PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafeal Djocovito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Djocovito comes to the cage accompanied by Rose - A Perfect Circle. Melendez has chosen El Coo Cooi as his entrance music. Rafeal Djocovito looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Djocovito
vs
Melendez

185 cm
35
162 lbs
15 - 22 - 0

165 cm
31
169 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafeal Djocovito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Xavier Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez walks into a stiff left hand from Djocovito.
Melendez throws a front kick that sends Djocovito stumbling back into the cage.
Djocovito checks a low kick from Melendez.
Djocovito walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Melendez stuffs the takedown.
Melendez throws a nice outside leg kick.
Djocovito takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Melendez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Djocovito backs up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Djocovito will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Melendez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Melendez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Djocovito defending well though.
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.
Melendez working over Djocovito with some ground and pound. Djocovito looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Melendez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Djocovito trying to control but Melendez postures up.
Melendez drops an elbow to the side of Djocovito's head.

Djocovito looking for submissions off his back.
Melendez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Melendez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Djocovito is looking for a sweep. Melendez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Melendez drops an elbow to the side of Djocovito's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Djocovito trying to control but Melendez postures up.
Melendez trying to mount his opponent but Djocovito defends it.

Melendez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Djocovito sees it coming and defends easily.
Melendez lands strikes from half guard.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Djocovito is defending well.
Melendez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Djocovito is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Djocovito is working hard here to advance position.
Melendez throwing shots but Djocovito is blocking nicely.
Djocovito looks like he's trying to stand up.
Melendez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Djocovito knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Melendez lands strikes from half guard.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Djocovito is defending well.
Djocovito taking some punishment here, with Melendez in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to free his trapped foot but Djocovito is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Melendez is working for a kimura but Djocovito is defending it quite comfortably.

Melendez seems to be working for a kimura but Djocovito defends the submission attempt.
Melendez trying to pass the guard but Djocovito defending well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Djocovito is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Melendez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Djocovito with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Melendez counter with a right hand.
Djocovito shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Melendez counters with a stiff right hand.
Djocovito misses with a hook. Melendez ducked under it nicely.
Donk. Djocovito catches Melendez right on the button with a cross.
Rafeal Djocovito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melendez tries a head kick but it misses.
Djocovito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Melendez manages to avoid it.
Djocovito just misses with a punch to the body.
Melendez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Melendez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Djocovito shoots in for a takedown but Melendez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafeal Djocovito. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Djocovito.
Good leg kick by Melendez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melendez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Djocovito with a lazy takedown attempt
and Melendez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Djocovito avoids the head kick by Melendez.
Melendez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Djocovito swings for the body but Melendez moves out of range.
Djocovito with a poor takedown
and Melendez counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Melendez lands with a nice combination. Djocovito backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Rafeal Djocovito has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melendez lands a nice looking kick to the body. Djocovito takes a step back to recover.
Melendez scores with a body shot.

Melendez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Melendez connects with a nice short shot to Djocovito's temple.
Melendez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Djocovito is rocked!
Djocovito on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Oh Djocovito is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez slows the pace down in half guard.
Melendez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Djocovito with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Melendez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Melendez drops a big elbow. That's hurt Djocovito! More shots from Melendez and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Xavier Melendez!
After winning the bout, Xavier Melendez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.