PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rayce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Gilbert Melendez enters the cage!

Gracie
vs
Melendez

165 cm
22
165 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

175 cm
30
164 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rayce Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gilbert Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Melendez is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Melendez taking some punishment here, with Gracie in his half guard.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Melendez is defending it quite comfortably.
Melendez tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melendez keeps working.
Melendez tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Melendez is trying to control but can't.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Melendez won't allow it.
Melendez is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Gracie 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.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Melendez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Melendez has escaped and now he's on top!
Melendez postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melendez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Melendez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Melendez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Melendez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Melendez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.

Melendez looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Melendez wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Melendez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Melendez is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Melendez stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Melendez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Melendez defends well.
Melendez trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Melendez defends well.
Melendez with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melendez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.
Melendez wants to sweep but no luck.

Melendez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gracie uses it to pass to side control.
Melendez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Melendez is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gracie knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gracie for a finish.
Melendez is trying to stick to Gracie's back but Gracie is turning into Melendez. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Melendez's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gracie.
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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Melendez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Melendez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
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 Rayce Gracie will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Melendez slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Melendez quickly recovers to half guard.
Melendez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Melendez.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Melendez is retaining full guard.
Melendez trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Melendez blocks nicely.
Melendez wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Melendez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Melendez tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie 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.
Melendez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Melendez is proving a slippery customer.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Melendez throws a strike but Gracie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Melendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melendez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Melendez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie preventing the sweep.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Melendez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Melendez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Melendez!
Gracie stops Melendez from passing to mount.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.

Melendez is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie wants to control but Melendez postures up.
Gracie parries the strikes from Melendez easily there. Melendez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gracie to escape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Melendez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie parries the strikes from Melendez easily there. Melendez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gracie to escape.
Melendez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Melendez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie defending against the ground and pound.
Melendez throwing shots but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The strikes coming from Melendez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie struggling a bit here.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Melendez.

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

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Melendez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Melendez.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Melendez is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gilbert Melendez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Melendez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Melendez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Melendez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Melendez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a triangle. Melendez throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Gracie's body to avoid the submission. Gracie has instead reached around Melendez's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Gracie arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rayce Gracie!
Rayce Gracie is the new lightweight champion!