PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melendez comes to the cage accompanied by 2Pac-Ballad of a Dead Soulja. Grant Benton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Melendez
vs
Benton

175 cm
28
165 lbs
8 - 1 - 2

180 cm
26
165 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

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 8 - 1 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gilbert Melendez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez staying out of range there.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but Benton shows good takedown defense.
Melendez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benton.
Melendez dodges the punch combination from Benton.
Benton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benton scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Melendez doesn't seem bothered though.
Melendez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Melendez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Benton closes the distance and clinches.

Melendez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Benton clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Benton looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Melendez is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Benton holding both Melendez 's hands and preventing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton covering up well and avoiding damage.

Melendez is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Benton trying to get back to his feet but Melendez is in full control for now.
The referee is taking a good look at Benton as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Melendez!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Melendez is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Benton finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
Melendez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melendez throwing strikes here but Benton is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Benton trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez controlling his opponent.
Benton tries to buck Melendez off but he can't manage it.
Melendez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Benton is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Melendez is working for a guillotine from mount but Benton frees his head quite easily.
Melendez controlling his opponent.
Benton is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee warns Benton that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Melendez tries to control but Benton wriggling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Melendez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Benton is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Benton and Melendez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Melendez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melendez is trying to move to mount but Benton reverses beautifully and ends up in Melendez's guard.
Melendez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Melendez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Benton swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Melendez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Benton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Melendez is controlling him.
Melendez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Benton wants to stand and escape but Melendez is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Benton can do anything to dispel that myth.
Melendez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Melendez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benton is fending him off so far but Melendez persists. Nope, Benton circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from Melendez does no damage.
Benton throws an overhand right that lands on Melendez's shoulder, as Melendez tries to avoid the shot.
Benton scores with a nice head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melendez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Benton is looking to stand up but Melendez isn't so interested in that idea.
Melendez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Benton keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.
Benton is looking to stand up but Melendez isn't so interested in that idea.
Melendez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gilbert Melendez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Benton misses with the combination.
Gilbert Melendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melendez shoots in looking for a takedown but Benton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Melendez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton leaves Melendez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilbert Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez shoots in looking for a takedown. Benton tries to sprawl out of it but Melendez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Benton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Benton moves into the clinch successfully.
Benton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Benton prevents the takedown attempt.
Melendez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Benton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A short right from Benton.
Melendez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Benton fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Melendez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Benton to the ground. Melendez is now in Benton's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Benton keeps moving.
Benton has momentary wrist control but Melendez slips an elbow through the middle.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Benton keeps moving.
Melendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Melendez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Benton wants to stand up but Melendez is controlling him.
Melendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Melendez looking to sit in guard and control but Benton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Melendez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Gilbert Melendez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Benton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Benton scores with a shot to the body.

Melendez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Benton to the ground. Melendez is now in Benton's guard.
Melendez throwing strikes from guard but Benton blocks nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melendez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Benton wants to stand up but Melendez is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Melendez dominated that second 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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Melendez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Benton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benton looks to throw the jab but Melendez is out of range.
Benton misses with a straight right.
Melendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benton circles away.
Benton lands a jab.
Melendez fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilbert Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Benton gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton works on Melendez's body with a couple of short punches.
Melendez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benton after a bit of a struggle.
Melendez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Benton breaks from the clinch.
A punch combination from Melendez misses.
Benton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benton tries to clinch there but Melendez circles away.
Benton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Benton wants it to stay on the feet.
Melendez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benton is fending him off so far but Melendez persists. Nope, Benton circles away and we're back to standing.
Benton lands a glancing blow to the side of Melendez's head.
Benton throws a jab when Melendez was well out of range.
Melendez shoots in looking for a takedown but Benton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Melendez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Grant Benton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Melendez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benton takes a swing at Melendez's ribcage but misses.
Melendez avoids the body shot from Benton.
Benton uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Melendez.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Benton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Melendez goes for a takedown attempt but Benton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benton slips under a jab.
Benton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Melendez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benton clinches up with Melendez and pushes him back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Benton.
Benton is trying to break the clinch but Melendez has him pressed against the cage.
Benton pressing his opponent against the cage.
Benton lands with a light punch inside.
Benton gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Melendez.
Melendez wants to take the fight to the mat but Benton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Melendez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Benton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Melendez ducks under a wild hook from Benton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Benton.

