PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Solo Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hollis Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Man
vs
Melendez

188 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Solo Man!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hollis Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Man gets the takedown into side control.

Man working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Man goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Melendez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Man's guard! Nice work there by Melendez!
Man seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Man wants to sweep here but Melendez controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Man trying to keep a closed guard but Melendez is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melendez is one step ahead there.
Man wants to stand but Melendez is controlling the position.
Man tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Melendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Man swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Man working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Melendez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Melendez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Melendez wants to get up but he can't break Man's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man controlling Melendez's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Man closes the distance and clinches.
Man tries to break free but Melendez pushes him back against the cage.
Melendez misses with a punch on the inside.
Man is trying to break the clinch but Melendez has him pressed against the cage.
Melendez is looking for a takedown.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Melendez lands an elbow just above Man 's eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man blocks the elbow strike.
Melendez is trying to break the clinch but Man is controlling him.
Man will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Melendez up against the cage.

Man manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Man utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Man has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Man had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Melendez defends it easily.
Man is breathing heavily.
Melendez passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to control the action but Man is working from the bottom.
Man trying his best to control but Melendez has mounted him.
Melendez wants to take Man's back but he can't do it this time.
Man is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez wants to get back to his feet but Man is holding on tight.
Man is looking to improve his position but Melendez isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solo Man dominated that round.
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 changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Man tries to avoid it but Melendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Man to the ground. Man escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Man shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Melendez's guard.
Man engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Man trying to control but Melendez is working from the bottom.
Man forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melendez actively working from the bottom here.
Man is trying to control the action in half guard but Melendez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Man throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Man prevents Melendez from improving his position.
Melendez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Man's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Man's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man turns into Melendez and is now in his guard.
Melendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Man stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Man trying to control but Melendez is working from the bottom.

Melendez has an active guard here but Man has managed to pass into half guard.
Melendez tries to roll over but Man keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Man is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Man with the ground and pound but Melendez uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Melendez being controlled here, momentarily.
Man with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Solo Man wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Man changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Melendez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Man working the body and head with strikes.
Man in side control lands a decent elbow.
Melendez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Man slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solo Man dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Man shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Melendez is trying to defend but Man finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Man keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Melendez won't allow Man to pass to mount.
Melendez is not content to let Man control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Man not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Solo Man just wasn't active enough.
Man stuffs the takedown.

Man clinches up against the cage.
Man's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A frustrated look appears on Melendez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Melendez working hard to break the clinch.

Man escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Man is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Melendez's half guard.

Man is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Melendez is just riding it out for now. Man eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man is trying to control the action in half guard but Melendez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Solo Man overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Melendez trying to control but Man postures up.
Man stalling away here and it's allowed Melendez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

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

Melendez is looking for a triangle here but Man uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Man tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Hollis Melendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Man here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez tries to improve position but can't.
Man scores with a couple of short elbows.
Melendez is trying to escape the position but Man is controlling the position.

Man is trying to get an arm triangle but Melendez is defending well.
Melendez tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Solo Man showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Man 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Solo Man!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Solo Man!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Solo Man!

Solo Man wins by unanimous decision!