PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ehrmantraut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ehrmantraut comes to the cage accompanied by Magic Arrow. Melo has chosen Fireball - Pitbull as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ehrmantraut
vs
Melo

160 cm
26
139 lbs
11 - 5 - 2

159 cm
27
145 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Perkele!

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 11 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Ehrmantraut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Renan Melo!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ehrmantraut digs a good hook to Melo's body.
Melo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A big right from Melo misses.
Ehrmantraut is looking to score with low kicks.
Ehrmantraut turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Melo moves away from the strike by Ehrmantraut.
Ehrmantraut ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ehrmantraut looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ehrmantraut throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Melo with a jab.
Melo looks to land a left hand but Ehrmantraut moved out of range nicely.
Ehrmantraut pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Melo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ehrmantraut scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ehrmantraut scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Melo tries to move into range but Ehrmantraut moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circling - Ehrmantraut throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Melo moves out of range of the strikes.
Melo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Melo clinches up against the cage.
Ehrmantraut blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ehrmantraut lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ehrmantraut.
Melo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ehrmantraut backwards.
Melo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ehrmantraut prevents a body shot from Melo.
A short right from Melo on the inside.
Melo takes a shot to the head.
A short right from Ehrmantraut on the inside.
We've been informed that Melo has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Ehrmantraut misses with the head strike.
Melo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Melo can't find room to land a body shot as Ehrmantraut controls the action.
Melo blocking some punches.
Ehrmantraut fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ehrmantraut misses with a punch on the inside.
Ehrmantraut blocks a body shot from Melo.
Melo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ehrmantraut lands a body shot.
Ehrmantraut goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ehrmantraut tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hand to the body from Melo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melo takes a shot to the head.
Melo digs a right hand into Ehrmantraut's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ehrmantraut's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ehrmantraut can't find room to land a body shot as Melo controls the action.
Ehrmantraut swings wildly with an uppercut but Melo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Melo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ehrmantraut's elbow.
Melo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ehrmantraut wants to stall.
Melo lands a nice shot to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Melo.
Ehrmantraut lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Melo or not.
Melo works on Ehrmantraut's body with a couple of short punches.

Ehrmantraut escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ehrmantraut bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ehrmantraut tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A telegraphed right hand from Melo misses the target.
Ehrmantraut misses with a looping left.
Melo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ehrmantraut uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Melo.
Melo doesn't manage to clinch there - Ehrmantraut circles away.
Nice cross by Melo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Melo misses its intended target.
A little feinted left hand from Ehrmantraut on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ehrmantraut scores with a hook to the body. Melo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Melo might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Melo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Melo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ehrmantraut misses the shot to the body.
Ehrmantraut connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ehrmantraut lands a jab.

Melo pushes Ehrmantraut up against the cage in a clinch.
Melo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Melo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ehrmantraut is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Melo is keeping busy.
Melo tries a body shot but Ehrmantraut blocks it.
Ehrmantraut has a couple of punches blocked by Melo.
Melo lands a body punch.
A short right from Melo on the inside.
Ehrmantraut lands a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ehrmantraut's elbow.
Melo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ehrmantraut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Melo prevents Ehrmantraut from breaking the clinch.
Ehrmantraut tries to break free but Melo pushes him back against the cage.
Melo misses with the head strike.
Ehrmantraut just leaning against Melo, taking a breather.

Melo wants the takedown. Ehrmantraut is fighting it off but Melo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ehrmantraut's guard against the cage.
Ehrmantraut preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Melo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ehrmantraut is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ehrmantraut holds on and takes a little breather.
Melo trying to control but Ehrmantraut is working from the bottom.
Melo wants to pass the guard but Ehrmantraut is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mike Ehrmantraut will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ehrmantraut looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ehrmantraut throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Ehrmantraut blocks the leg kick.
Melo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ehrmantraut.
Melo connects with a jab.
A good leg kick by Ehrmantraut.
Melo throws a big shot that misses.
Melo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Melo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ehrmantraut with a nice cross.
Melo lands with a hook. Ehrmantraut tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ehrmantraut is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Melo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ehrmantraut.
Ehrmantraut tries to work over Melo's front leg with a kick but Melo checks it.
Ehrmantraut checks a low kick from Melo.
Ehrmantraut throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo darts in looking for a takedown but Ehrmantraut gets double underhooks and turns Melo into the cage.
Melo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ehrmantraut.
Ehrmantraut misses with a head kick.
Melo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ehrmantraut.
Melo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ehrmantraut checks it well.
Ehrmantraut scores with a jab to the body.
Melo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ehrmantraut's head backwards.
Melo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ehrmantraut.
A little feinted left hand from Ehrmantraut on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Melo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ehrmantraut.

