PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aldo Crespo (ranked 1706 p4p, 188 weight class) and Ibrahim Mamu Melamies (ranked 3534 p4p, 336 weight class). Crespo comes into the arena with Toxic Waltz blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Crespo
vs
Mamu Melamies

185 cm
29
152 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

165 cm
31
154 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Garra Nutri

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aldo Crespo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ibrahim Mamu Melamies!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crespo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A nice side step and Melamies releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Melamies misses with a wild body shot.
Crespo just misses with a punch to the body.
Despite the aggression on Melamies's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Melamies throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Crespo seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Melamies ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Crespo moves away.
Crespo tries a head kick but it misses.
Crespo fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crespo misses with a left hand
and Melamies makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Crespo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Crespo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crespo throws an overhand right that lands on Melamies's shoulder, as Melamies tries to avoid the shot.
Melamies is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Crespo rather than just go for the knockout.
Melamies lands a nice shot to the body.
Melamies scores with a nice head shot.
Melamies moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Crespo lands a jab to the head.
Nice jab there from Crespo.
Melamies fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Melamies leaves Crespo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aldo Crespo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crespo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Melamies at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crespo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Melamies unleashes a big counter combination but Crespo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Crespo swings for the body but Melamies moves out of range.
Melamies misses with a body kick.
Crespo feinted with a counter takedown.
Crespo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crespo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Crespo lands with a straight right. Melamies didn't see that one coming.
Crespo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Crespo tries a head kick but it misses.
Melamies only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Crespo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Melamies just misses with a punch to the body.
Melamies feints and then cracks Crespo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Crespo down.
Melamies blocks a jab.
Crespo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
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 Aldo Crespo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Crespo throws a head kick that misses.
Melamies looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Melamies throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Crespo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Melamies connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Crespo's hands.
Crespo misses with a hook. Melamies ducked under it nicely.
Crespo connects with the punch.
Melamies pivots, looking for a leg kick but Crespo is out of range and Melamies settles back down.
Crespo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crespo looks to score with a jab to the body but Melamies is just out of range.
Melamies thinks about the counter body kick.
Crespo tries a head kick but it misses.
Crespo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crespo moves out of range of the leg kick from Melamies.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melamies lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Crespo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Crespo misses with a lunging right hand
and Melamies counters with a nice low kick that buckles Crespo's knee momentarily.
Crespo throws an overhand right that lands on Melamies's shoulder, as Melamies tries to avoid the shot.
Melamies flicks out a counter leg kick but Crespo steps away.
Crespo throws a jab but it's blocked by Melamies.
Melamies takes a jab right on the kisser.
Melamies fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Melamies feints and then cracks Crespo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Crespo down.
Crespo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Melamies lands a slapping body shot.
Crespo misses the jab.
Melamies doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melamies swinging wildly here.
A big left from Crespo misses.
Melamies throws a quick inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Crespo misses with a right hand
and Melamies counters with a low kick, right behind Crespo 's knee.
Nice sprawl there from Melamies as Crespo shoots in.
A looping hook to the body misses from Crespo. Melamies does a little dance to reset his feet.

Crespo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Melamies to the mat! Melamies manages to get full guard.
Crespo throwing strikes but missing.
Melamies avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've been hearing good reports from Crespo's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Crespo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Melamies manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Crespo has Melamies in his guard.

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

A close second round but Ibrahim Mamu Melamies will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Crespo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Crespo fails with a takedown attempt.
Melamies scores with a jab to the body.
Crespo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crespo lands with a kick to the temple. Melamies shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Melamies avoids the head kick by Crespo.
Crespo throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melamies thows a left - swing and a miss!
A little feinted left hand from Crespo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Melamies stuns Crespo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Crespo misses with a takedown attempt
and Melamies counters with a nice body shot.
Melamies ducks under a wild hook from Crespo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melamies swings and misses with a shot to the body

so Crespo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Crespo trying to control the position from guard on top but Melamies is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melamies not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Crespo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Melamies trying to keep a closed guard but Crespo is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Crespo wants to control from the top but Melamies keeps moving.
Melamies lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Crespo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melamies pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Crespo is keeping the position for now.
Crespo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melamies is one step ahead there.
Crespo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ibrahim Mamu Melamies.
I think Melamies 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Ibrahim Mamu Melamies!

The fight ends as a draw!