PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rogerio Salvatore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabio Melo had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Fabio Melo looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Melo
vs
Salvatore

191 cm
21
177 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

190 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rogerio Salvatore!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Salvatore!
Melo looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
A shot to de liver by Salvatore. Beautiful body shot.
Salvatore shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Melo sprawls well. Melo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Salvatore gets slowly back to his feet.

Salvatore instigates a clinch.

Salvatore gets control of Melo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Salvatore will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Salvatore wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Salvatore 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.

Salvatore pushes Melo off and scrambles back to his feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Salvatore scores with a four punch combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salvatore will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvatore fails to land the takedown.
Fabio Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rogerio Salvatore.
Salvatore closes the distance and clinches up with Melo, looking for a takedown. Salvatore pushes Melo against the cage but Melo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Salvatore is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Salvatore dives in and grabs Melo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Melo pushes down on Salvatore's head and hops out.
Melo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Salvatore scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Salvatore moves into range and clinches up with Melo.
Melo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Salvatore smiles and moves away.
Salvatore scores with a three punch combo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore works the jab nicely.

Melo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Salvatore's guard.
Salvatore is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Melo postures up in Salvatore's guard and throws a big left but Salvatore blocks it.
Melo throws a big right hand that misses.
Salvatore 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.
Melo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salvatore works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melo postures up in Salvatore's guard and throws a big left but Salvatore blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melo stopping the sweep attempt from Salvatore.
Salvatore has momentary wrist control but Melo slips an elbow through the middle.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Salvatore lands a jab.
Salvatore throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Melo.
Melo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salvatore pinned against the cage. Salvatore gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Melo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Salvatore tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Melo swivels and escapes.
Salvatore will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Salvatore closes this distance looking for a takedown but Melo circles away.
Melo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Melo has a takedown stuffed.
Salvatore moves in looking to clinch but Melo pushes him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Some wild striking there from Salvatore.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Salvatore dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Melo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Salvatore.

Salvatore gets a clinch.
Melo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salvatore just stands there and leans against the cage.
Melo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Melo fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabio Melo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melo jumps guard but Salvatore stands there with Melo around his waist. Melo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Melo fails to pull guard.
Salvatore tries to circle away but Melo has him pinned against the cage.
Melo being controlled against the cage.
Melo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salvatore is trying to force a seperation but Melo has the dominant position.
Melo jumps guard but Salvatore stands there with Melo around his waist. Melo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Salvatore gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvatore prevents Melo from improving his position.

Melo looking for submissions off his back.
Melo tries to get to full guard but Salvatore has control of the leg.

Melo looking for submissions off his back.
Melo is trying to get back to full guard.

Melo actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Melo tries to get to full guard but Salvatore has control of the leg.

Melo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Salvatore pulls his head out easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Melo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Salvatore fails with the takedown

and Melo counters with a single leg into guard. Salvatore didn't expect that.
Melo postures up and lands a big shot to Salvatore's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salvatore controls Melo momentarily but Melo frees himself.
Salvatore 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Melo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Melo throws and elbow that misses. Salvatore uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Melo's guard. Nice move by Salvatore!

Salvatore got a little sloppy there for a moment and Melo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Salvatore has managed to get both his arms back between Melo's legs - danger averted.

Melo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Salvatore is aware though and is defending well.

Melo is looking for a triangle but Salvatore pushes his legs off easily.

Melo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Salvatore wants to stand but Melo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Melo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Melo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Salvatore is aware though and is defending well.

Melo working for a triangle but Salvatore defends it easily.
Salvatore wants to control from the top but Melo keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Melo dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Salvatore swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salvatore with a poor takedown

and Melo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salvatore's guard.
Melo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Melo stops Salvatore from standing up.
Fabio Melo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Salvatore avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Melo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Salvatore looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melo is one step ahead there.
Salvatore working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Melo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Salvatore looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melo throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Salvatore throws a sloppy head kick and Melo moves out of range easily.
Salvatore lands a nice hook to Melo's body. Melo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Melo dives in and grabs Salvatore's left leg, looking for a takedown. Salvatore pushes down on Melo's head and hops out.
Melo dodges the punch combination from Salvatore.
Melo with a poor takedown
and Salvatore counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Melo thinking.
A left and a right from Salvatore both land. Nice combination.
Salvatore throws a head kick but Melo moves out of range.
Melo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salvatore.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Salvatore slaps away a takedown attempt from Melo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabio Melo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Salvatore tries to clinch there but Melo circles away.
Melo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Salvatore rushes Melo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Salvatore is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Melo fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore jumps guard but Melo stands there with Salvatore around his waist. Salvatore gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Melo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Melo tries to pull guard but Salvatore holds him up against the cage and eventually Melo drops back down to his feet.
Salvatore taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Melo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Salvatore smiles and moves away.
Salvatore looks to clinch

and Melo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Melo winds up and cracks Salvatore with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Melo is working for a submission of some sort.
Salvatore won't allow Melo to pass to mount.
Melo working the head and body with strikes.
Salvatore wants to control but Melo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Salvatore makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Salvatore.
Melo throws a big right hand that misses.
Melo throws a strike but Salvatore rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Salvatore avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Melo is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Salvatore rolls with it to try and escape but Melo cranks on the arm and Salvatore is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Fabio Melo!