Melo clinches up against the cage.
Ehrmantraut can't find room to land a body shot as Melo controls the action.
Ehrmantraut misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ehrmantraut has a couple of punches blocked by Melo.
Melo misses with some punches.
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!
A nice right hand lands inside from Melo.
Melo misses with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ehrmantraut creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Melo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ehrmantraut's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ehrmantraut lands a hook that snaps the head of Melo backwards.
Ehrmantraut stalling in the clinch but Melo improves position.
A right hook to the body lands for Melo.
Melo misses with a punch to the body.
Mike Ehrmantraut has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Melo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ehrmantraut misses with some punches.
Melo lands a nice uppercut.
Ehrmantraut blocks a body shot from Melo.
Ehrmantraut misses with a punch on the inside.
Ehrmantraut softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ehrmantraut misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ehrmantraut has a couple of punches blocked by Melo.
Melo throws a punch but it's blocked by Ehrmantraut.

Melo pulls guard effortlessly.
Melo wants to improve his position but instead Ehrmantraut has moved into half guard.
Melo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Melo is pressing down on Ehrmantraut's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo looking for a sweep. Not yet Melo, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ehrmantraut puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Melo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Melo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ehrmantraut wants to control but Melo is keeping him busy.
Melo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ehrmantraut is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Melo wants to improve his position but Ehrmantraut is controlling well.
Melo wants to control but Ehrmantraut is keeping busy.
Melo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
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.
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. This is the final round!

Melo throws a big shot that misses.
Ehrmantraut scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Melo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ehrmantraut throws out the jab.
Ehrmantraut scoring well with a low kick there.
Melo slips a straight right by Ehrmantraut.
Ehrmantraut throws a nice inside leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Melo, as that shot connected.
Melo tries to work over Ehrmantraut's front leg with a kick but Ehrmantraut checks it.
A slow jab from Melo misses its intended target.
Melo ducks right into an uppercut from Ehrmantraut.
Melo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ehrmantraut checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ehrmantraut misses with a low kick as Melo jumps back.
Melo feints a counter leg kick.
Melo scores with a nice strike.
Nice uppercut lands for Ehrmantraut. That snapped Melo's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ehrmantraut ducks under a wild hook from Melo.
Ehrmantraut was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Melo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ehrmantraut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ehrmantraut is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ehrmantraut steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Melo.
Melo misses with a hook.
Ehrmantraut's corner calls for a 1-2. Ehrmantraut obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Melo lands with an uppercut that bounces Ehrmantraut off the cage and back into range.
Ehrmantraut on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Melo throws an overhand right that lands on Ehrmantraut's shoulder, as Ehrmantraut tries to avoid the shot.
Mike Ehrmantraut is winning the standup battle so far.
Ehrmantraut cracks a nice hook into Melo's ribs.
Ehrmantraut misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Melo.
Melo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A jab lands there for Melo.
Ehrmantraut is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Melo.
Melo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Melo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Melo drives through and clinches with Ehrmantraut against the cage.
Melo misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Melo fails to land.
Ehrmantraut tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Melo tries a body shot but Ehrmantraut blocks it.
Melo tries to throw a body punch but Ehrmantraut avoids it by throwing Melo back against the cage.
Ehrmantraut is trying to stall.

Ehrmantraut breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ehrmantraut lunges at Melo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Melo's hand.
A jab from Ehrmantraut misses.
Melo looks to land a right hand but Ehrmantraut moved out of range.
Ehrmantraut throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ehrmantraut lands with a thumping leg kick.
Melo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circling - Ehrmantraut throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Melo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ehrmantraut.
Melo let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Melo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ehrmantraut.
Ehrmantraut misses with a shot to the body
and Melo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ehrmantraut's corner calls for a 1-2. Ehrmantraut obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ehrmantraut walks into a left hand.
Ehrmantraut scores with a jab to the jaw.
Melo takes a swing at Ehrmantraut's ribcage but misses.
Melo checks a low kick from Ehrmantraut.
Ehrmantraut scores with a body shot.
The fighters circling - Ehrmantraut throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Melo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Melo moves out of range as Ehrmantraut strikes.
Ehrmantraut keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Melo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ehrmantraut was well out of range. Poor timing from Melo.
The fighters circling - Melo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ehrmantraut loads up on a big right hand but Melo slips the punch.
Ehrmantraut displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Melo throws out the jab.
Ehrmantraut ducks right into an uppercut from Melo.
Melo thuds his right hand into Ehrmantraut's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Melo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ehrmantraut's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ehrmantraut misses the jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A jab from Melo misses.
Ehrmantraut blocks a jab.
A swing and a miss from Ehrmantraut.
Melo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Melo misses with a left hand
and Ehrmantraut counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ehrmantraut avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ehrmantraut turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ehrmantraut looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Melo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ehrmantraut has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ehrmantraut and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ehrmantraut throws a hook but Melo avoids it easily.
Ehrmantraut looks to land a right hand but Melo moved out of range.
Melo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ehrmantraut ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Melo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice defenses there by Melo.
Melo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Renan Melo.
I think Melo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Ehrmantraut!
A relieved looking Mike Ehrmantraut thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.