PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leandro Capoia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Melendez
vs
Capoia

180 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leandro Capoia!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Capoia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Melendez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A big right from Capoia misses.
Capoia tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Melendez finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Capoia falls off balance throwing a combination

and Melendez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Capoia's guard.
Capoia wants to stand and escape but Melendez is having none of it.
Melendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Capoia is keeping the position for now.
Melendez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Capoia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melendez 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.
Melendez won't allow Capoia to get back to his feet.
Capoia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Capoia is keeping the position.

Melendez stands and steps away. Capoia gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Melendez shoots for a takedown but Capoia saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Melendez forces Capoia back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Melendez breaks from the clinch.
Capoia looks to clinch

and Melendez counters by moving into the clinch.
Melendez keeps control of Capoia as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Capoia wants to break free but Melendez has control.
Capoia has had enough of the clinch but Melendez keeps him there for the moment.
Capoia tries to break the clinch but Melendez is controlling the position.

Melendez breaks the clinch.
Capoia paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Capoia tries to clinch up

and Melendez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Capoia won't be happy with that.
Melendez slows the pace down.
Melendez is breathing heavily.
Melendez throws a strike aimed at the side of Capoia's head but Capoia avoids it well.
Melendez lands a decent elbow from side control.
Capoia wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melendez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Melendez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Capoia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Capoia thows a body shot but no joy.
Capoia misses with a straight left.
Capoia fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Capoia misses with a body punch

and Melendez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Capoia won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Melendez stands up.
Capoia throws a lazy head kick

and Melendez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Melendez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez manages to pull guard.
Capoia trying to stand up but can't free himself from Melendez's guard.
Melendez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Capoia avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Capoia wants to get up but he can't break Melendez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Melendez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Melendez wants to get back to his feet but Capoia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Melendez looking for a sweep. Not yet Melendez, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Capoia wants to stand but Melendez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Capoia preventing the sweep.
Capoia wants to stand but Melendez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Capoia tries to clinch up

and Melendez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melendez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Capoia is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Capoia lands a jab-cross combination.
Melendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Capoia circles away.
Capoia closes the distance but Melendez moves to the side

and Melendez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Melendez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Melendez lands a heavy elbow.

Melendez is working for a guillotine from mount but Capoia frees his head quite easily.
Melendez throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Melendez won't let Capoia get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Melendez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Capoia is surviving well by controlling Melendez's body position as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capoia is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Melendez is going olschool here, as he tries to force Capoia to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Capoia shrugs it off.
Melendez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Capoia is looking to escape.
Capoia is trying to stand.
Melendez controlling from mount.
Capoia is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Melendez with the ground and pound from mount.
Capoia in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Melendez looking to control but Capoia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Capoia is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Capoia has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Capoia is trying to stand back up.

Capoia won't enjoy being in this position. Melendez looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Capoia is tapping - it's over boys! Melendez picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mark Melendez!