PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Adrian Tangcalagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gilbert Melendez will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Tangcalagan
vs
Melendez

178 cm
24
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adrian Tangcalagan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gilbert Melendez!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tangcalagan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Melendez is refusing to be controlled, as Tangcalagan sits in half guard.
Tangcalagan stops Melendez from getting back to his feet.
Tangcalagan trying to control the action but Melendez is working from the bottom.
Melendez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tangcalagan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Melendez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

We're going to have a standup here because Adrian Tangcalagan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Melendez misses with a wild combination.
Melendez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tangcalagan circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tangcalagan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Melendez misses with a double jab

and Tangcalagan moves into the clinch.
Melendez can't get the takedown.
Melendez tries to circle away but Tangcalagan has him pinned against the cage.
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 Tangcalagan walks away with a smile on his face. Melendez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tangcalagan misses with a kick to the body.
Melendez misses with the combination.
Tangcalagan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tangcalagan avoids a punch combination nicely.
A big left from Melendez misses.
Melendez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tangcalagan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tangcalagan shoots in for a takedown but Melendez shows good takedown defense.
Sloppy strikes from Melendez. Those never looked like landing.
No luck for Tangcalagan with that takedown attempt.
Tangcalagan ducks under a wild hook from Melendez.
Nice sprawl there from Melendez as Tangcalagan shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adrian Tangcalagan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tangcalagan throws the kick towards the body but Melendez avoids it.
Tangcalagan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tangcalagan dodges the punch combination from Melendez.
Melendez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Melendez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tangcalagan is fending him off so far but Melendez persists. Nope, Tangcalagan circles away and we're back to standing.
Melendez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Melendez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tangcalagan misses with a series of wild punches.
Melendez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Melendez wants it to stay on the feet.
A combination from Melendez does no damage.

Tangcalagan pushes Melendez up against the cage in a clinch.
Melendez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Tangcalagan jumps guard and drags Melendez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Tangcalagan is keeping the position.

Tangcalagan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is fighting to break Tangcalagan's control of his arms but Tangcalagan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Melendez stops Tangcalagan from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tangcalagan being controlled here, momentarily.
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 Adrian Tangcalagan will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Melendez misses with a two punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Melendez. Those never looked like landing.
Adrian Tangcalagan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tangcalagan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tangcalagan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Melendez manages to avoid it.
Tangcalagan looks for a takedown but Melendez sprawls well.
A big left from Melendez misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Melendez.

Melendez gets caught napping as Tangcalagan dives in and scores a takedown. Melendez manages to retain guard.
Melendez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Melendez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez wants to stand but Tangcalagan is controlling the position.
Tangcalagan trying to control the position from guard on top but Melendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Melendez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tangcalagan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tangcalagan tries to close the distance and clinch but Melendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt - Tangcalagan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tangcalagan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Melendez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adrian Tangcalagan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tangcalagan circles away quickly and effectively.
Melendez lands a body shot.
Tangcalagan slips a jab and a cross from Melendez.
Melendez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tangcalagan misses with a kick to the body.
Tangcalagan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Melendez but Melendez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tangcalagan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Melendez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tangcalagan scrambles back to his feet.
Melendez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tangcalagan tries to avoid it but Melendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tangcalagan to the ground. Tangcalagan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Melendez showed some decent athleticism there.
Tangcalagan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tangcalagan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tangcalagan tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tangcalagan trying to control the position.

Melendez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tangcalagan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Melendez has managed to get both his arms back between Tangcalagan's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gilbert Melendez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Tangcalagan shoots in but Melendez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tangcalagan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Melendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Tangcalagan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tangcalagan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Melendez misses with a hook. Tangcalagan ducked under it nicely.
Melendez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tangcalagan is looking to clinch.
Tangcalagan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Melendez.
Nice sprawl there from Melendez as Tangcalagan shoots in.
Tangcalagan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Melendez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Melendez looks to throw the jab but Tangcalagan is out of range.
Melendez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Melendez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Melendez swinging wildly here.
Melendez swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Melendez.
Tangcalagan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Melendez sprawls well. Melendez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tangcalagan gets slowly back to his feet.
Melendez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tangcalagan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tangcalagan dives in and grabs Melendez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes down on Tangcalagan's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adrian Tangcalagan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tangcalagan moves into the clinch.
Melendez wants a takedown.
Melendez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Tangcalagan or perhaps it was just good defense by Melendez which made him look bad.
Melendez misses with a two punch combination.

