PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Atilio Guerra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Guerra's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Annie & the Malagueta Boys - Goin' Up the Country. Melendez has chosen Why Try as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Guerra
vs
Melendez

173 cm
18
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
162 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Atilio Guerra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez misses with a hook.
Guerra throws a low kick but Melendez moves out of range easily.

Melendez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Melendez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Melendez stalling in the clinch but Guerra improves position.
Guerra goes for a takedown in the clinch but Melendez prevents it.
Guerra tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Melendez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Guerra can't fight it off and eventually Melendez manages to take the fight to the floor. Guerra looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Melendez throwing strikes from guard but Guerra blocks nicely.
Guerra has momentary wrist control but Melendez slips an elbow through the middle.
Melendez thows a big elbow that misses.
Melendez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
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 prevents Guerra from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Melendez thows a big elbow that misses.
Melendez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Guerra works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Melendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Melendez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Melendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Guerra is keeping the position.
Melendez throwing strikes but missing.
Guerra trying to keep a closed guard but Melendez is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Guerra tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Guerra utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melendez chips away with some ground and pound.
Guerra not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Melendez throws and elbow that misses. Guerra uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Melendez's guard. Nice move by Guerra!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Melendez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Guerra!
A nice elbow there by Melendez.
Melendez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez cracks Guerra with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Melendez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Melendez landing strikes from the mount.
Melendez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Guerra's face.
Guerra taking shots to the head.
Melendez controlling from mount.
Melendez looking to finish Guerra with some ground and pound. This is bad for Guerra!
Melendez with shots to the head and body - Guerra looks very uncomfortable down there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Guerra really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Guerra wants to control but Melendez is having none of it.
Melendez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez with the ground and pound from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melendez is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Melendez lands a nice shot to the head.
Guerra tries to hold on but Melendez pushes him away.
Melendez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Melendez working the ground and pound effectively.

Guerra is rocked!
Guerra is breathing heavily.
Melendez landing strikes from the mount and Guerra is in trouble!
Oh Guerra is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Guerra tries to hold on but Melendez postures up.
Guerra seems to have got his legs back now.
Melendez scoring with strikes but Guerra is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Guerra on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Melendez is defended easily by Guerra.
Guerra fakes the leg kick and cracks Melendez in the body.
Melendez dips to his left and cracks Guerra with an uppercut!
Guerra takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Guerra lands a jab to Melendez's midsection.
Melendez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches up with Guerra, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes Guerra against the cage but Guerra circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Guerra ducks under a wild hook from Melendez.
Guerra fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Melendez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Melendez wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guerra bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Melendez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Guerra. That did some damage!

Melendez rushes Guerra and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Guerra is trying to force a seperation but Melendez has the dominant position.

Melendez tightens his grip and picks Guerra up, before dumping him to the ground. Guerra manages to land in guard.
Melendez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Melendez postures up.
Melendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Guerra wants to sweep but no luck.
Guerra is working hard here to advance position.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Guerra keeps moving.
Melendez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Guerra is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melendez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Guerra is one step ahead there.
Melendez managing to control the position.
Melendez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Melendez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Guerra decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Melendez clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants a takedown.
Atilio Guerra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Melendez.

Guerra gets control of Melendez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Guerra will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Guerra is trying to keep Melendez in close.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Guerra keeps moving.
Melendez is looking to work some ground and pound but Guerra has wrist control.
Chris Melendez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Guerra working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Melendez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Melendez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Guerra wants to stand and escape but Melendez is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to control but Guerra is working from the bottom.
Melendez throws a big right hand that misses.
Guerra tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Melendez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Melendez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Melendez with a nice head shot there.
Melendez lands a couple of digs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Guerra controls Melendez momentarily but Melendez frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melendez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Guerra keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Melendez 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Guerra shoots for a double leg takedown but Melendez sprawls well. He's pushed Guerra's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Melendez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Guerra gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Melendez lands a jab to the head.
Melendez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Melendez stuffs the takedown attempt from Guerra. Guerra gets slowly back to his feet.
Melendez throws a series of strikes that have Guerra backpedaling.

Melendez moves into range and clinches up with Guerra.
Melendez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Guerra.
Melendez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Guerra fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Melendez lands.
Melendez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Melendez shoots for a takedown but Guerra saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Melendez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Melendez rushes Guerra and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Guerra manages to break the clinch.
Melendez misses with a looping left.
Guerra misses with a takedown
and Melendez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atilio Guerra. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Guerra closes the distance and clinches.
Melendez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Guerra avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melendez gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Melendez thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Guerra to regain full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Guerra is on top in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melendez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Melendez keeping full guard, as Guerra tries to pass.
Melendez keeping moving, preventing Guerra from controlling successfully.

Guerra thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Melendez is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Melendez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guerra trying to strike off his back.
Guerra trying to keep a closed guard but Melendez is proving a slippery customer.
Melendez chips away with some ground and pound.
Melendez chips away with some ground and pound.
Melendez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Melendez throws a strike but Guerra rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Melendez wants to sweep here but Guerra controlling him for the moment.
Atilio Guerra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melendez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez has Guerra pulled in close to control his posture.
Guerra trying to control but Melendez is working from the bottom.
Melendez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Guerra!
Melendez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melendez looking to finish Guerra with some ground and pound. This is bad for Guerra!
Melendez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Chris Melendez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Guerra taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Melendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Melendez 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Melendez!