PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lincoln Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aldo comes into the arena with Domination blaring out of the sound system. Lincoln Aldo has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Aldo
vs
Melendez

185 cm
25
233 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
255 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lincoln Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damien Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aldo but Aldo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aldo as he avoids it easily.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but Aldo shows good takedown defense.
Lincoln Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Melendez.
Melendez misses with a takedown
and Aldo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Melendez slips a jab and a cross from Aldo.
Aldo misses with a wild combination.
Aldo lands with a nice combination. Melendez backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Damien Melendez has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aldo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Aldo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Aldo tries to stand but Melendez is controlling his head.

Aldo decides to stand back up. Aldo steps back and let's Melendez get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Melendez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Aldo is keeping the position.
Aldo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Melendez on the ground.
Melendez trying to move into half guard but instead Aldo has managed to sweep!
Melendez 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melendez has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Aldo is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Melendez.
Melendez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aldo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Aldo tries to stand but Melendez is controlling his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez sneaks back into half guard.

Aldo decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Aldo misses with a wild combination.
Aldo misses with a wild combination.
The fighters circle momentarily. Aldo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez slips a jab from Aldo.

Melendez closes the distance and pushes Aldo back into the cage.
Melendez looking for a takedown.

Aldo breaks the clinch.
Melendez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aldo defends it nicely.
Aldo throws a right hand that Melendez ducks under and follows up with a left that Melendez also avoids with ease.
Aldo misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Melendez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Aldo shoots in looking for a takedown. Melendez tries to sprawl out of it but Aldo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Melendez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aldo is breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Aldo as Melendez shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lincoln Aldo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damien Melendez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Melendez shoots in but no luck this time.
Aldo connects with a body shot.
Lincoln Aldo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Aldo as Melendez shoots in.
Aldo throws a nice looking combination but Melendez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Melendez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aldo.
Melendez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aldo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Melendez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aldo defends it nicely.
Lincoln Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Melendez.
Aldo misses with a straight right.
Lincoln Aldo is winning the standup battle so far.
Aldo just misses with a punch to the body.
Aldo scores with a spinning back kick!
Melendez is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aldo throws a series of strikes that have Melendez backpedaling.
Aldo misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo misses with a two punch combination.
Aldo cracks Melendez with a right hand to the side of the head.
A combination from Aldo does no damage.
Aldo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Melendez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aldo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Melendez dodges the punch combination from Aldo.
Melendez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A combination from Aldo does no damage.
Aldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aldo just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Aldo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Melendez.
Aldo lands a lovely overhand right.
Melendez misses with a kick to the body.
Lincoln Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Melendez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Aldo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Melendez manages to avoid it.
Aldo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Melendez drives through with a takedown into Aldo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Melendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aldo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez 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.
Melendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aldo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Melendez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Melendez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Damien Melendez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez passes Aldo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Melendez is working for a kimura but Aldo is defending it quite comfortably.

Melendez is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Melendez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aldo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lincoln Aldo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Damien Melendez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Aldo lands a two punch combo.
Aldo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aldo misses with a double jab

and Melendez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Melendez.
Melendez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aldo walks away with a smile on his face. Melendez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Melendez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aldo's waist but Aldo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Melendez off to one side.
Sloppy strikes from Aldo. Those never looked like landing.
Melendez dodges the punch combination from Aldo.
Danga de danga de dang - Aldo scores with a four punch combination!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Melendez shoots for a takedown but Aldo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lincoln Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Melendez.
Melendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Aldo circles away.
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!

Melendez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Melendez lands in his opponent's guard.
Melendez should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Aldo is retaining full guard.

Melendez 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.
Aldo is looking to stand up but Melendez isn't so interested in that idea.
Melendez pushing down on Aldo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lincoln Aldo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melendez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Aldo has managed to free his arm - good work.

Melendez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Melendez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Melendez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Melendez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Melendez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aldo defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melendez is trying to work for a kimura but Aldo is defending well.
Melendez misses with a head shot. Aldo uses the momentum to regain guard.
Melendez wants to stand and escape but instead Aldo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Damien Melendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aldo's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Melendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Aldo 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lincoln Aldo!