Tangcalagan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Melendez, pushing him back against the cage.
Melendez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tangcalagan to keep the fight standing.
Melendez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Tangcalagan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Melendez uses from the top position.
Melendez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tangcalagan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Tangcalagan keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Melendez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tangcalagan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tangcalagan is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Melendez.

It looks like Adrian Tangcalagan has been cut.
Melendez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tangcalagan.
Melendez misses with the combination.
Melendez misses with a combination

and Tangcalagan moves into the clinch.

Tangcalagan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Tangcalagan instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez goes for a takedown attempt but Tangcalagan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Tangcalagan scores a takedown into full mount!
Melendez is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tangcalagan pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez tries to improve his position but instead Tangcalagan has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Adrian Tangcalagan did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Adrian Tangcalagan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Melendez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Melendez wants to clinch up but Tangcalagan keeps it at a distance.
Tangcalagan shoots in and drives through. Melendez sprawls well.

Tangcalagan takes the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Melendez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Melendez is looking to break free of the clinch but Tangcalagan has double underhooks.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Tangcalagan manages to get underhooks.
Tangcalagan slowing the pace effectively.

Tangcalagan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tangcalagan fails with a takedown attempt.
Melendez stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adrian Tangcalagan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez swinging wildly here.
Melendez tries to bum rush Tangcalagan with a series of wild strikes but Tangcalagan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tangcalagan throws a head kick that misses.
Melendez looks to land a combination but Tangcalagan avoids it well.
Tangcalagan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Melendez counters with a nice uppercut.
Tangcalagan shoots for a takedown but Melendez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Melendez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Melendez seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Melendez gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Melendez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tangcalagan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tangcalagan tries to avoid it but Melendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tangcalagan to the ground. Tangcalagan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tangcalagan shoots in and drives through. Melendez sprawls well.
Melendez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tangcalagan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Melendez.
Melendez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Melendez fails to land the takedown.
Tangcalagan fails with an attempt to clinch.

Tangcalagan drives through with a takedown into Melendez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is pulling down on Tangcalagan's head to control his posture.
Tangcalagan wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
Tangcalagan looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Melendez lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A looping hook to the body misses from Melendez. Tangcalagan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Melendez swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Melendez dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Adrian Tangcalagan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Melendez throws a right and a left that Tangcalagan avoids nicely.
Melendez misses with the combination.
Melendez doesn't manage to clinch there - Tangcalagan circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tangcalagan is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Melendez to keep the fight standing.
Melendez tries to pull guard but Tangcalagan won't allow it.
Melendez is trying to push Tangcalagan away but Tangcalagan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Come on Tangcalagan - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tangcalagan creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tangcalagan misses with a knee to the head.
Melendez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tangcalagan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tangcalagan keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Melendez's efforts to push away.

Tangcalagan manages to pull guard.
Tangcalagan is trying to keep Melendez in close.

Tangcalagan isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Melendez stacks Tangcalagan on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Melendez!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Melendez just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tangcalagan is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to control the action but Tangcalagan is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gilbert Melendez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Melendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Adrian Tangcalagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
Tangcalagan slips a jab and a cross from Melendez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez swinging wildly here.
Melendez throws a series of punches but Tangcalagan moves out of range.
Melendez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tangcalagan counters with a shoot takedown. Melendez fights it but they end up in guard.
Melendez keeping full guard, as Tangcalagan tries to pass.
Tangcalagan wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
Tangcalagan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adrian Tangcalagan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tangcalagan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:48
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 48:47
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:49

The fight is ruled a draw!
Oh dear, what a disastrous situation! The belt remains unclaimed and both fighters go home unhappy!