid kick.
Melo misses with a series of wild punches.
Redbox misses with a jab, cross combination.
Redbox looks to land a right hand but Melo moved out of range.
Redbox swats away the attempt to clinch by Melo.
Redbox swinging wildly here.
Johnny Redbox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redbox lands with a nice body punch.
Redbox looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melo tries to clinch but Redbox is having none of it.
No joy there for Melo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Melo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Redbox.
Some wild striking there from Redbox.
Redbox keeps the fight on the outside.
Melo fails with a takedown attempt.
Melo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Melo closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Redbox is looking to break free of the clinch but Melo has double underhooks.
A nice left hand lands by Melo.
Redbox tries to break free but Melo pushes him back against the ropes.
Melo is working Redbox over against the ropes.
Redbox wants to stall.
Redbox prevents a takedown attempt there.
Melo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Redboxs head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice right hand lands inside from Melo.
A short uppercut from Melo.

Melo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Melo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Melo tries to close the distance and clinch but Redbox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Melo has Redbox up against the ropes in a clinch.
A short right from Melo on the inside.

Melo breaks the clinch.
Melo is looking to clinch.
Melo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Redbox swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Redbox throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Melo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Redbox sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Redbox throws a hook but Melo blocks it.
Redbox fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Melo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Melo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Redbox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Redbox throws a right hand that misses
and Melo counters with a three punch combo that has Redbox backing up. Redbox nods at Melo to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redbox misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Melo.
Melo shoots in looking for a takedown but Redbox manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Melo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Redbox throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Melo pushes Redbox up against the ropes in a clinch.
Redbox jumps guard but Melo stands there with Redbox around his waist. Redbox gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Melo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Redbox misses with a hook. Melo ducked under it nicely.
Melo tries to clinch but Redbox is having none of it.
Johnny Redbox is winning the standup battle so far.
Melo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Melo slaps away a takedown attempt from Redbox, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Melo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Melo wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo fails to land the takedown.
Johnny Redbox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Melo.
Melo moves in looking to clinch but Redbox pushes him off.
Redbox misses with a head kick.
Redbox fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Melo misses with a series of wild punches.
No luck for Melo with that takedown attempt.
Melo tries for a takedown but Redbox sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
AJ Melo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Redbox moves out of range of the body kick from Melo.
Melo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redbox cracks Melo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Redbox throws a head kick that misses.
Melo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Redbox swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Redbox gets tackled into the ropes by Melo. Melo maintains the clinch.
Redbox fails to pull the fight into his guard.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Melo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Redbox's brow.
Melo lands with a short shot to the head.

Melo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Redbox throws a head kick that misses.
Redbox scores with a crisp jab that stopped Melo in his tracks.
Melo slips a jab and a cross from Redbox.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melo has managed to clinch.
Melo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Redbox has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Melo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Melo clinches up with Redbox and pushes him back against the ropes.
Melo prevents Redbox from breaking the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Melo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right from Melo.

Melo decides to pull guard.
Melo is looking to stand up but Redbox isn't so interested in that idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Redbox throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnny Redbox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Redbox working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Melo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Melo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Melo!