PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hoy Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melo has chosen Fort Minor - Remember the name as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Nelson
vs
Melo

183 cm
36
263 lbs
32 - 24 - 0

196 cm
27
229 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

{R.W} Four Aces Nutrition

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 32 - 24 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hoy Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felipe Melo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Donk. Melo catches Nelson right on the button with a cross.
Melo throws a head kick but Nelson moves out of range.
Melo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nelson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Melo scrambles back to his feet.

It looks like Felipe Melo has been cut.
Nelson avoids a kick to the body.
Melo misses with a low kick.
Nice body kick from Melo.
Melo just misses with a punch to the body.
Felipe Melo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melo lands with a nice body kick.
Nelson lands a jab to Melo's midsection.
Nelson avoids the head kick by Melo.
Nelson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Nelson throws a sloppy head kick
and Melo counters with a solid body kick.
Nelson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Melo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nelson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Melo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson checks a low kick from Melo.
Melo throws a lazy uppercut
and Nelson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Melo tries to land a front kick but Nelson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A clash of legs there as Nelson blocks the low kick.
Melo throws a push kick but Nelson slaps the foot to one side.
A slow jab from Nelson misses its intended target.
Melo throws a sloppy head kick and Nelson moves out of range easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nelson checks a leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Nelson.
Nelson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nelson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Melo.
Nelson tries to clinch there but Melo circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nelson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Melo scores with a kick to the body.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses.
Melo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Melo throws a low kick, looking for Nelson's leg but Nelson calmly moves out of range.
Nelson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Melo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Melo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Melo tries to work over Nelson's front leg with a kick but Nelson checks it.
Melo tries a head kick but it misses.
Nelson looks to land a combination but Melo avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Melo manages to avoid it.
Melo misses with a low kick.
Melo takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nelson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Melo thows a leg kick but Nelson checks it
and Nelson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nelson blocks the body kick.
Melo misses with a body kick.
Nelson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nelson tries a head kick but it misses.
Nelson misses with a double jab.
Melo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nelson.
Nelson lands with a nice body punch.
Nelson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Melo's head.
Melo is looking to land body kicks.
Nelson throws a right hand that Melo ducks under and follows up with a left that Melo also avoids with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Melo tries a low kick but Nelson avoids it.
Melo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Nelson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nelson.
Some bone on bone action there as Nelson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nelson lands with a nice body punch.
Melo blocks a head kick by Nelson.
Nelson tries a head kick but it misses.
Nelson moves forwards but Melo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Melo scoring well with a low kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Felipe Melo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Felipe Melo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nelson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nelson takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Nelson throws a sloppy head kick
and Melo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nelson has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Melo avoids the head kick by Nelson.
Nelson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Melo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Melo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Melo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nelson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melo throws a body kick that misses.
Melo throws a head kick that misses.
Nelson blocks the body kick.
Melo throws a chopping leg kick but Nelson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Melo blocks a head kick by Nelson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Melo misses the target.
Melo blocks a head kick by Nelson.
Melo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Nelson rushes Melo and presses him up against the cage.
Knees to the body from Nelson.
Nelson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Melo throws a head punch that misses.
Melo managing to block the knees to the body from Nelson.
Nelson slows down the pace here.
Melo lands with a short shot to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Melo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Melo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo stalling against the cage.
Melo avoiding damage as Nelson throws knees to the body.
Melo is trying to stall.
Melo misses with a body punch.
Melo misses with a body punch.
Melo misses with the head strike.
Nelson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Melo is breathing heavily.
Nelson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Melo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melo throws a leg kick that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson checks the leg kick.
A head kick misses from Melo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson looks to land a combination but Melo avoids it well.
Melo tries to move into range but Nelson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That has opened up Felipe Melo's cut even more.

Nelson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Melo, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Nelson.
Nelson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nelson just leaning against Melo, taking a breather.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Nelson for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Nelson missing with knees to the body.
Nelson blocks an elbow strike from Melo.
Melo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Melo lands with a short shot to the head.
Nelson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Nelson unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo misses with a punch on the inside.
Nelson looking to throw knees to the head but Melo is blocking nicely.
Nelson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Melo is defending well for now.
Nelson tries to land knees in the clinch but Melo avoids the damage to the body.
Melo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Melo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Melo is looking to break free of the clinch but Nelson has double underhooks.
Hoy Nelson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Melo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Melo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nelson lands a nice knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Melo.
Nelson is looking to control Melo's arms but Melo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nelson has his back to the cage.
Melo has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Nelson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Melo can turn it around.
Nelson crunches a lovely knee into Melo's ribcage.
Melo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nelson working Melo over with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hoy Nelson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Felipe Melo's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Melo throws out a leg kick but Nelson moves out of range and Melo only half commits.
Melo thows a leg kick but Nelson checks it

and Nelson counters with a head kick that drops Melo!

Melo is rocked!
Melo is trying to control the position but Nelson postures up.
Melo is still in real trouble! Can Nelson finish him?
Melo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Melo seems to have recovered his senses.
Nelson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nelson looking to sit in guard and control but Melo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nelson wants to stand up but Melo is controlling him.
Melo looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melo trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson wants to stand and escape but Melo is having none of it.

Nelson has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Melo is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Nelson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Melo is looking to control Nelson's arms but Nelson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Melo has his back to the cage.
Melo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nelson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Melo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Melo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Melo avoiding damage as Nelson throws knees to the body.

Nelson has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head and Melo goes down! Nelson dives on top of him - Melo manages to get guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson throwing strikes from guard but Melo blocks nicely.
Nelson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nelson lands a couple of digs.
Nelson postures up in Melo's guard and throws a big left but Melo blocks it.
Nelson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Melo can do to turn this around?

Melo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Nelson uses it to pass to side control.
Melo is looking for a sweep.
Nelson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nelson working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo is trying to improve his position.
Melo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The strikes coming from Nelson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Nelson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Melo tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Nelson presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nelson punching from mount but Melo doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Nelson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nelson avoids the attempt from Melo to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nelson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Nelson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

And that's the end of the fight!
Hoy Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nelson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hoy Nelson!
A very excited looking Hoy Nelson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Felipe Melo spoke after the fight, saying 'I always try and have fun out there, I got holes but hell its fun.'.