PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renan Melo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roko Tiili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melo's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Fireball - Pitbull. Tiili has chosen Antti Railio - Halla ja etelätuuli as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Melo
vs
Tiili

159 cm
30
145 lbs
24 - 16 - 0

168 cm
35
137 lbs
20 - 11 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Renan Melo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Roko Tiili!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tiili takes the fight into the clinch.
Tiili misses with some punches.
Tiili goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Tiili.
Melo lands with a right to the head.
Melo misses with some punches.
Melo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Melo throws a punch but it's blocked by Tiili.
Tiili blocks a body shot from Melo.
Melo lands a shot to the body.
A short left from Tiili.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Melo.
Tiili prevents a body shot from Melo.
Melo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Melo.
Tiili misses with a hook to the ribs.
Melo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tiili misses with a hook to the ribs.
Melo throws a punch but it's blocked by Tiili.
A shot in the inside from Tiili.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tiili tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Melo's elbow.
Melo cracks Tiili with a nice body shot.
Melo fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiili struggles to land a body shot inside as Melo controls his hands.
Tiili misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tiili tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Melo's elbow.
Good body shot from Tiili.
Tiili tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Melo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tiili is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Melo's half guard.
Tiili lands with a punch from half guard.
Melo wants to improve his position but Tiili is controlling well.
Tiili is pressing down on Melo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Melo is holding on for now.
Tiili takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tiili seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tiili looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Melo trying to hold on to Tiili's head to control him but Tiili postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo has hold of Tiili's hands but Tiili slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Melo manages to get to full guard.
Melo keeping full guard, as Tiili tries to pass.
Melo looking for a sweep. Not yet Melo, not yet.
Tiili looking to pass the guard.
Tiili preventing the sweep.
Melo working a defensive guard here.
Tiili stands up over Melo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
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!
Tiili forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiili scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Melo gets full guard.

Melo has his foot on Tiili's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tiili works his way back into a safe position though.
Tiili scoring with some ground and pound.
Melo is trying to keep Tiili in close.
Tiili scoring with punches to the head and body.
Melo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tiili is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Melo has momentary wrist control but Tiili slips an elbow through the middle.
Melo has momentary wrist control but Tiili slips an elbow through the middle.
Tiili distracts Melo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiili landing some decent shots from guard.
Melo keeping moving, preventing Tiili from controlling successfully.
Tiili preventing the sweep.
Tiili trying to control but Melo is working from the bottom.
Tiili postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Melo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tiili can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Melo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tiili lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roko Tiili dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Melo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tiili.
Tiili only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tiili misses with a looping left.
It looked like Melo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Tiili.
Melo throws a body punch but Tiili moves out of range.
Melo misses with a looping right.
Tiili staying out of range there.
Tiili has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melo tried to score with a low kick but Tiili checks it.
Tiili on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tiili lands an overhand right.
Melo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melo misses with a leg kick
and Tiili counters with a thumping low kick.
Tiili darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tiili throws a leg kick that misses.
Melo appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice jab there from Tiili.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tiili 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 Melo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Melo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiili swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tiili feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Melo's calf.
An inside leg kick lands from Tiili.
Melo digs a good body shot into Tiili's ribs.
Tiili lands a lovely overhand right.
Melo scores with the left hand. Tiili knows he should have avoided that one.
Tiili cracks Melo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Melo throws a lazy right hand but Tiili sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Melo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Melo swats away the attempt to clinch by Tiili.
Melo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Melo connects with a right hand. Tiili shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Tiili checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tiili feints a counter leg kick.
Tiili misses with a low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nice body punch from Tiili.
A right hook to the body lands for Melo.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tiili.
Tiili lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tiili lands a left hand that snaps the head of Melo backwards.

Melo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tiili lunges at Melo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Melo's hand.
Tiili throws a body punch but Melo moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tiili.
Melo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tiili is looking to score with low kicks.
Tiili scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Tiili.
Tiili throws a leg kick which misses Melo's front leg but catches the back leg as Melo tries to avoid it.
Tiili lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tiili fails in his attempt to clinch.
Melo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Melo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tiili throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A shot to the liver by Tiili. Beautiful body shot.
Tiili tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Melo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Melo misses the target.
Melo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tiili lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Melo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiili cracks Melo with a good jab.
Tiili misses with an attempted mid kick.
Melo appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tiili darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tiili misses with a series of wild punches.
Melo throws a lazy right hand but Tiili sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tiili ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good leg kick by Tiili there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Roko Tiili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tiili's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Melo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tiili scrambles back to his feet.

Tiili closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tiili.
A head punch on the inside from Tiili fails to land.
Tiili lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Melo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roko Tiili showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Melo stuffs the takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tiili or perhaps it was just good defense by Melo, which made it look bad.
Melo changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Tiili has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Melo misses with a body kick.
Tiili looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Melo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tiili fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tiili misses with a body punch
and Melo counters with an outside leg kick.
Tiili fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Melo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Melo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tiili lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot lands for Tiili.
Melo throws a body punch but Tiili moves out of range.
Melo misses with a low kick.
Tiili misses with an attempted mid kick.
It looked like Melo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Melo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tiili swings for the body but Melo moves out of range.
A low kick from Tiili is predictable there
enabling Melo to counter with a crisp jab.
Good work by Melo as he checks the leg kick.
Melo checks a leg kick nicely.
Tiili connects with a good right hand that stumbles Melo. Melo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Tiili cracks the inside of Melo's front leg.

Tiili rushes Melo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Melo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Melo fails to pull guard.
Melo scores with a shot to the side of Tiili's head.
Melo lands a shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tiili.
Melo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tiili misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melo lands with a left to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melo misses with a punch on the inside.
Tiili with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tiili blocking some punches.
Tiili is working for takedown but Melo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Renan Melo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roko Tiili.
Melo lands with a light punch inside.
Tiili struggles to land a body shot inside as Melo controls his hands.
Melo throws a head punch that misses.
Melo misses with a body punch.
Melo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Melo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Melo gets tackled into the cage by Tiili. Tiili maintains the clinch.
Tiili is looking to take this one to the mat.
A right hook to the body lands for Melo.
Tiili trying to control the position but instead, Melo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tiili into the cage.
A short right from Melo on the inside.
Tiili tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiili gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Tiili lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tiili wants to control but Melo is keeping him busy.

Melo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tiili pulls his head out easily.
Tiili looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Roko Tiili is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Melo wants to control but Tiili is keeping busy.
Renan Melo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tiili looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tiili prevents Melo from improving his position.

Melo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Melo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Melo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiili throws a big elbow that misses.
Melo seems keen to control Tiili's posture.
Tiili throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tiili with a nice head shot there.
Tiili trying to control the position from guard on top but Melo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tiili distracts Melo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Melo keeping moving, preventing Tiili from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Roko Tiili.
Well Tiili has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roko Tiili!
After the fight, Roko Tiili was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.