PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jack Melward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bushi Llewtras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Melward had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Melward
vs
Llewtras

169 cm
18
141 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Solid 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Melward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bushi Llewtras!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Dean Styles and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Llewtras fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Melward to the ground. Llewtras is now in Melward's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Llewtras wants to control from the top but Melward keeps moving.

Melward uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Llewtras gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Melward wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Llewtras pulls guard successfully.
Llewtras 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.
Melward wants to pass the guard but Llewtras is keeping the position.
Melward postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Llewtras has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Melward can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Melward drops back looking for a leg! Llewtras is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Llewtras manages to kick Melward off! Melward jumps back into Llewtras's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melward missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Llewtras is working an open guard so Melward takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Llewtras.
Melward throws a combination that misses
letting Llewtras counter with a right hand.
A punch combination from Melward misses.
Llewtras slaps away a takedown attempt from Melward, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Llewtras shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Melward's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Melward is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Melward is pulling down on Llewtras's head. It's preventing any offense from Llewtras, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Llewtras trying to control but Melward is working from the bottom.
Melward is looking to stand up but Llewtras isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bushi Llewtras has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Llewtras tries a head kick but it misses.
Llewtras looks gassed!

Melward instigates a clinch.

Llewtras jumps into guard, dragging Melward to the mat.
Llewtras thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Melward throwing strikes from guard but Llewtras blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Melward accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melward in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Melward throws a big right hand that misses.
Melward throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melward postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Melward throws a big right hand that misses.
Llewtras can't keep his opponent in guard - Melward advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Melward has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Melward uses his free foot to push down on Llewtras's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Llewtras.
Melward with a couple of short strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melward breaks from Llewtras's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Melward dominating with strikes here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Melward cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Melward working Llewtras over with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melward dominating with strikes here.
Llewtras really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Melward. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Melward working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Melward landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Melward dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Melward shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Llewtras eats them both and turns towards Melward to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Melward misses with a combination
and Llewtras counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jack Melward is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melward shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Llewtras pinned against the cage. Llewtras gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Melward.
Melward avoids the head kick by Llewtras.
Llewtras is looking to land body kicks.

Llewtras shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Melward's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Llewtras trying to control but Melward is working from the bottom.
Melward keeping full guard, as Llewtras tries to pass.

Melward scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Llewtras.
Melward will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Melward shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Llewtras as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Melward. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melward avoids the head kick by Llewtras.

Llewtras scores a takedown into full mount!
Llewtras can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Melward is looking to escape.
Jack Melward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Llewtras won't let Melward get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melward sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Melward holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Melward gets back to full guard.
Melward keeping full guard, as Llewtras tries to pass.
Llewtras trying to control but Melward is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Bushi Llewtras has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Melward has taken the fight to the clinch.

Melward jumps guard and drags Llewtras to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Llewtras pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Melward is keeping the position for now.
Melward pulls Llewtras in to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Melward pushes Llewtras off and scrambles back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jack Melward will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Melward moves into the clinch.

Llewtras pulls guard successfully.
Llewtras preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Llewtras working for a triangle but Melward defends it easily.

Melward decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Llewtras, up you get!
Melward misses with a takedown attempt
and Llewtras counters with a leg kick.

Llewtras shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Llewtras was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Melward bucks Llewtras off and manages to get back to his feet!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melward gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Llewtras fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Melward jumps into guard, dragging Llewtras to the mat.
Melward is pulling down on Llewtras's head. It's preventing any offense from Llewtras, at least for the moment.

Melward kicks Llewtras off and gets to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Melward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melward tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Llewtras was well out of range. Poor timing from Melward.
A combination from Melward does no damage.

Llewtras drives through with a takedown into Melward's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Melward keeping moving, preventing Llewtras from controlling successfully.
Melward pulls Llewtras in to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Melward fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Melward. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Melward or perhaps it was just good defense by Llewtras which made him look bad.

Llewtras moves into the clinch.

Llewtras is trying to trip Melward. He has hold of a leg but Melward is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Llewtras persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Llewtras wants to pass the guard but Melward is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melward has his feet on Llewtras's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Melward.

Llewtras scores with a takedown into Melward's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Llewtras trying to control the position from guard on top but Melward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bushi Llewtras.
Well Melward has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jack Melward!