PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Winston Ashley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erin Melcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashley comes to the cage accompanied by Ready for War by 50 Cent. Winston Ashley had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ashley
vs
Melcher

178 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
162 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Winston Ashley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Erin Melcher!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ashley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Melcher was well out of range. Poor timing from Ashley.
Ashley scores with a jab. Melcher acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Melcher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ashley throws out a powerful jab.
Ashley misses with a two punch combination.
Nice straight punches there by Ashley. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ashley.
A jab from Ashley misses.
Melcher swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Melcher moves out of range as Ashley strikes.
Ashley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ashley throws a head kick that misses.
Melcher takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ashley clobbers Melcher with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The fighters circling - Ashley throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Melcher shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ashley sprawls well. Ashley wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Melcher gets slowly back to his feet.
Winston Ashley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melcher avoids the body shot from Ashley.
Melcher dodges the punch combination from Ashley.
Ashley stuns Melcher with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Melcher fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ashley takes a swing at Melcher's ribcage but misses.
Melcher moves out of range as Ashley strikes.
Ashley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ashley fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ashley misses with a wild body shot.
Melcher displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ashley throws out the jab.

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.
Ashley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Melcher.
Melcher scores with a kick to the midsection.

Melcher feints and as Ashley raises his hands in defense, Melcher changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Melcher throwing strikes from guard but Ashley blocks nicely.
Melcher throws a big right hand that misses.
Ashley manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Melcher tries to hold on but Ashley postures up.
Ashley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Melcher holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Ashley tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ashley controlling the position easily from mount.
Melcher keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melcher is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ashley controlling from mount.
Melcher holds of for dear life.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ashley controlling from the full mount.
Melcher tries to hold on but Ashley pushes him away.
Melcher regains half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ashley in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashley prevents Melcher from improving his position.
Ashley perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Melcher wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Melcher wants to control but Ashley is keeping busy.
Melcher has his hands clasped together around Ashley's back. He's all about the action.
Melcher wants to improve his position but Ashley is controlling well.
Ashley takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ashley wants to take a breather but Melcher is having none of it.
Melcher controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Melcher trying to hold on to Ashley's head to control him but Ashley postures up.
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 Winston Ashley will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ashley throws a big shot that misses.
Ashley swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ashley dodges the punch combination from Melcher.
Melcher slips under a jab from Ashley.
Ashley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Melcher.
Ashley throws a combination that misses
and Melcher counters with a head kick. That will keep Ashley thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Melcher shoots in looking for a takedown. Ashley tries to sprawl out of it but Melcher keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ashley manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Melcher shoots in but Ashley avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashley works the jab nicely.
Ashley misses with an uppercut. Melcher saw that one coming.
Ashley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Melcher misses with a low kick.
A left and a right from Ashley both land. Nice combination.
Melcher slips under a jab from Ashley.
Ashley misses with a straight right.

Melcher closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ashley to the mat! Ashley manages to get full guard.
Ashley keeping moving, preventing Melcher from controlling successfully.
Melcher stopping the sweep attempt from Ashley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melcher is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ashley bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Melcher's guard.
Ashley not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Melcher is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashley tries to free his leg and advance position but Melcher is retaining full guard.
Ashley postures up.
Melcher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ashley is one step ahead there.
Ashley is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Melcher is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ashley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melcher swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ashley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Melcher was well out of range. Poor timing from Ashley.
Ashley throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ashley throws a combination that misses

and Melcher counters with a shoot takedown. Ashley fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashley keeping moving, preventing Melcher from controlling successfully.
Ashley pulls Melcher in close to his closed guard and prevents Melcher from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ashley keeping full guard, as Melcher tries to pass.
Melcher trying to control but Ashley is working from the bottom.
Ashley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Melcher is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Melcher is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ashley is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ashley has escaped and now he's on top!
Melcher is breathing heavily.
Ashley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melcher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erin Melcher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Ashley throws a looping overhand right but Melcher ducks down to avoid it.
Ashley just misses with a punch to the body.
Melcher slips a jab and a cross from Ashley.
Ashley changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ashley misses with the combination.
Melcher fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ashley scores with a body shot.
Ashley swings for the body but Melcher moves out of range.
Winston Ashley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melcher looks for a takedown but Ashley sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melcher throws a sloppy head kick and Ashley moves out of range easily.
Ashley throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Melcher counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Melcher is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Melcher working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Melcher won't allow Ashley to sweep him here.
Melcher pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ashley is keeping the position for now.
Melcher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Melcher postures up in Ashley's guard and throws a big left but Ashley blocks it.
Ashley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ashley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ashley pulls Melcher in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melcher tries to free his leg and advance position but Ashley is retaining full guard.
Melcher throwing strikes but missing.
Melcher pushes down on Ashley's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ashley tries to get to full guard but Melcher has control of the leg.
Ashley is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Melcher's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Melcher's back!
Ashley is landing with strikes from the back.
Ashley is trying to stick to Melcher's back but Melcher is turning into Ashley. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ashley's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Melcher.
Ashley keeping full guard, as Melcher tries to pass.
Melcher is looking to stand up but Ashley won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashley bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Melcher's guard.
Melcher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ashley slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Melcher has control of Ashley's left arm, preventing Ashley from doing any damage.
Ashley is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Melcher seems keen to control Ashley's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashley looking to pass the guard.
Erin Melcher has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ashley stays in close to Melcher's body and controls the position.
Melcher looking to control.
Melcher looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Melcher controls Ashley momentarily but Ashley frees himself.
Ashley passes into half guard.
Ashley stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Winston Ashley.
I think Ashley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Winston Ashley!