It looks like Gilbert Melendez has been cut.
Benton looks to land a right hand but Melendez moved out of range.

Benton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Melendez, pushing him back against the cage.
Melendez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Benton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Benton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Melendez backwards.
Benton has a couple of punches blocked by Melendez.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benton softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Melendez is working for takedown but Benton is calmly controlling the position for now.
Melendez is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Benton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benton works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Melendez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benton is defending well.
Melendez goes for a takedown attempt but Benton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Benton forces Melendez back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Benton really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gilbert Melendez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Benton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benton throws a good cross that connects.
Benton tries to clinch but Melendez moves out of range.
Melendez slips a jab and a cross from Benton.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch but Melendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Benton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Melendez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benton works the jab nicely.
Benton looks to land a left hand but Melendez moved out of range nicely.
Melendez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benton.
Benton throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Melendez.
Melendez moves out of range as Benton strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benton instigates a clinch.
Melendez looking for a takedown.
Benton lands with a right to the head.
Benton gets underhooks to prevent Melendez's takedown attempt.
Benton misses with a hook to the ribs.

Melendez has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Benton regains guard immediately.
Gilbert Melendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Melendez postures up in Benton's guard and throws a big left but Benton blocks it.
Melendez looking to sit in guard and control but Benton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Benton trying to control but Melendez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Grant Benton was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Melendez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benton throws a body punch but Melendez moves out of range.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt - Benton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilbert Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benton is looking to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benton lands a nice shot that snaps Melendez's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benton tries to avoid it but Melendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benton to the ground. Benton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Benton but Benton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A big right from Melendez misses.
Melendez moves out of range as Benton strikes.

Benton has closed the distance and engaged Melendez in a clinch.
Benton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Melendez goes for a takedown attempt but Benton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Benton throws a hook but Melendez blocks it.
Benton tries to clinch but Melendez moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch but Melendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Benton bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Melendez's head.

Benton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Melendez is looking for a takedown.
Melendez tries to score a body lock takedown but Benton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Benton prevents a takedown attempt there.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Benton manages to get underhooks.
Benton lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Benton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A hook to the body from Benton.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benton prevents the takedown attempt.
Benton lands a right hand.
Melendez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Benton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Benton dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Gilbert Melendez's cut.
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!

Benton is looking to clinch.
Melendez needs to keep his hands up - Benton had a free shot at his head there.
Benton throws a shot from downtown. Melendez moves away and avoids it.
Benton connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Benton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Melendez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Melendez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Benton darts in trying to clinch

and Melendez moves into the clinch.
Benton gets underhooks to prevent Melendez's takedown attempt.
Benton gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Melendez.
Benton digs a right hand underneath Melendez's ribcage. Melendez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilbert Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benton is trying to maintain a safe position but Melendez gets an underhook and turns Benton into the cage.

Benton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benton tries to clinch there but Melendez circles away.
Benton 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.
A slow jab from Benton misses its intended target.
Grant Benton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benton scores with the left hand. Melendez knows he should have avoided that one.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch but Melendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Benton tries to clinch up but Melendez circles away and keeps his distance.

Melendez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Benton is trying to defend but Melendez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Benton tries to kick Melendez off but Melendez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is looking to take a break and control but Benton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Melendez stops Benton from getting back to his feet.

Benton makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Melendez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Benton pinned against the cage. Benton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benton lands a two punch combo.
Benton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benton tries to clinch but Melendez moves away

and Melendez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Benton!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez working the ground and pound.
Melendez wants to control but Benton is keeping him busy.
Benton is trying to buck Melendez off.
Melendez works to advance to full mount. Benton defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Melendez trying to control but Benton is having none of it.
Benton squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Melendez controlling from mount.
Melendez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Benton for as long as he can get away with.
Melendez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Benton looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez controlling from the full mount.
Melendez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Melendez controlling from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melendez misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Melendez raining down shots from the mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benton squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Benton is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gilbert Melendez.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 48:47
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:47
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilbert Melendez!
Gilbert Melendez retains his lightweight title!
Gilbert Melendez made sure to mention his sponsor, //buriedALIVE// Fight Gear in his post fight interview.