PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Josh Middleton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melo is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Fireball - Pitbull. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Middleton
vs
Melo

173 cm
27
144 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

159 cm
26
145 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Sully's Bar & Grill
On Tap (160Q & Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Middleton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Renan Melo!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Middleton fails to land with a series of punches.
Middleton tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Melo is able to avoid easily.
Melo walks into a left hand.

Melo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Melo.
Middleton is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Melo is leaning against Middleton and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Middleton is trying to maintain a safe position but Melo gets an underhook and turns Middleton into the cage.
A short left from Middleton.
Melo throws a punch but it's blocked by Middleton.
Melo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Middleton backwards.
Melo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Melo.
Middleton misses with a knee to the head.
Middleton is looking to control Melo's arms but Melo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Middleton has his back to the cage.
Melo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melo misses with a punch to the body.
Middleton throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Melo misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Melo lands an uppercut.
Melo can't find room to land a body shot as Middleton controls the action.
Melo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Middleton.
Melo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Melo breaks the clinch.
Melo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Middleton is out of range.
Melo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Middleton.
Middleton takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Middleton swinging wildly here.
Middleton has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Middleton there as he acknowledges the shot.
Melo misses with a looping right.
Middleton leaves Melo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Melo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Middleton in his tracks.
Josh Middleton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Middleton.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Middleton connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Melo momentarily.
Melo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Middleton throws a sloppy head kick
and Melo counters with a nice uppercut.

Middleton tries to keep at a distance but Melo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Melo tries to work over Middleton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Middleton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Melo misses with a body punch.
Middleton blocking some punches.
Middleton lands a hook that snaps the head of Melo backwards.
Melo is working Middleton over against the cage.
Middleton slows down the pace here.
A right hand to the body from Melo.
Melo lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo misses with a punch to the body.

Melo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Middleton gets tackled into the cage by Melo. Melo maintains the clinch.
Melo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Middleton has Melo pushed against the cage.
Middleton tries to circle away but Melo has him pinned against the cage.
Middleton misses with a body punch.

Middleton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Melo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Melo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Middleton's hands.
Middleton misses with a hook.
Melo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Melo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Middleton.
Melo checks a leg kick.
Melo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Middleton tries to bum rush Melo with a series of wild strikes but Melo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Melo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melo throws out a loose jab but Middleton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Melo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Melo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Melo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Melo misses with a straight right.
Middleton lands with an overhand left.
Melo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Middleton.
Middleton takes a swing at Melo's ribcage but misses.
Middleton lands with a nice combination. Melo backs away looking to recover.
An inside leg kick lands from Melo.
Middleton has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Melo.
A big left from Middleton misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Middleton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Melo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Middleton.
Melo has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
A leg kick checked by Middleton.
Middleton looks to land a combination. Melo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Melo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Melo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Melo misses with an uppercut. Middleton saw that one coming.
Middleton swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Middleton lands a slapping body shot.
Melo slips a jab and a cross from Middleton.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Melo! But no joy.
Josh Middleton is winning the standup battle so far.
Melo lands a nice hook to Middleton's body. Middleton takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Middleton lands a nice shot that snaps Melo's head back.
Melo throws a body punch but Middleton moves out of range.
Middleton drops down looking for a counter takedown but Melo sprawls and moves away.
Melo looks to land a right hand but Middleton moved out of range.
Melo throws a leg kick but Middleton sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Middleton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Melo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Melo throws a hook but Middleton avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melo misses with a body shot.
Middleton is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Melo slips a jab from Middleton.
Melo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A punch lands to the side of Melo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melo throws a shot from downtown. Middleton moves away and avoids it.
Melo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Middleton has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melo clinches with his opponent.
Melo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Melo lands a body shot.

Middleton breaks the clinch.
Middleton connects with a right hand. Melo shakes it off.
Middleton lands a jab to the head.
Middleton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Middleton tries to land a front kick but Melo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Melo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Melo misses the shot to the body.
Melo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Middleton misses with a lunging right hand
and Melo counters with a stiff right hand.
Melo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Melo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Melo cracks Middleton with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Melo catches Middleton right on the button with a cross.
A punch lands to the side of Middleton 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Middleton moves out of range as Melo strikes.
Melo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Middleton!
Middleton lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sloppy strikes from Middleton. Those never looked like landing.
Melo digs a good body shot into Middleton's ribs.
Middleton misses with a hook.
Middleton takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Middleton throws a body punch but Melo moves out of range.
Middleton swats away the attempt to clinch by Melo.
Middleton walks into a left hand.
Middleton is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Middleton rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Melo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Middleton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Melo looks to throw the jab but Middleton is out of range.
Melo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Melo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Melo doesn't manage to clinch there - Middleton circles away.
Middleton throws a head kick that half lands.
Melo tries to clinch but Middleton is having none of it.
Middleton appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Melo. Middleton does a little dance to reset his feet.
Middleton is looking to counter punch.
Melo throws a leg kick that misses.
Melo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Middleton walks into a jab.
Melo throws a jab but it's blocked by Middleton.
Melo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Good work by Melo as he checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Melo pushes Middleton back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Melo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Melo fails to land.
Middleton taking a breather.
Melo tries to throw a body punch but Middleton avoids it by throwing Melo back against the cage.
Melo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

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

Middleton tries to keep at a distance but Melo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Melo blocks an uppercut.
Our sources have told us that Middleton has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
A right hand to the body from Middleton.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Middleton working aggressively here.

Middleton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Middleton moves away from the strike by Melo.
Jab by Melo.

Middleton is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Renan Melo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Middleton throws a right and a left that Melo avoids nicely.
Melo on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Melo scores with a sloppy right hand. Middleton should have avoided that one.
Oh Middleton is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Melo ducks down and throws a big overhand right - it lands flush on the jaw, knocking Middleton out cold! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Renan Melo!
Renan Melo thanked the fans post fight for their support.