PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damien Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Sendoh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Melendez
vs
Sendoh

190 cm
33
271 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

185 cm
28
245 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damien Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Sendoh!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oooooh!!! Melendez has knocked Sendoh down with a huge combo! Melendez steps away and waves a wobbly Sendoh back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Akira Sendoh has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sendoh tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sendoh looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sendoh slaps away a takedown attempt from Melendez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Akira Sendoh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sendoh throws a series of punches but Melendez moves out of range.
Sendoh throws a one two combo.

It looks like Damien Melendez has been cut.
Sendoh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Melendez.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Melendez is defended easily by Sendoh.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damien Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sendoh tries to clinch up.
Sendoh throws a shot to the body.
Sendoh wants to clinch up but Melendez keeps it at a distance.

Sendoh pushes Melendez up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sendoh is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Sendoh breaks the clinch.
Melendez shoots for a double leg takedown but Sendoh sprawls well. He's pushed Melendez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Melendez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sendoh on his heels. He'll look to pass Sendoh's guard now, I'm sure.
Melendez trying to move into half guard but instead Sendoh has managed to sweep!

Melendez is working an open guard so Sendoh takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sendoh stuffs the takedown.
Sendoh misses with a head kick.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Sendoh sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Melendez shoots in looking for a takedown. Sendoh tries to sprawl out of it but Melendez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sendoh manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sendoh tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melendez drives through with a takedown into Sendoh's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Melendez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sendoh manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Melendez has Sendoh in his guard.

Melendez is looking for a triangle but Sendoh pushes his legs off easily.
Sendoh wants to stand but Melendez is controlling his posture from full guard.

Sendoh decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Melendez, up you get!
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt - Sendoh sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sendoh throws a leg kick but Melendez moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sendoh sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melendez somewhat.
Sendoh comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Sendoh sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Melendez blocks a leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Sendoh as Melendez shoots in.
Melendez is breathing heavily.
Sendoh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Melendez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sendoh rushes Melendez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Melendez is trying to pull guard but Sendoh turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Sendoh.
Sendoh just leaning against Melendez, taking a breather.

Sendoh breaks the clinch.
Sendoh tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sendoh smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sendoh slaps away a takedown attempt from Melendez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
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!
Sendoh lands a nice hook to Melendez's body. Melendez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Sendoh moves into the clinch.
Sendoh lands a body shot in the clinch.

Sendoh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sendoh moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sendoh lands a nice looking body shot.
Sendoh scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sendoh scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Melendez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sendoh lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sendoh throws a leg kick

and Melendez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sendoh's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Sendoh dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sendoh doesn't manage to clinch there - Melendez circles away.

Sendoh takes the fight into the clinch.
Melendez wants to take the fight to the mat but Sendoh manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Sendoh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt - Sendoh sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sendoh throws a nice looking combination but Melendez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Melendez moves forwards but Sendoh connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Melendez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sendoh is fending him off so far but Melendez persists. Nope, Sendoh circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damien Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez dives in and grabs Sendoh's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sendoh pushes down on Melendez's head and hops out.
Akira Sendoh seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Melendez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Damien Melendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melendez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sendoh wants to clinch up but Melendez keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sendoh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Melendez.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sendoh tries to clinch but Melendez is having none of it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sendoh.

Sendoh rushes Melendez and presses him up against the cage.
Sendoh avoiding damage.
Melendez is trying to drag Sendoh to the mat but Sendoh just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Melendez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sendoh cracks Melendez with a nice body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sendoh lands a knee to the body.
Sendoh'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.
Sendoh scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sendoh lands a knee to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sendoh.
Sendoh is working Melendez over against the cage.

Sendoh manages to break the clinch.
Melendez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Sendoh gets a clinch.
Good body shot from Sendoh.
Sendoh tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sendoh lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sendoh is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Sendoh.
Sendoh tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Melendez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sendoh's jab looks to have found its range, popping Melendez under the eye.

Melendez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Melendez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melendez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Melendez maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Sendoh could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Melendez has cracked it and Sendoh is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Melendez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Damien Melendez!
A very excited looking Damien Melendez made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.