PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nonito Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aviya Sherman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melo comes to the cage accompanied by fleetwood mac - the chain. Aviya Sherman is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Melo
vs
Sherman

190 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

HGH Nutrients Q160 Tycoons Best Quality supps

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nonito Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aviya Sherman!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sherman drives through with a takedown into Melo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sherman trying to control the position from guard on top but Melo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sherman is looking to work some ground and pound but Melo has wrist control.
Melo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sherman on the ground.
Sherman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sherman throwing strikes but missing.
Sherman with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sherman.
Melo is looking to stand up but Sherman isn't so interested in that idea.
Sherman with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Melo wants to get back to his feet but Sherman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sherman throws a big elbow that misses.
Melo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sherman controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sherman throwing strikes from guard but Melo blocks nicely.
Sherman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sherman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sherman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sherman in side control, throwing shots but Melo defends.
Sloppy strikes there by Sherman.
Sherman trying to control the action but Melo is working from the bottom.
Sherman misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo being controlled for a moment.
Sherman throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Melo dodges the ground and pound from Sherman.
Sherman throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sherman throws a strike aimed at the side of Melo's head but Melo avoids it well.
Melo parries the strikes from Sherman easily there. Sherman is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Melo to escape.
Sherman throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sherman controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo wants to get back to his feet but Sherman drags him back down.
Melo is not content to let Sherman control the position.
Sherman fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sherman is looking to take a break and control but Melo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aviya Sherman dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sherman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Melo's guard.
Sherman prevents Melo from getting back to his feet.
Sherman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sherman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melo is wriggling around but Sherman manages to pass to half guard.

Sherman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Melo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sherman.
Sherman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Melo's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sherman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Melo defending well though.
Sherman is taking a breather. Melo 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.
Sherman throwing shots but Melo is blocking nicely.
Sherman perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sherman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melo keeps working.
Melo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sherman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sherman takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Melo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sherman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Melo defending well though.
Aviya Sherman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sherman throwing shots but Melo is blocking nicely.
Sherman is keen to just control but Melo is a slippery customer.
Melo is trying to stand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sherman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Melo's head.
Sherman thows a huge punch but Melo dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Melo defending well though.
Sherman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Melo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sherman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Sherman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sherman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Sherman wants to work for an arm triangle but Melo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sherman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Melo is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sherman seems to be working for a kimura but Melo defends the submission attempt.
Melo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sherman throwing shots but Melo is blocking nicely.
Sherman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melo keeps working.
Sherman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sherman trying to control the action but Melo is working from the bottom.
Sherman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aviya Sherman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sherman checks a leg kick.
Nonito Melo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sherman cracks a nice hook into Melo's ribs.

Sherman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sherman is looking to take a break and control but Melo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Melo parries the strikes from Sherman easily there. Sherman is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Melo to escape.
You can see the frustration on Melo's face as Sherman controls the position.
Sherman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Sherman looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Melo defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherman working the strikes but Melo uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Sherman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Melo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sherman.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Melo wants to get back to his feet.
Melo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sherman.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sherman in particular looking to stall.
Sherman trying to control the action but Melo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sherman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sherman looks to land a strike but Melo avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sherman wants to control from the top but Melo keeps moving.
Sherman postures up in Melo's guard and throws a big left but Melo blocks it.
Sherman looking to sit in guard and control but Melo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo tries to stand but Sherman is controlling from the bottom.
Sherman has his hands on Melo's head, controlling the position.
Sherman throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Melo is looking to stand up but Sherman won't let him.
Sherman wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sherman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melo wants to stand but Sherman is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sherman working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sherman lands a right hook to the body.
Sherman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sherman lands a nice hook to Melo's body. Melo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Some wild striking there from Sherman.
Sherman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Melo's waist but Melo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sherman off to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sherman punishes Melo's body with a nice straight punch.
Nonito Melo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've been told by Melo's head coaches at Soco na mãe - Stand Up Striking that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sherman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Melo's waist but Melo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sherman off to one side.
Aviya Sherman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sherman has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Melo is landing a low percentage of strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melo takes a shot right to the bread basket.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aviya Sherman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sherman has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aviya Sherman!
Aviya Sherman decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.