PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andry Nikol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Nikol
vs
Melendez

170 cm
21
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
27
164 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andry Nikol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gilbert Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikol misses with a straight right.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches up with Nikol, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes Nikol against the cage but Nikol circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nikol sizes up Melendez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nikol just misses with a punch to the body.

Nikol shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Melendez is trying to escape the mount.
Nikol is looking to stand but Nikol has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nikol wants to get back to his feet but Melendez is holding on tight.
Melendez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nikol is looking to stand but Nikol has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Melendez can't escape the position.
Melendez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Melendez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez tries to get to full guard but Nikol has control of the leg.
Melendez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Melendez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nikol gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Melendez has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Nikol has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nikol knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Melendez on the ground.
Melendez struggling a bit here.
Melendez tries to bench press Nikol off him but Nikol keeps the position.
Melendez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Melendez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nikol pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikol tries to stand but can't do so whilst Melendez controls his leg.
Melendez is looking to improve his position.
Melendez works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Melendez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Nikol uses it to pass to side control.
Melendez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nikol misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No luck for Melendez with that takedown attempt.
Nikol cracks Melendez with an open hand slap.
Melendez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nikol.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikol misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nikol throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Nikol closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Melendez's guard.
Melendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Melendez is on top in guard.
Nikol preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melendez drops back looking for a leg! Nikol is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nikol manages to kick Melendez off! Melendez jumps back into Nikol's guard.
Nikol is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Melendez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nikol works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nikol swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to control but Nikol is working from the bottom.
Nikol keeping full guard, as Melendez tries to pass.
Nikol on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nikol tries to get out of the position.
Melendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nikol is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Melendez is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Nikol keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nikol throws a jab but it's blocked by Melendez.
Nikol wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nikol throws a body punch but Melendez moves out of range.
Nikol scores with a one two! Melendez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andry Nikol dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nikol misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

It looks like Gilbert Melendez has been cut.
Nikol tries to bum rush Melendez with a series of wild strikes but Melendez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Nikol sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nikol closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Melendez fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nikol looks to score with a jab to the body but Melendez is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikol tries to clinch up.
Andry Nikol seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches up with Nikol, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes Nikol against the cage but Nikol circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Andry Nikol has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
Melendez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nikol tries to avoid it but Melendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nikol to the ground. Nikol escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Melendez avoids the body shot from Nikol.
Nikol fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikol misses with a body shot.
Melendez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nikol sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nikol misses the shot to the body.
Melendez slips a jab from Nikol.
Nikol is looking to wear down Melendez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Melendez dodges the punch combination from Nikol.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikol scores with a crisp jab that stopped Melendez in his tracks.
Nikol connects with a body shot that sends Melendez's belly button to the back.
Horrible takedown by Melendez or perhaps it was just good defense by Nikol which made him look bad.

Melendez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melendez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nikol is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nikol has escaped and now he's on top!

Melendez has an active guard here but Nikol has managed to pass into half guard.
Melendez missing with punches from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andry Nikol showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nikol 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andry Nikol!