PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erin Melcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Melcher
vs
Castle

170 cm
22
162 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Erin Melcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Max Castle!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Castle landing strikes from the mount and Melcher is in trouble!
Castle sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Melcher tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melcher is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Melcher is looking to get to half guard.
Castle looking to finish with strikes here!
Castle lands a big elbow.
Melcher is looking to improve his position but Castle isn't that keen on the idea.
Melcher tries to lock up and control but Castle gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Castle goes for an armbar but Melcher turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Melcher.
Castle has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melcher sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melcher wants to control from the top but Castle keeps moving.
Melcher wants to stand but Castle has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Castle had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Melcher defends it easily.
Castle pulls Melcher in to control the position.
Melcher sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Castle's guard.
Melcher content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Melcher decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melcher is looking to clinch.
Melcher doesn't manage to clinch there - Castle circles away.

Melcher closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Castle wants to get back to striking at distance but Melcher won't allow it.
Castle can't break the clinch.
Castle letting Melcher take a breather here.
Castle wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Castle blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Melcher fails to pull guard.
Melcher gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Castle.

Castle gets control of Melcher's arms and successfully pulls guard. Castle will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Melcher wanted to stand there but Castle had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Melcher trying to control but Castle is working from the bottom.
Melcher is breathing heavily.
Melcher wanted to stand there but Castle had control of the position.
Melcher passes Castle's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Castle is controlling Melcher's position as best he can from this difficult position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Max Castle will probably get the nod.
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.

Castle defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Melcher.
Castle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castle wants to clinch up but Melcher keeps it at a distance.
Castle misses with a body kick.
Castle fails in his attempt to clinch.
Melcher avoids a punch combination nicely.
Erin Melcher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Melcher moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Castle's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Melcher is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castle wants to break the clinch but can't.

Melcher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Melcher misses with a takedown attempt
and Castle counters with a nice kick to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erin Melcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melcher blocks a head kick by Castle.
A head kick misses from Castle.
Castle misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Castle wants it to stay on the feet.
Castle clinches but Melcher breaks the clinch

and Melcher counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Melcher.
Melcher being controlled here momentarily.
Melcher has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Castle is proving hard to escape from.
Castle managing to control the position.
Castle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castle uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Melcher tries to clinch but Castle is having none of it.
Castle keeps the fight on the outside.
Melcher slaps away a takedown attempt from Castle, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Castle shoots in for a double leg but Melcher sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melcher blocks a head kick by Castle.
Castle fails with a takedown attempt.
Melcher tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Melcher gets a takedown into half guard.
Melcher content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
It looks like Melcher is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle is not content to let Melcher control the position.
Melcher is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Castle is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Castle looks like he's trying to stand up.
Melcher is stalling here. Castle is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Melcher seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Castle has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erin Melcher dominated that second round.
That's time! Melcher's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Melcher takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Melcher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Castle throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Melcher's head.
Melcher avoids the head kick by Castle.
Melcher lands a head kick!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Castle is defended easily by Melcher.

Melcher has closed the distance and engaged Castle in a clinch.
Melcher gets underhooks to prevent Castle's takedown attempt.
Melcher keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Castle's efforts to push away.
Castle lands an elbow inside that Melcher shrugs off.

Melcher is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Castle can't fight it off and eventually Melcher manages to take the fight to the floor. Castle looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melcher trying to control but Castle is working from the bottom.
Castle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Melcher working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Melcher trying to control the position from guard on top but Castle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Melcher advances to half guard.
Castle desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Melcher trying to control from half guard but Castle is working away.
Castle is trying to stand back up but Melcher is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle trying to control from the bottom.
Melcher stops Castle from getting back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Melcher in particular looking to stall.
Erin Melcher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Castle kicks Melcher off and gets back to his feet.

Melcher gets a clinch.

Melcher pulls guard effortlessly.
Castle wants to control from the top but Melcher keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle pushing down on Melcher's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Melcher is trying to control but can't.
Castle is keen to just control but Melcher is a slippery customer.
Castle with the ground and pound but Melcher uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Castle sitting in guard doing not very much at all here. Melcher doesn't need a second invitation though! He's locked up a guillotine and he's squeezing tight! That is tiiiiiiiiight! Castle paying the price for stalling here - he's pushing hard on the arm trying to free himself but it's no use! He's tapped! WOW, quick submission from Melcher - great work!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Erin Melcher!