PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hollis Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacobo Ibrahim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ibrahim comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cariño Brutal kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jacobo Ibrahim is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Melendez
vs
Ibrahim

184 cm
22
192 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hollis Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jacobo Ibrahim!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez shoots in for a double leg but Ibrahim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Ibrahim shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Ibrahim is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Melendez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ibrahim.
Ibrahim wants to control but Melendez is keeping him busy.
Ibrahim thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
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 keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Ibrahim is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Melendez defends it well.
Ibrahim slips a nice elbow through Melendez's hands, connecting with Melendez's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez wants to control but Ibrahim is keeping busy.

Ibrahim is looking for a kimura but Melendez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ibrahim to get the leverage.

Ibrahim is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Melendez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ibrahim is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ibrahim tries to pass the half guard into mount. Melendez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim is keen to just control but Melendez is a slippery customer.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Ibrahim 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. Ibrahim eventually gives up the hold.
Melendez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Melendez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ibrahim!
Ibrahim is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez has hold of Ibrahim's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ibrahim manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ibrahim is trying to stand up.
Melendez tries to control but Ibrahim wriggling away.
Ibrahim is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is looking to stand but Melendez has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Ibrahim is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Melendez wants to control but Ibrahim has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

Melendez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ibrahim has managed to free his arm - good work.
Melendez prevents Ibrahim from standing back up.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim is trying to maintain the position but Melendez is very close to passing his half guard.
Melendez wants to pass to mount but Ibrahim is defending the position.
Melendez trying to control from half guard but Ibrahim is working away.

Melendez is working for a submission of some sort.
Ibrahim is trying to maintain the position but Melendez is very close to passing his half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ibrahim won't allow Melendez to pass to mount.
Ibrahim wants to improve his position but Melendez is controlling well.
Ibrahim trying to hold on to Melendez's head to control him but Melendez postures up.
Melendez trying to advance position but Ibrahim counters by regaining guard.
Melendez postures up.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Melendez advances to half guard.
Ibrahim pushes Melendez off looking to stand but Melendez dives back in and keeps control.
Ibrahim looks winded!
Ibrahim wants to improve his position but Melendez is controlling well.
Melendez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ibrahim is not content to let Melendez control the position.
Ibrahim is trying to stand up here but Melendez is controlling him well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ibrahim manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ibrahim controls Melendez momentarily but Melendez frees himself.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Melendez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Melendez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Melendez wants to stand up but Ibrahim is controlling the position.
Melendez works his foot free and advances to mount.
Melendez looking to control but Ibrahim is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ibrahim holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Melendez tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Melendez working for a submission but Ibrahim is keeping him at bay.

Melendez goes for an armbar but Ibrahim turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ibrahim.
Ibrahim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ibrahim has gone for a leg lock! Melendez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ibrahim's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez wants to stand but Ibrahim has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
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 Hollis Melendez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ibrahim fails to land the takedown.

Ibrahim darts in and clinches Melendez up against the ropes.
Melendez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Melendez fails to pull guard.
Ibrahim blocks an elbow strike from Melendez.
Melendez is working for takedown but Ibrahim is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ibrahim is trying to trip Melendez. He has hold of a leg but Melendez is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ibrahim persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ibrahim with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez has a closed guard, preventing Ibrahim from standing up.
Ibrahim with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ibrahim wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.

Ibrahim drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Melendez dives on top into guard.
Ibrahim is breathing heavily.
Melendez looking to pass the guard.
Ibrahim wants to stand and escape but Melendez is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ibrahim is keeping the position for now.
Melendez is working hard here to advance position.
Melendez throws a big elbow that misses.
Melendez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibrahim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ibrahim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melendez trying to move into half guard but instead Ibrahim has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ibrahim postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Melendez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ibrahim, into his guard.
Melendez looking to pass the guard.
Melendez passes Ibrahim's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Melendez trying to work for an americana but Ibrahim has managed to regain full guard.
Hollis Melendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Melendez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez pushes down on Ibrahim's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ibrahim trying to hold on to Melendez's head to control him but Melendez postures up.
Melendez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ibrahim does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Melendez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ibrahim defends it well.
Melendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ibrahim keeps working.

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

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to mount his opponent but Ibrahim defends it.

Melendez is working for a submission of some sort.
Ibrahim wants to get back to his feet.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ibrahim works his way to full guard. Good work.
Melendez passes Ibrahim's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ibrahim tries to roll over but Melendez keeps him under control.
Ibrahim is trying to stand.
Melendez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Melendez wants to finish this one by submission but Ibrahim is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Melendez.
Melendez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Ibrahim wants to hold on but Melendez pushes him away.
Melendez wants to control the pace but Ibrahim is squirming around nicely.
Ibrahim is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Melendez unloads with some shots from mount but Ibrahim bucks and avoids them well.
Melendez throws some wild stikes that Ibrahim manages to avoid easily.
Ibrahim really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Melendez throws some wild stikes that Ibrahim manages to avoid easily.

Melendez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ibrahim has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ibrahim working to try and regain half guard.

Melendez working for a guillotine from mount but Ibrahim is in no mood to give up.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Melendez working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Melendez with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez looking to control but Ibrahim is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ibrahim wants to control but Melendez is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hollis Melendez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Melendez 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Hollis Melendez!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Hollis Melendez!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Hollis Melendez!

Hollis Melendez wins by unanimous decision!
Hollis Melendez tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.