PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Henry had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Henry
vs
Melendez

183 cm
30
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
170 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Javier Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Melendez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henry swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Henry throws a shot from downtown. Melendez moves away and avoids it.
Henry throws a shot from downtown. Melendez moves away and avoids it.
Melendez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Henry showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Melendez.
Melendez misses with a hook to the body
and Henry cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Henry connects with a jab.
Melendez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Henry counters with a straight right hand.
A jab from Henry misses.
Henry misses with a looping left.
Melendez shoots for a takedown but Henry saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Henry looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Henry displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Melendez.
Michael Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Javier Melendez.
Melendez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henry.
Henry looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Henry lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Melendez circles away quickly and effectively.
Melendez scores with a jab.
Henry throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Melendez misses with a looping right.
Melendez slips a jab and a cross from Henry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Melendez checks the leg kick.
Melendez takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Henry is looking to land body kicks.
Henry lands a jab to the head.
Henry tries to bum rush Melendez with a series of wild strikes but Melendez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Melendez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Henry throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Melendez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Melendez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Henry is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Melendez to the mat. Melendez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Henry postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henry with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Melendez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to sweep but no luck.
Melendez looking to control.

Henry is sitting in close to Melendez's body. Melendez has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Henry is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Henry is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Melendez.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Javier Melendez!